Peter Jonstone
The Role of Catholics for Renewal Inc.
The Incorporated body reflects Committed Catholics disturbed by Church’s dysfunctional governance;
- decision-making, accountability, exclusion
Advocacy - a commitment to Christianity
Clerical Child Sexual Abuse - a major focus
Increasing alienation from the Church, especially younger people
2.6% Census drop in Australian Catholics 2011 to 2016
Only 5.4% Catholics aged 25 to 34 attend Sunday Mass
Continuing decline of Sunday Mass attendance (now 8-10% to 10%)
Good governance of institutions – a case study in leadership today.
The reality: Cover-ups by hierarchy – abuse by the institution!, Paedophiles protected, not children - WHY? – the conundrum – a fundamental governance failure.
Clericalism – a culture described by Pope Francis as “an evil in the Church” and “one of the strongest challenges faced by the Church.” - both clerics and lay people responsible or Celibacy, & particularly the role of women in the Church.
‘Circling the Wagons’ or RENEWAL? (Are the horrors of clerical child sexual abuse sufficient to generate reform beyond the trauma?), the answer depends on:
Christianity being Christian
Humility
Compassion
Modelling a good society
LEADERSHIP – both Church and Secular
True Leaders turn Crises into Opportunities - That’s good governance!
Is this a case study in leadership today?
Peter Johnstone President, Catholics for Renewal
21-Nov-2017