Georgetown report: 'This is a time for humility and openness' among all in the church

Kim Daniels, associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University in Washington, listens as Bishop Steven R. Biegler of Cheyenne, Wyo., speaks during a panel discussion at Georgetown Nov. 4, 2019. (CNS photo/Rafael Suanes, courtesy Georgetown University) 

November 10, 2019
Catholic San Francisco

Bishops should encourage prayerul, respectful collaboration with laity to help a "wounded church" embrace candor rather than defensiveness, foster diversity and overcome ideological divisions, says a new report by a national group studying lay participation iin the wake of "the twin crisis of clergy abuse and leadership failure."

The Nov. 4 report by Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life says renewal must be grounded in the sacraments, preaching the Gospel and care for the poor and vulnerable, 

"Convening participants consistently lifted up our need for the virtue of humility rooted in prayer and refection," the report says. "All members of the Church need to learn to listen more, reach out to others with differing backgrounds and perspectives, and move beyond ecclesial and ideological divisions to work together for the good of the Church. This is a time for humility and openness.."

The report is a response to the “National Convening on Lay Leadership for a Wounded Church and Divided Nation” organized by the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and held June 14-15, 2019, at Jesuit-run Georgetown in Washington, D.C.

​​​​​​The report's cover letter by project director John Carr and assistant director Kim Daniels quotes Pope Francis' "Letter to the U.S. bishops" written prior to the bishops' national retreat last year in response to the McCarrick and Pennsylvania grand jury revelations. "We are not solitary pilgrims, for ‘If one member suffers, all suffer together,'" the pope said.

"The twin crises of clergy sexual abuse and leadership failure have led to horrific suffering for countless victim-survivors and for the entire people of God, and demand a faithful, urgent, and effective response," the new report's cover letter continues. "Lay women and men are called to turn our anger and anguish toward finding a path forward that ensures protection, accountability, reform, and renewal."

The report lists 10 "major strategic directions' for church renewal." The following is directly quoted from the report.

1. Put Victim-Survivors at the Center of the Church’s Response

 The original sins of the sexual abuse crisis were the failure to listen and believe victim-survivors as they told us what had happened to them and the terrible harm it caused, and the failure to act quickly and decisively to remove the perpetrators and to protect others. These failures occurred over the course of decades, and they continue to occur today. As the Church seeks repentance, justice, reform, and renewal, we must listen to victim-survivors, their families, and all those affected by clergy sexual abuse. There are still not enough victim-survivors in the rooms when decisions are made.

2. Confront Clericalism, Overcome Isolation, and Support Faithful Clergy

Clergy sexual abuse cannot be discussed honestly without recognizing the toxic culture of clericalism. Some clergy are both isolated and arrogant, seeing ministry as a form of status rather than service.  is self-reinforcing culture – often exacerbated by failures to embrace contributions from women, those with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, and other underrepresented groups – is too often accepted and reinforced by laypeople. A culture of clericalism can lead to abuses of power, and it contributes to and permits institutional cover-up of abuse. We need a new culture of candor that calls on laypeople inside and outside of ecclesial structures to challenge the insular and self-reinforcing culture of some chanceries and ecclesial institutions.

Isolation also leads to denial of the seriousness of the problems we face. As one participant said, “I don’t believe the bishops truly understand the anger of the faithful and the deeply rooted feelings of estrangement and loss that so many people have.” Lay leaders can support clergy in their own efforts to resist clericalism by speaking with directness and fulfilling our own responsibilities. We can also take steps to help clergy become less isolated, including exploring new ways for priests to live and serve. Challenging clericalism and affirming priests who serve faithfully, selfessly, and pastorally are both essential to a path forward.

3. Hold Leaders Accountable and Insist on Transparency

While much remains to be done, this past year has seen some welcome developments in Church law, practices, and policies aimed at holding bishops accountable for clergy sexual abuse and its cover-up, including the promulgation of “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” by Pope Francis and related efforts by the U.S. bishops. But these partial steps towards accountability cannot take root unless Church leaders internalize and embrace them, and in the process change ecclesial culture and practice. Lay leaders must be directly involved to hold leaders accountable.

Transparency is an essential tool of accountability, and we should insist that bishops tell the truth with candor instead of making excuses or seeking to protect themselves or the institution. Bishops should recognize lay leaders as co-responsible partners in these efforts. The speed and openness with which these new procedures are carried out and the active and integral participation of laypeople are fundamental tests of ecclesial credibility.

  4. Focus on Seminary Formation

Seminary formation needs fundamental review and reform. Seminaries should be less isolating, more connected with the reality of local parish communities, and more open to lay participation, partnership, and feedback. Seminarians are too often formed in isolation and set apart. Elite seminaries can be a particular problem, sometimes suggesting that priestly ministry is a privilege, and isolating future priests away from family and parish communities. Laypeople should have a significant role in educating and assessing future priests.

