Within the structures mentioned above, after becoming followers, adherents have
many ways of serving which Religious Laws reserve for them. They may enter
either the Cuu-Trung-Dai/the Executive Body or the Hiep-Thien-Dai/the
Legislative Body. According to Phap Chanh Truyen (The Religious
Constitution of Caodaism), followers may be elected and hold a post if they can
prove their capacity in terms of deeds, words and virtue. Nominations and
promotions in the episcopal hierarchy are first submitted to the Popular Council/Hoi
Nhon Sanh. Then they are submitted to the Sacerdotal Council/Hoi Thanh.
They are also submitted to the High Council/Thuong Hoi, and finally must
be approved by God or by the Spiritual Pope Li T'ai Pai (Duc Ly Giao-Tong).
Almost all the positions in the Caodaist hierarchy can be replaced by election,
except those titles directly appointed by God (Duc Cao-Dai) or Divine
Authority through spiritism (co but). The high dignitaries of the
Legislative Body (Hiep-Thien-Dai) such as Ho-Phap, Thuong-Pham,
Thuong-Sanh, and the twelve Lords of the Zodiac (Thap Nhi Thoi Quan)
are directly appointed by God.
According to Phap-Chanh-Truyen/the Religious Constitution of Caodaism
- "The dignitaries of the two Colleges (of Men and Women) of the Cuu-Trung-Dai/Executive
Body are invested in the Temple of the Divine Alliance (Hiep-Thien-Dai),
either through their own merit, or through designation by means of a medium
(direct investiture), or through an organised election before the dignitaries of
the Hiep-Thien-Dai, in order to avoid all fraud or partiality. What is
more, with the assistance of these dignitaries it is permissible to consult the
Spiritual Pope or Our Divine Master to know whether those elected are worthy of
their rank. Thus before official notification, all dignitaries must be presented
for the approval of the Giao-Tong/Pope or of our Divine Master".
-
- "The Papal Throne/Giao-Tong is in the power of Legislative
Cardinals/Chuong- Phap and the Cardinals/Dau-Su through the
universal vote of the adepts, except when the Giao-Tong/Pope is chosen by
our Divine Master (direct investiture)".
-
- "The Cardinals/Dau-Su are elected to the rank of Legislative
Cardinals/Chuong- Phap through the vote of their colleagues (the
other two Cardinals)".
-
- "The Archbishops/Phoi-Su are elected to the rank of Cardinal
by the vote of their thirty-six colleagues".
-
- "The Bishops/Giao-Su are elected to the rank of Archbishops
by the vote of their seventy-two colleagues".
-
- "The Priests/Giao-Huu are elected to the rank of Bishops by
the vote of their 3000 colleagues".
-
- "The Student-Priests/Le-Sanh are elected to the rank of
Priests by the vote of all their colleagues".
-
- "The disciples who aspire to the rank of Student-Priest are elected
by the vote of all Faithful, except in the situation when dignitaries are
chosen by Divine Voice".
-
- "The Chanh-Tri-Su are elected by the vote of Pho-Tri-Su
and Thong-Su. The Pho- Tri-Su and Thong-Su are elected
by the vote of the adepts".
Under Hiep-Thien-Dai/Legislative Body, Phuoc Thien /the
Charitable Organisation is another way of serving in Caodaism. That is the
path of twelve divine ranks (Minh Duc, Tan Dan, Thinh Thien, Hanh Thien, Giao
Thien, Chi Thien, Dao Nhon, Chon Nhon, Hien Nhon, Thanh Nhon, Tien Tu, Phat Tu).
The total number of dignitaries in each rank of the Charitable Organisation is
unlimited. A follower who has fulfilled his/her duty for three years may be
raised to the next rank. The Charitable Organisation is the major agency for
social services. At the Holy See, the Charitable Organisation has responsibility
for and supervision of a hospital, homes for the elderly, an orphanage, the high
school, musicians, acolytes and choristers. The Organisation's official
representatives operate at the same levels as the Executive Body, and each local
congregation has a "local charitable committee" (Ban Cai Quan)
whose responsibility is to care for the social needs of the local community. The
"local charitable committees" with believers normally build Dien
Tho Phat Mau/Holy Mother Temples for the dedication of worship of the Holy
Mother (Universal Mother/ Duc Phat Mau).
|