How Can We Defend the Church While Also Working to Reform It?

Brief Overview

• Catholics are called to love the Church as Christ loves it, standing firm in faith even when facing real problems that need to be fixed.
• The Church’s true foundation rests on Christ and the apostles, so defending this foundation does not mean ignoring where reform is needed.
• Reform itself is part of the Church’s tradition, shown through centuries of saints, councils, and popes who worked to improve how the Church functions.
• Being honest about problems within Church structures and practices shows respect for the Church’s mission rather than disrespect or disloyalty.
• Catholics can and should challenge poor leadership, unjust practices, and failures while still believing that Christ guides the Church through history.
• The tension between defense and reform is not a contradiction but rather a sign of a living, growing community seeking to live out the Gospel more fully.

Understanding the Church’s Nature and Purpose

The Catholic Church exists as the body of Christ in the world, called to carry the message of salvation and build God’s kingdom. This foundation means that the Church’s core identity rests not on human leaders or structures but on Jesus Christ himself and the faith passed down through the apostles. When we defend the Church, we defend this fundamental truth about who the Church is and why it exists. The Church is not a human organization that we can reshape according to personal preferences or cultural trends. Instead, the Church is a divine reality that works through human beings who are themselves sinful and limited. This means that some aspects of the Church are unchanging and worth defending fiercely, while other aspects are ways of organizing human activity that can and should change over time. Understanding this difference is crucial for anyone trying to balance defense with reform. The deposit of faith, which includes Scripture and Tradition, forms the permanent core that Catholics must always protect and defend. Pastoral practices, however, can be reformed when they no longer serve the mission of the Church or when they cause harm. This distinction allows Catholics to be both loyal defenders of the faith and honest reformers working to improve how that faith is lived out.

The History of Reform Within the Church

The Catholic Church has a long tradition of reform stretching back through the centuries. Saint Benedict founded monastic communities partly to preserve learning and faith during troubled times, but also to reform the spiritual life of the Church. Saint Francis called the Church back to simplicity and radical poverty, challenging wealth and excess within religious institutions. Saint Catherine of Siena spoke forcefully to Pope Gregory XI about corruption and the need for change, proving that faithful Catholics have always felt called to speak truth to Church leadership. The Reformation itself, while it resulted in division, arose partly from legitimate concerns about practices that needed fixing, even though the solutions chosen led to separation from the Church. The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s showed the modern Church actively choosing to examine itself and reform how it presented the faith to the world. Pope John Paul II worked to reform how the Church addressed past failures and how it engaged with the modern world. Pope Benedict XVI wrote extensively about needed reforms and about understanding what must stay constant and what must change. Pope Francis has continued calling for reform in Church structures, finances, and how the Church treats those who have been harmed. These examples show that reform is not foreign to Catholic identity but rather part of how the Church remains faithful to Christ across different times and cultures.

Defending the Faith While Acknowledging Failures

Defending the Church does not mean pretending that failures have not happened or that everyone in leadership has acted with integrity. Catholics can acknowledge serious sins, mistakes, and failures by Church members while still maintaining faith in the Church’s divine mission. When we hear about scandals involving priests or bishops, we can be both horrified at these actions and committed to the Church’s redemptive purpose. Honest acknowledgment of wrongdoing actually strengthens the Church’s credibility and witness to the world. People trust institutions more when those institutions admit problems rather than cover them up or deny them. The Gospel itself shows us that Jesus worked with sinful apostles, trusting them with his mission even knowing they would fail him. Jesus did not abandon the Church because Peter denied him or because Judas betrayed him. Instead, Jesus continued working through flawed human beings, building his Church on people who struggled with weakness and sin. This pattern continues today, and Catholics who defend the Church while also calling for justice and reform are following the example of Jesus himself. When we demand that Church leaders be held accountable, we are not rejecting the Church but rather calling it to live up to its own standards and teachings about morality and truth.

