Formal Petition 

We, the lay faithful of the Catholic Church, in accordance with Canon Law (Can 229), present the following petition to the Church Hierarchy. 

• We request swift action against clergy suspected of abuse and those willfully covering up abuse.
• We request the formation of investigative panels in each Archdiocese and at the Vatican.
• We request the establishment of confidential means to report abuse and illicit behavior.
• We request total compliance with standing Church policy regarding candidates for the priesthood. 

Acts of sexual abuse and coercion by members of the clergy are reprehensible. Those who enable abusers and cover-up their crimes, against both secular and moral laws, are complicit in the evil. We specifically speak of the documented clerical sexual abuse of minors, homosexual coercion and relationships between members of the clergy and the resulting cover-up by some members of the Hierarchy. 

We recognize the good and faithful service of most of the clergy and the Church Hierarchy. Sadly, it seems their efforts to confront this evil within their ranks is a war being waged without obvious success and due process. We desire to publicly join their ranks and enter the battle to bring about justice for the abused and due process for the abusers. 

To that end, we, the lay faithful, who believe in the truth and beauty of our Catholic faith and commit ourselves to living its principles, humbly present the universal Church Hierarchy with this petition. 

Explanatory Section 

The ongoing abuse, illicit homosexual behavior and its resulting trauma on the abused are, in themselves, reason enough for this petition. Added to this is the ongoing scandalous behavior by some members of the clergy/Hierarchy and the Church’s inability to resolutely address the core issues of this crisis which has resulted in a great loss of trust in our Church fathers, the shepherds of Christ’s flock. 

We request swift action against clergy suspected of abuse and those willfully covering up abuse. We request that any member of the ordained clergy who is suspected of the sexual abuse of minors be turned over to civil authorities. Those involved in illicit relationships (homosexual or heterosexual) or involved in any cover-up of such activities should be immediately removed from their current position, and if found guilty, be laicized. Dioceses should openly inform the laity of all such cases and credible accusations. 

We request the formation of investigative panels in each Archdiocese and at the Vatican. We request that each Archdiocese establish a joint panel to initiate investigations regarding claims of child sexual abuse, illicit behavior and any cover-up. At a minimum, each panel should consist of members of the laity, clergy, law enforcement, legal profession and child protective services. A joint panel at an Archdiocese can ensure each Diocese, within its ecclesiastical province, is investigating all claims of child sexual abuse and any coercion and intimidation against anyone by a person of authority. 

We request the establishment of confidential means to report abuse and illicit behavior. We request that a hotline, secure web address and confidential mailing address be established for each Archdiocesan panel and that these means of contact be disseminated to every parishioner throughout every Archdiocese. Similar means of contact should be established for use by the clergy or members of the Hierarchy to report abuse by other members of the Hierarchy to a similarly established Vatican panel. 

We request total compliance with standing Church policy regarding candidates for the priesthood. We request that every means available be exercised in the screening of candidates for the priesthood. The goal is to fully enforce current Church policy as stated in the Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders. This instruction states, “…that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture.’

Conclusion 

Trust is a priceless treasure, easily lost and rarely regained. As a people full of hope, we strongly desire to participate in its re-establishment even though doing so will entail pain and sacrifice especially, and justly, on the part of those who caused trust to be lost.

We commit ourselves to prayer and fasting, resolutely living our faith and seeking the sacraments, no matter what storms rage around us.