Concerned Lay Catholics
A Voice for Lay Catholics in Canada
But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Christ - Eph. 4:15
Ensuring a Vibrant, Spirit-Filled Future For Our Church
Reach out to young families, youth and young adults.
Reach out to other bypassed communities in our church and help them to make their voices heard.
Promote a listening posture as we strive to include all who seek healing, reconciliation and purpose through our church community.
Our initiative has identified a deep concern among many Catholics about the impact of the sexual abuse crisis on the Church’s ability to attract and retain members, and to advance its mission in the world. People feel personally under siege from friends and family for continuing to support the Church. They share the concern of the Canadian bishops that “...the Church must regain its credibility by examining its own self-understanding… [we must go] beyond a mere change in administrative procedure…[to] a shift in institutional culture and mentality.” (from Responding in Faith to Global Clergy Abuse: A Report to Bishop Crosby pp12-13. Concerned Lay Catholics, March 2019 link)
If the Church is to survive- and thrive- in the 21st century is must learn to listen. One legacy of clericalism is the notion that the hierarchy has nothing to learn from the people in the pews. That it already has all wisdom and knowledge. Pope Francis after the Synod on Youth that:
There is an “urgent need to rediscover the baptismal grace” of all Catholics and their call to be “missionary disciples,” he said. Embracing “synodality” with all members of the church “walking together,” sharing input while respecting the roles proper to each member, is one way to acknowledge that grace and respond more effectively.
“It is more necessary than ever today to enter into an honest listening to the joys and struggles of every member of the people of God, and especially of every young person.” “Dialogue is the style that exalts the generosity of God because it recognizes his presence in everything and, therefore, one must find him in every person and be courageous enough to let him speak.”
In addition to reaching out to young people and their families in order to amplify their voices in our church, we at CLC believe it is more important than ever, if we are to be a truly global church, to raise up the voices of those groups who have been marginalized and sometimes even shunned. Black people, LGBTQ+ people, women of all colours and genders, have had little meaningful voice in our church for over 1000 years. To ensure a vibrant, spirit-filled church, all voices must be heard.