Governance, Accountability, and the Future of the Catholic Church

In accord with the teaching of Vatican II that "the laity are empowered -- indeed, sometimes obliged -- to manifest their opinion on those things which pertain to the good of the Church" (LG, n. 37), the Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University held a conference in March 2003 unprecedented in the center's history in response to a crisis of a size and scope unprecedented in the American church, namely, the revelations of sexual abuse by priests and the hierarchy's complicity. The aim of the conference was to heal and strengthen the church through a deeper understanding of governance, leadership, and the roles of the laity and clergy. Leading Roman Catholic historians, theologians, journalists, social scientists, and foundation executives examine the roots of the crisis and propose practical solutions in accord with the full history of the Catholic tradition. Book jacket.Oakley, Francis is the author of 'Governance, Accountability, and the Future of the Catholic Church' with ISBN 9780826415776 and ISBN 0826415776.