5. Promote and Reflect the Diversity of the Church

The diversity of our Church is a source of strength, not weakness. [Unity in diversity] … can and should ground our ecclesial life and public witness.  The Catholic Church needs greater participation from those whose voices are too often underrepresented in Church structures, including women, African-Americans, Latinos, those from differing economic groups, and those with different political or ecclesial perspectives. This will strengthen ecclesial decision-making, enrich our voice in public life, and better reflect the experience of in-the-pews Catholicism. We must be on guard not to replace a clerical elite with a lay elite that does not reflect the diversity of our family of faith.

6. Focus on our Gospel Mission and Build Unity

The Church needs to repent and reform not simply to repair its institutional and ecclesial life, but to renew and strengthen its capacity to preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, and care for “the least of these.”  The Church’s mission will not be whole or engaging without overcoming the evil of clergy sexual abuse. And it will be the mission of the Church carried out day by day which can ultimately help restore trust and draw the support and confidence of the faithful. As one person said, “We have to make this right. We are more than our institutional failures.” Participants consistently held up the importance of Catholic social teaching in assessing the crisis and guiding ways forward. Traditional moral teachings on human life and dignity, human rights and responsibilities, solidarity and subsidiarity, protection of the vulnerable, and pursuit of the common good o er essential criteria for changing the ecclesial culture and contributing effectively to public life. For example, poor families have often been especially vulnerable to abuse, and there are terrible examples of abuse and mistreatment in Native American, Hispanic, and African-American communities within our family of faith. We need to act with particular vigilance and a priority for protecting Catholic ministries and institutions can help the Church and heal divisions in our nation by focusing on our Gospel call to serve the poor and marginalized. poor families and vulnerable communities.

7. New Voices to Share Catholic Principles in Public Life

The sexual abuse and leadership crises have severely damaged the credibility and impact of Catholic hierarchical institutions in American public life. This is especially tragic at a time of national division when it is crucial that the voice of the Church be clear and credible in defense of the poor and vulnerable, the unborn and undocumented, and in advocating for religious freedom and racial justice. New leaders need to step forward to share the Church’s social teaching and everyday experience in order to effectively defend the weak and advance the common good. Lay women and men need to step up to the call to become salt, light, and leaven in the world. Yet too often Catholic laity reflect their party or ideology more than their faith.  is is a time for faithful, consistent, courageous lay leadership in public life.

8. National Collaboration Among Ministries

Catholic ministries and institutions can help the Church and heal divisions in our nation by focusing on our Gospel call to serve the poor and marginalized.  e leaders of Catholic ministries that care for the poor, sick, hungry, and homeless around the world and in our communities; who educate the young and care for the old; and who care for pregnant women and their children especially need to be the face and voice of the Catholic Church. These ministries should look for additional opportunities to work together and consider more e ective structures of collaboration, communication, and advocacy. Catholic social teaching offers a principled and unifying framework around which Catholic lay leaders can come out of our respective silos and come together in e orts to resist polarization, protect the vulnerable, and advance the common good.

9. Build Partnerships and Enhance Collaboration Among Clergy and Laypeople

Bishops and clergy must work in partnership and co-responsibility with lay leaders, respecting their different vocations and utilizing their experience and expertise. For this e ort to be successful, it will be essential to build trust between lay leaders and the hierarchy, inviting genuine dialogue and sharing of concerns, hopes, and best practices. This collaboration and exercise of co-responsibility needs to be real and not merely. All members of the Church need to learn to listen more, reach out to others with differing backgrounds and perspectives, and move beyond ecclesial and ideological divisions to work together for the good of the Church.

Convening participants consistently lifted up our need for the virtue of humility rooted in prayer and refection. All members of the Church need to learn to listen more, reach out to others with differing backgrounds and perspectives, and move beyond ecclesial and ideological divisions to work together for the good of the Church. This is a time for humility and openness. At the same time, lay leaders should clearly share their anger, anguish, and sense of urgency. We have a responsibility to boldly promote renewal and reform in partnership with bishops and priests, and to boldly live our mission to care for the weak and advance to common good in our divided nation. 

10. Be Both Humble and Bold

Convening participants consistently lifted up our need for the virtue of humility rooted in prayer and re ection. All members of the Church need to learn to listen more, reach out to others with di ering backgrounds and perspectives, and move beyond ecclesial and ideological divisions to work together for the good of the Church. is is a time for humility and openness. At the same time, lay leaders should clearly share their anger, anguish, and sense of urgency. We have a responsibility to boldly promote renewal and reform in partnership with bishops and priests, and to boldly live our mission to care for the weak and advance to common good in our divided nation.