Lay Empowerment, Social Disorganization, and Clerical Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Using the sociological perspective and secondary literature, this chapter analyzes the role of the laity in the social organization of the Catholic hierarchy as a clerical community and social control of clerical behavior against sexual abuse. It stresses the need for lay empowerment in the behavioral monitoring of priestly conduct by allowing the laity to participate in the formal governance of the Catholic Church and oversee the social welfare of clerics in the hierarchy. Applying the social disorganization theory, it examines the renewed teaching of the Second Vatican Council on lay empowerment and participation in the Church and critically evaluates it whether it constitutes a substantial empowerment which bestows on the laity sufficient ecclesiastical power and authority to monitor the social networks of diocesan clergy against clerical sexual abuse. It also relates lay empowerment to the current social disorganization of the hierarchy and persistence of clerical sexual misconduct in the Church. It argues that an empowered laity can lead to increased intermediary social networks, cohesiveness, and social control of the Catholic hierarchy against clerical sexual abuse.