"be doers of the word", James 1: 22-27

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1: 22-27 

image by QuotesEverlasting

''But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceivin… | Flickr

Abuse allegations have been leveled at the Catholic Church for decades - CNN 


what's the answer? 

• silence? no. 
• words? no. 
• prayer and fasting alone? no. 

the answer is action.

• new management structure similar to other christian churches and the secular world. e.g., non employee "board of directors" at every level, consisting of those who participate in and contribute to (not necessarily monetarily) the church. a representative cross section--women, men, young, old, in between, different races and ethnicities, etc.--elected by and answerable to the faithful 
• do everything possible for the victims
• purge the church of priests who sexually abuse children and of church leaders who cover up crimes committed by church clergy 
• address clergy formation and training  
• train/retrain church leaders 
• mission
• job descriptions 
• duties
• management 
• training
• supervision and oversight
• SOPs
• quality control
• quality assurance
• chain of command
• accountability

decades of mismanagement by church leaders is unacceptable. change requires more than words and prayers alone. change requires action. 


if you're not part of the solution,
then you're part of the problem.


Statement from the National Review Board Calls for Lay Leadership Amid Sexual Abuse Crisis

The National Review Board