A program of action on the sex abuse scandals - what ordinary Catholics can do.

Those who are outraged need to write, write, write! Write to the bishops. Write to Vatican bureaucrats. Write to the nuncio. Write to the pope. If you have observed abuses of any sort, and the effects of abuses and most of all the effects of ineffectual leadership, write all this down in detail. Bury Rome and your local chancery with paper. Make them understand that Catholics in the pew are outraged.


And then, keep your wallet closed. Especially keep it closed for national collections and Peter's Pence. Much of this money goes to charities, but for a time, this is the only way you will be heard. Write out checks instead to specific charities that you support. Collections need to plummet.


Finally, note that in most dioceses there is an "October count" of people who actually go to Sunday Masses. If your conscience allows it, consider not showing up on those Sundays. Let the diocesan tabulations show plummeted attendance. If there is a parish in your area where the priests are outspoken and honest on this issue, go there instead in October.
We need to raise the roof. And especially if you are clergy, remember this: at the cost of our souls, we must fear God and his judgment. Secondarily, we are to respect and obey the diocesan bishop, but we cannot allow ourselves to fear him.