The Role of Conscience in Defense and Reform

Catholic teaching recognizes that each person has a conscience formed by reason and faith, and this conscience calls us to act rightly even when it is difficult. The Catechism teaches that we must follow our conscience, and this applies to how we relate to the Church as well (CCC 1776-1777). Conscience does not mean doing whatever we feel like doing, but rather seeking the truth about what is right and then acting according to that truth. For Catholics, this means sometimes we must stand against practices or teachings that seem wrong, but we do so while remaining in communion with the Church and submitting to its authority on matters of faith and morals. Conscience also means we cannot simply accept whatever Church leaders say if we recognize through prayer and study that it contradicts the Gospel or Church teaching itself. Many saints and faithful Catholics have gone against the wishes of Church leaders when they saw injustice or error, and they did this as acts of love for the Church, not hatred of it. Saint Thomas More refused to accept King Henry VIII’s authority over the Church, defending Church independence even when it cost him his life. Saint Joan of Arc listened to what she believed was God’s voice rather than accepting the judgment of bishops who tried her for heresy. These examples show that true loyalty to the Church sometimes means resisting those in power when they are wrong. A well-formed conscience recognizes that the Church’s teaching and the actual behavior of Church leaders do not always match, and this gap sometimes calls for reform.

Scripture and Tradition Support Reform

The Bible itself contains many stories of God calling his people to repent and change their ways. The prophets in the Old Testament stood against kings and religious leaders, calling them back to God’s law and pointing out where they had strayed. Jeremiah criticized the religious practices of his time, saying that God wanted mercy and justice rather than empty rituals. Jesus himself severely criticized the religious leaders of his day, saying they placed heavy burdens on people while not living according to what they taught. Jesus overturned tables in the Temple, showing that sometimes change needs to be confrontational and dramatic. The early Church constantly reformed itself as it learned how to apply Jesus’ teachings in new situations. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 shows the early Christians wrestling with how to understand their traditions in light of new circumstances. Saint Paul challenged Saint Peter about how to treat non-Jewish believers, showing that even the apostles could be wrong about important matters and needed correction. The Church’s tradition includes the principle that the Holy Spirit guides the Church through time, which means the Church can learn and grow in understanding. This growth sometimes requires letting go of practices that no longer serve the Gospel, even if those practices were once considered essential. The theological principle that the Church must continually reform itself according to Scripture and Tradition is actually very Catholic and very ancient.

Avoiding False Loyalty and Genuine Accountability

Some people confuse loyalty to the Church with blindly accepting whatever Church leaders do or say, but this is not true loyalty. Real loyalty means wanting the Church to be its best self and holding it accountable when it fails. Parents who love their children tell them when they are doing something wrong, and this correction shows love rather than the opposite. Similarly, Catholics who speak up about problems in the Church show that they actually care about the Church’s mission and reputation. False loyalty that covers up abuse, ignores corruption, or pretends everything is fine actually harms the Church and enables further wrongdoing. The Church’s own teaching on human dignity, truth, and justice calls for accountability when these things are violated. When bishops cover up abuse by priests, they violate the Church’s teaching about protecting the vulnerable and seeking truth. When Church leaders live in luxury while preaching detachment from wealth, they contradict what the Church teaches about serving the poor. When Church finances are mismanaged or used for purposes contrary to the Church’s stated values, this demands investigation and reform. Speaking up about these things is not being disloyal to the Church; it is being loyal to what the Church stands for. The Church will actually be stronger and more credible when it faces its problems honestly and works to fix them.

The Role of Laity in Both Defense and Reform

The Second Vatican Council emphasized that all baptized people, not just priests and bishops, are responsible for the Church’s mission in the world (CCC 897-900). This means that lay Catholics have not only the right but also the responsibility to think carefully about the Church and to work toward its improvement. Lay people often see problems that leaders do not see because they interact with the Church in different ways and experience its impact on their daily lives. A parent who brings children to Mass sees whether the homily speaks to real life situations. Someone struggling with a difficult family situation sees whether the Church’s teaching on marriage and divorce actually matches the reality of people’s pain. A person experiencing same-sex attraction sees whether the Church treats them with the dignity that all humans deserve. These lived experiences give lay people important insights into where the Church needs to change. The Church needs the voices of married couples, parents, young people, and workers to understand how its teaching functions in real life. When lay people speak up about problems respectfully and thoughtfully, they are actually strengthening the Church’s ability to serve people. The Church’s leadership should listen carefully to these voices rather than dismissing them as dissent or disloyalty. Lay people can write about their experiences, join study groups, attend Church meetings, and engage in conversations about how the Church can better live out its mission. This kind of participation is completely consistent with being a faithful and loyal Catholic.

