Missionary Discipleship and the Crisis of Reconciliation: A Call for Authentic Renewal in the Church

Guest Blog from a parishioner in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

The Archbishop of Philadelphia has begun a challenging restructuring of the Archdiocese in response to the serious issues Catholics face today: only 17% of baptized Catholics are actively practicing their faith. We have very few priests to minister to that 17%, and our infrastructure is aging and expensive to maintain. In order to keep the laity informed, the Archbishop or his spokespersons have been visiting parishes and local institutions to provide limited information and answer questions. 

Included in the physical restructuring is a call to all the faithful to also undergo a change of heart and embrace missionary discipleship: 

“When the Archbishop speaks of a pastoral change of heart, he is speaking about the lifelong mission of every follower of Jesus to constantly reflect on ways we need to orient our lives toward Jesus and His Great Commission. That journey involves prayer, study, and a constant examination of conscience about who we are and if we are truly sharing the compassionate love of Christ with each other to the best of our ability.” (Trustandhope.org) 

These efforts, however, fall short because they fail to model true missionary discipleship—the “sharing of the compassionate love of Christ”—which must be rooted in reconciliation, especially in the wake of abuse scandals and financial betrayals. Without addressing these wounds honestly and compassionately, the Church cannot expect a genuine renewal of faith. 

The Archdiocesan plan, known as “The 4th Way,” is introduced through talks held in local parishes and school gyms, promoting the concept of “missionary hubs” to re-engage those who have left the faith. While attendees come with curiosity and hope for the Church’s future, they are met with pre-scripted, surface-level presentations delivered by hired spokespersons who have no real authority or input into the plan. These presenters are trained to stick to a script and de-escalate difficult conversations—not to engage in authentic dialogue. As a result, the faithful’s sincere questions—and the pain they often express—are minimized or ignored. Though it is understandable that Archbishop Pérez cannot attend every meeting, many feel that, at the very least, an auxiliary bishop or someone with decision-making authority should be present. Instead, the absence of meaningful engagement reinforces the perception that the Archdiocese is more interested in managing appearances than truly listening to the faithful. 

This is where the gap between the reality of the disaffected and the narrative being promoted becomes most apparent. When someone in the group speaks up about losing their faith because of the abuse scandal, the topic is quickly glossed over. How many times have we heard dismissive responses like, “The abuse scandals are just an excuse to not practice…” or “That was years ago…”? The Church’s unwillingness—or inability—to confront the truth that many left not due to a lack of faith, but because of betrayal and broken trust, continues to wound the laity. It undermines the very people being asked to bring back the 83%, and prevents us from placing our trust in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its bishops. 

I am challenging the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to engage in authentic and radical reconciliation—the kind Jesus exemplified. Rather than continuing to deny the reasons why so many no longer practice their faith, rather than refusing to meet victims and hear their voices, rather than avoiding restitution or accountability—be the example of true reconciliation. Acknowledge the wrongdoing publicly in group settings, and privately by always being willing to meet with survivors, treating them with the love and respect they deserve. Answer their questions. Let them know they have been seen and heard. Express repentance and contrition in both words and deeds. Make amends and commit to real transformation. 

Without this radical reconciliation, the cycle of pain and abuse will continue. Witnessing the hierarchy’s failure to engage in “a constant examination of conscience about who we are and if we are truly sharing the compassionate love of Christ with each other to the best of our ability” will not produce trust and hope—it will result in continued failure.