McCarrick Scandal Underscores Church’s Need for Greater Lay Involvement

McCarrick Scandal Underscores Church’s Need for Greater Lay Involvement

Brendan Smialowski Theodore McCarrick speaks to journalists at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on April 1, 2005,, in Washington, D.C. Special masses were held across the US on Friday for the Pope, whose popularity among US Catholics was tempered by opposition to his traditional views on abortion and women priests. COMMENTARY: The laity’s role isn’t about changing doctrine — it’s about promoting holiness and confronting corruption, espec…

McCarrick Scandal Underscores Church’s Need for Greater Lay Involvement - Catholic Canada

Brendan Smialowski Theodore McCarrick speaks to journalists at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on April 1, 2005,, in Washington, D.C. Special masses were held across the US on Friday for the Pope, whose popularity among US Catholics was tempered by opposition to his traditional views on abortion and women priests.

The church has always been full of sinful people—and always will be.

This essay first appeared in our weekly Scripture reflection newsletter on April 12, 2025. Last weekend, during a talk in Philadelphia, a man asked me an excellent question: How could he possibly stay in the Catholic Church when it is so full of sin? The man had many reasons for wanting to leave, as many people do. Just recently, we saw the death of the former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was responsible for multiple incidents of sexual abus…