Reforming Structures While Preserving Faith

The Church needs to distinguish between its essential faith, which cannot change, and its structures and practices, which can and should adapt. The core beliefs about God, Christ, the Trinity, salvation, and the sacraments form the foundation that cannot be reformed because they come from Christ himself. However, how the Church is organized, how bishops are chosen, how money is managed, how decisions are made, and how the Church relates to society can all be reformed. Transparency in financial matters would strengthen the Church and fulfill the Gospel’s call to honesty. Lay participation in decisions about parish life and Church direction would improve those decisions and increase people’s sense of ownership. Creating clear processes for reporting abuse and removing abusive priests would protect victims and restore the Church’s credibility. These are structural reforms that do not touch the faith itself but rather improve how the Church functions. Some people worry that any change will lead to loss of faith, but history shows this is not true. The Church changed from Latin to local languages at Vatican II, and this did not harm the faith. The Church changed its teaching on slavery, and the faith became stronger as a result. The Church changed how it relates to other religions and to science, and these changes showed the faith to be more reasonable and more true. Faithful Catholics can work for structural change while completely defending the faith itself.

Learning From the Saints Who Challenged Authority

Throughout Catholic history, saints have challenged Church authority when they believed it was wrong, and these saints are now honored as models of holiness. Saint Catherine of Siena wrote letters to Pope Gregory XI that were sharp and direct, telling him that he needed to change his policies and return to Rome. She was not disrespectful or rude in a crude way, but she was definitely not quiet about what she thought needed to change. Saint John of the Cross faced opposition from other religious leaders during his life because he was trying to reform the Carmelite order, and he suffered for this work. Saint Teresa of Avila similarly faced resistance from Church authorities when she tried to reform her order according to what she believed God was calling her to do. Saint Thomas Aquinas disagreed with Pope John XXII on a matter of theology, and he was willing to state his disagreement publicly. These saints show that the Church honors people who stand up for what they believe is right, even when it means going against authority. They did this while remaining Catholics, submitting to the Church on matters of faith and morals, and genuinely seeking to serve the Church’s mission. Their example shows that reform-minded Catholics are not necessarily disloyal or faithless, but may actually be deeply committed to the Church’s true purpose. The Church has always needed such people to push it toward living up to its ideals.

Defending the Church’s Teaching on Social Justice

Part of defending the Church means holding it accountable to its own teaching on justice, solidarity with the poor, and the dignity of all people. The Church teaches clearly that economic systems should serve human beings rather than humans serving systems of profit (CCC 2425-2436). The Church teaches that war should be a last resort and that peace is a constant goal for Catholics to work toward. The Church teaches that creation is a gift from God to be protected and cared for, not merely exploited for profit. Yet sometimes Church members and even Church leaders act in ways that contradict these teachings. When wealthy Catholics ignore the Church’s teaching about obligations to the poor, they need to be reminded of what their faith calls them to do. When Church leaders support wars or economic policies that harm the vulnerable, faithful Catholics can question whether this is consistent with the Gospel. When Church institutions invest in companies that damage the environment or exploit workers, these choices can be criticized in light of the Church’s own social teaching. This criticism comes from within the Church, using the Church’s own standards, and thus it is a form of defense rather than attack. We defend the Church’s integrity by pointing out when it falls short of its own ideals. We show respect for the Church’s teaching by actually holding people accountable to that teaching.

The Importance of Humility and Prayer

Anyone working to reform the Church must do so with genuine humility and awareness of their own limitations. We can be wrong about what needs to change, and we can be wrong about how to change it. Prayer should accompany any effort at reform, seeking wisdom from the Holy Spirit rather than relying only on our own judgment. Catholics who work for reform should not become so focused on what they want to change that they lose sight of the faith itself. It is possible to become so angry at Church failures that we lose the peace and joy that come from trusting in Christ. It is possible to become so convinced that we are right about needed changes that we refuse to listen to others or to consider that we might be mistaken. The spiritual life of anyone involved in Church reform needs to remain anchored in prayer, sacraments, and genuine love for God. Reading the lives of saints who worked for reform shows that they maintained deep prayer lives even while challenging authority. They were not motivated by ego or a desire to be right, but by genuine concern for souls and for the Church’s mission. They accepted suffering as part of their work and did not expect immediate results or recognition. This spiritual foundation gives reform work its meaning and prevents it from becoming merely political or personal in nature. Catholics working for reform should examine their own hearts regularly to make sure they are being motivated by love of the Church and faithfulness to Christ.

