Summary of Root Causes of the Crisis in the Catholic Church
		1.        IDOLATRY.  We, the church community, have put the institutional church ahead of God. The distorting lens of the traditional Catholic worldview needs to be corrected so that we can put the institutional church in correct perspective and, to use the motto of the Cistercians, we can see God alone.  Idolatry. 2.        AUTHORITARIANISM.    The church’s authoritarian structure and culture facilitate the hierarchy’ s extensive abuse of power. The church community needs to envision new structures of accountability; to pray for conversion to truth and transparency; and conceive, plan for, and implement a new church open to the sense of the faithful. Authoritarianism. 3.        CLERICALISM.  Clericalism is a cancer at the heart of the church. Rooting out the intrinsic, long- standing evil of clericalism will take a real conversion of attitude and heart by all members of the church community—pope, bishops, clergy, and laity.  Clericalism.   4.        CELIBACY.  Mandatory celibacy has become a hindrance to preaching the gospel. Celibacy isn’t working. It’s linked to the shortage of priests, a disproportionately homosexual priesthood, and, most important, sex abuse of minors by priests.  Celibacy. 5.        SEX.  A significant percentage of the church community disregards the Church’s rules of sexual morality. The institutional church applies flawed philosophical principles, clings to a “they’re all mortal sins” view of sexual transgression, and ignores the lived experience of the faithful.  Sex. 6.        SEXISM. The institutional church is a sexist institution. Until the church recognizes and makes a reality the full humanity of women, it will never again regain the moral authority it once had.  Sexism. 7.        FEAR.  Fear paralyzes all levels of the church community. The antidote to fear is courage. Ultimately, courage comes from the head, the heart, the gut, the gonads, and the grace of God.  Fear. 8.        DISHONESTY.  Deceit, denial, silence, and cover-up are in the hierarchy’s DNA. The hierarchy needs a metanoia, i.e., a complete conversion of heart to expel its institutional dishonesty. We need to clean house in the institutional church.  Dishonesty. 9.        DISTRUST.  The hierarchy distrusts the truth, the world, and the core values of American democracy. When conversion expels dishonesty, distrust will dissolve.  Distrust. 10.        INCOMPETENCE.  The hierarchy’s handling of sex abuse of minors by its priests demonstrates leadership failure and management incompetence. We need courageous church leadership and competent management powered by the gospels, new management structures and policies, and lay oversight of key personnel and financial decisions.  Incompetence. 11.        PASSIVITY.   The church’s culture of passivity contrasts sharply with the proactive nature of its founder, Jesus of Nazareth. Passivity is for sheep and losers. The time for action is at hand.“If it is to be, it is up to me.”  Passivity.