ABSTRACT
When I was asked to prepare this chapter, it was on the basis that the practice of religious orders has something novel and interesting to say to the rest of the Church about authority and governance. No doubt it does. My immediate reaction, however, was that not only are there positive lessons to be learnt but instructive negative ones as well; and therefore, that a critically evaluative, rather than simply descriptive, account of what is an ongoing and developing situation would be required. Summarizing the experience of religious orders is a tall order, and my chapter
will inevitably be both selective and subjective; in the absence of broadbased empirical research I shall rely mainly on personal observation, as well as drawing on some limited research of my own. The chapter has four sections. First, I explain the theoretical and theological
context in which I approach the subject, and outline its recent historical development. Second, I construct a post-Vatican II ideal type of authority-governance as a benchmark and criterion for judging their functioning in religious life today. Third, I outline the challenges and problems facing religious orders in relation to this ideal type. Finally, I conclude with an assessment, highlighting a number of basic issues which arise in religious orders’ experience of authority and governance.