Understanding the Church’s Unity and Mission

The Church is meant to be a sign to the world of Christ’s love and redemption, a community where people experience belonging and grace. When the Church is torn apart by internal conflict or when people leave the Church because of failures by leaders, the Church’s ability to witness to Christ is damaged. This does not mean we should avoid criticism or hide problems, because as mentioned earlier, honesty is actually better for the Church’s credibility. Rather, it means that reform work should be done in a way that builds up the Church rather than tearing it down. The goal of reform is always to make the Church more faithful, more effective, and more loving, not to punish Church leaders or prove oneself right. When reformers become so focused on pointing out what is wrong that they lose sight of the good things the Church does, they lose credibility. Many parishes do excellent work serving the poor and building genuine community. Many priests and bishops live with integrity and genuine holiness. Many lay people participate in the Church with joy and commitment. Reformers should acknowledge and build upon these good things rather than pretending they do not exist. The unity of the Church is not something to be discarded lightly, even when there are real problems that need fixing. Schism and division cause great harm to the Gospel’s witness. This means that reform should work from within the Church, using its own structures and traditions, rather than splitting off or creating parallel structures.

Responding to Victims and Healing Wounds

One major area where the Church clearly needs reform is in how it responds to victims of abuse by clergy. The Church teaches that human dignity must always be protected and that victims of crime deserve justice and support (CCC 2299-2301). When the Church has failed to do this, it has violated its own teaching and caused profound harm. Defending the Church in this case does not mean defending abusers or covering up abuse. It means insisting that the Church live up to its standards and do what is right toward those who have been harmed. This includes removing abusers from positions of power, supporting victims with resources and counseling, and making it possible for people to report abuse without fear of retaliation. It includes honest investigation of what went wrong and clear communication about what is being done to prevent future abuse. It includes bishops being held accountable for their failures to protect people. When the Church reforms how it handles abuse cases, it is not betraying its faith. Rather, it is fulfilling what the faith requires about protecting the vulnerable and seeking justice. Many victims of abuse have actually remained in the Church precisely because they see the Church working to reform and to do better. Their willingness to stay and work for change should inspire other Catholics to do the same. Healing the wounds caused by abuse is a central task for the Church in this time, and this healing requires real reform.

The Balance Between Criticism and Scandal

Catholics need to think carefully about how to express criticism of the Church so that it leads toward improvement rather than merely creating scandal or causing people to lose faith. There is a real difference between pointing out a problem clearly and respectfully, and attacking in ways designed to embarrass or humiliate. There is a difference between seeking genuine reform and merely venting frustration. When we criticize the Church publicly, we should ask ourselves whether our goal is actually to change things or whether we are trying to prove ourselves right or superior to others. We should consider whether we have tried to address the problem privately first, as Jesus taught (Matthew 18:15-17). We should make sure we understand the issue fully before we speak, because criticism based on incomplete information can do real harm. At the same time, some issues are so serious or so public that addressing them privately is not enough. Cases of abuse, corruption, and large-scale failures that affect many people warrant public discussion and public accountability. The key is to be honest about our own motivations and to seek genuine improvement rather than merely expressing anger. We can be both critical and charitable. We can point out serious problems while still recognizing the good work that many in the Church do. We can call for reform while still praying for those we criticize. This balanced approach is more likely to actually change hearts and lead to real improvement.

Becoming More Knowledgeable About Faith and Practice

Part of working responsibly for Church reform is becoming more knowledgeable about what the Church actually teaches and why. Many people criticize the Church based on incomplete understanding of its teaching or its history. Reading the Catechism helps Catholics understand what the Church really believes and why. Studying Scripture in depth shows how Church teaching connects to the Gospel. Learning about Church history reveals that reform and development of understanding are normal, not unusual. Understanding how the Pope exercises authority and how different Church offices work helps people see where decisions come from and why things are organized as they are. When people understand the Church better, they often develop more nuanced views about what needs to change. They may see that something they thought was a problem actually makes sense within the Church’s overall vision. Or they may see that a genuine problem is rooted in something deeper than they initially understood. Either way, greater knowledge leads to more effective criticism and better proposals for reform. Catholics should read widely about their faith, including books by theologians, historians, and spiritual writers. They should talk to priests and other knowledgeable Catholics to understand different perspectives. They should try to understand the Church’s reasoning before deciding they disagree with it. This intellectual engagement is itself a form of loyalty to the Church, because it means taking the Church’s claims seriously enough to really think about them.

Working Within Church Structures for Change

The Church has various structures and processes designed for addressing problems and making decisions about how the Church functions. Parish councils, diocesan committees, and other official bodies exist partly so that lay people can have input into Church decisions. People who want to reform the Church should learn about these structures and use them rather than just complaining to friends or on the internet. Attending parish meetings, joining committees, and participating in official processes takes more time and effort than simply criticizing, but it is more likely to lead to actual change. Some parishes have mechanisms for people to raise concerns or suggest improvements. Learning about these mechanisms and using them shows respect for the Church’s own processes. At the diocesan and national levels, there are often organizations and conferences where Catholics can raise issues and work for change. Bishops often welcome input from lay people on matters that affect the parish community. When Catholics work within these structures, they become part of the solution rather than merely part of the problem. They also gain better understanding of why decisions are made the way they are, which can lead to either agreement or to more informed and persuasive arguments for change. This structural approach to reform is slower and sometimes more frustrating than simply criticizing, but it is more respectful of the Church’s own authority and more likely to create lasting change.

The Role of Leadership in Receiving Criticism

Church leaders bear real responsibility for how they respond to criticism and calls for reform. The Gospel teaches that leaders will be held to a higher standard (Matthew 23:1-12). Leaders should listen carefully to those they serve rather than dismissing all criticism as dissent or disloyalty. Leaders should be willing to admit when they are wrong and to change course when needed. Leaders should investigate serious complaints rather than covering them up or attacking those who raise them. Leaders who respond defensively and dismissively to legitimate concerns actually harm the Church and push thoughtful people away. Good leadership means creating an environment where people feel safe to speak up about problems. It means having systems in place for receiving complaints and addressing them fairly. It means being transparent about decisions and the reasoning behind those decisions. Popes and bishops who have been most respected in history are those who listened to their people and were willing to change when they saw they were wrong. Pope John XXIII convened Vatican II partly because he listened to voices calling for the Church to engage more fully with the modern world. Such openness to reform does not weaken leadership; it actually strengthens it. People respect leaders who are secure enough to listen to criticism. Conversely, leaders who refuse to listen eventually lose credibility and respect. Church leadership, like all leadership, improves when it includes genuine dialogue with those being led.

Living the Tension Faithfully

Catholics must learn to live with the tension between defending the Church and working to reform it. This tension is not comfortable, but it is healthy when managed well. The tension keeps Catholics from becoming either so defensive that they ignore real problems or so critical that they lose faith in the Church’s goodness. A mature faith involves holding both truths at once: the Church is Christ’s body carrying his grace into the world, and the Church is also made up of sinful humans who make mistakes and sometimes cause harm. This mature faith looks at each issue carefully to determine whether it involves a matter of faith, which must be defended, or a matter of practice, which can be reformed. This faith prays regularly about Church issues rather than merely complaining. This faith trusts that the Holy Spirit is working in the Church even when progress seems slow. This faith remains in the Church and works from within rather than abandoning it when disappointed. Most importantly, this faith remains rooted in love for Christ and trust in his redemption. When Catholics keep their focus on Jesus rather than on being right about Church issues, they maintain their spiritual balance. They can work for reform without becoming bitter. They can defend the Church without becoming dishonest about its failures. They can love the Church without being blind to its problems. This is the path that many saints have walked, and it remains the path for faithful Catholics today seeking both to defend and to reform their Church.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Work of Renewal

The Catholic Church exists in history and must continually renew itself to remain faithful to its mission in changing times. This renewal requires both defense of eternal truths and reform of temporary structures and practices. Catholics who work for both these things together are not being contradictory but rather being faithful to the Church’s own tradition and teaching. The Church belongs to Christ, who guides it through history, and this assurance should give Catholics courage to speak truth and work for justice. The Church also belongs to all baptized people, and each person has a responsibility to care for it and work toward its improvement. Reform done with humility, prayer, and genuine love for the Church strengthens rather than weakens it. Defense of the faith done with honesty about failures maintains rather than harms the Church’s credibility. The task of being both a defender and a reformer is challenging, but it is the calling that Christ extends to all his followers. In working to improve the Church, Catholics participate in the work of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly renewing the Church and leading it toward greater holiness and effectiveness. This work will continue as long as the Church exists in the world, and each generation of Catholics is called to contribute its own efforts and witness. By holding together both defense and reform, Catholics can help the Church become what Christ intends it to be: a living sign of God’s love, a community of grace, and a faithful witness to the Gospel in the world.