What to Do When Church Authority Seems Unjust?

Brief Overview

• Catholics believe that the Church possesses authority given to it by Christ through Saint Peter and the apostles, yet this authority is exercised by human beings who can make mistakes.
• When a Catholic faces a decision or action from a Church official that seems unfair or wrong, they should first take time to consider whether they fully understand the situation and the reasons behind it.
• Prayer and consultation with trusted spiritual advisors, such as a confessor or spiritual director, can help a person discern whether a concern is valid or based on misunderstanding.
• Catholics have the right to make their concerns known through proper channels within the Church rather than acting alone or sharing complaints publicly without first seeking resolution.
• The Church teaches that obedience to legitimate authority is an important virtue, but obedience does not mean blindly following commands that contradict God’s law or the teachings of the Church.
• Understanding the difference between matters of discipline and matters of doctrine helps Catholics respond appropriately when they believe Church authority has acted wrongly.

Christ’s Authority and the Church

The Catholic faith teaches that Jesus gave authority to the Church to guide the faithful toward salvation and holiness. In Matthew 16:18 to 19, Jesus tells Peter that on him the Church would be built and gives him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. This authority flows from Christ to the Pope and to the bishops who lead dioceses around the world. The authority of the Church is meant to serve God’s plan for salvation and to help people live according to God’s will. When Catholics acknowledge Church authority, they do so because they believe Christ established this structure for the good of all believers. This foundation helps us understand why Church authority carries real weight in Catholic life. The Church’s authority extends to matters of doctrine, discipline, morality, and the administration of the sacraments. Catholics accept that this authority comes from God even when the exercise of it sometimes falls short of what seems fair or right. The recognition of Church authority does not depend on whether Church leaders are perfectly holy or always make the best decisions. Rather, Catholics honor the office and the structure Christ established, even when particular people in those offices make choices that cause confusion or pain.

Understanding Human Weakness in Leadership

People in positions of Church authority are human beings with real limitations and the capacity to make mistakes. The Pope, bishops, and priests are called to follow Christ and to serve the Church faithfully, yet they remain subject to human weakness. They can be influenced by incomplete information, personal biases, cultural assumptions of their time, or simple misunderstanding of complex situations. The history of the Church shows many examples of Church leaders who made errors in judgment or who acted based on limited knowledge. Saint Paul himself corrected Saint Peter publicly when Peter’s actions seemed to contradict the Gospel message, as described in Galatians 2:11 to 14. This scriptural example shows that even apostles could be challenged when their actions appeared inconsistent with Christ’s teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the assistance of the Holy Spirit protects the Church’s teaching authority in matters of faith and doctrine (CCC 889). This protection does not extend automatically to every disciplinary decision or administrative choice made by Church leaders. Catholics therefore should distinguish between the Church’s infallible guidance on matters of faith and the fallible decisions Church leaders make in running parishes, dioceses, or other institutions. Recognizing this distinction helps Catholics respond wisely when they believe Church authority has acted wrongly in specific situations. Understanding that leaders are human does not mean accepting bad decisions without question, but it does mean approaching such situations with compassion and realistic expectations.

The Virtue of Obedience

Obedience is an important virtue in Catholic teaching because it reflects our willingness to submit to God’s will and to the order God establishes in society. The virtue of obedience is not about blind compliance to authority figures regardless of what they ask. Rather, it means choosing to follow legitimate authority that operates within its proper sphere and in accordance with God’s law. Saint Paul writes in Romans 13:1 that every person should be subject to the governing authorities because they have been established by God. This passage does not mean that all exercises of authority are just or that Catholics must obey commands that contradict God’s will. The Catechism teaches that obedience to legitimate authority is a moral obligation, yet this obedience has limits when authority commands something sinful or unlawful (CCC 1897 to 1902). Catholics are never obliged to obey an unjust command, and they may refuse to follow directions that violate their conscience or God’s law. However, refusing to obey must be done carefully and respectfully, with awareness of the consequences and with a sincere commitment to discerning whether the command truly violates God’s will. A person should not rashly assume that they know better than Church authority without serious reflection and consultation with others. The virtue of obedience exists to help us order our lives according to God’s plan, not to help us escape responsibility for our own choices and conscience.

Distinguishing Between Doctrine and Discipline

The Church teaches the same doctrine across the world because doctrine is rooted in Christ’s revelation and the deposit of faith passed down through the apostles. Discipline, by contrast, includes the rules, practices, and organizational structures that help the Church function in particular times and places. Questions about how and when Mass should be celebrated, how parishes are structured, which languages are permitted in the liturgy, or how religious communities are organized all fall under matters of discipline. The Pope and bishops have authority to set discipline for the Church, and this discipline can change over time as circumstances change. Catholics can and should follow Church discipline even when they might prefer different rules or procedures in their particular situation. However, when a matter of discipline seems unjust or harmful, Catholics have more room to express concerns and to seek change through proper channels. A person who believes a Church disciplinary rule is unjust can petition those in authority to reconsider, can contact bishops or Vatican offices, or can raise concerns through official organizations within the Church. Such appeals should be made respectfully and through appropriate channels rather than through public complaints or attempts to undermine the rule on one’s own. By contrast, matters of doctrine about God, Christ, salvation, and the sacraments cannot be changed, and Catholics must accept the Church’s teaching on these subjects as binding. Understanding which category a particular issue falls into helps a Catholic respond appropriately and with proper respect for authority. When someone disagrees with Church doctrine, the response is to deepen one’s understanding of why the Church teaches what it teaches rather than to seek change. When someone disagrees with Church discipline, there are legitimate ways to voice concerns and to work toward reform through the Church’s internal structures.

Seeking First to Understand

Before concluding that Church authority has acted unjustly, a Catholic should try hard to understand what led to the decision or action in question. People often experience what seems like unfair treatment without having complete information about why a choice was made. A person might know their own experience and perspective while lacking knowledge of other factors that influenced the decision. Speaking with the person or office that made the decision can clarify misunderstandings and provide important context. Sometimes what seems unjust from one angle looks more reasonable when you understand the full picture. If a priest denies someone access to a sacrament, for example, there may be canonical or pastoral reasons that are not immediately apparent. If a bishop makes a personnel decision about a priest or parish, there may be information the bishop has that the people affected by the decision do not possess. This does not mean that every decision will seem fair once you understand the reasoning, but it does mean that understanding should come before judgment. A Catholic should ask sincere questions rather than assuming the worst about the motivations of Church leaders. Approaching authority with the assumption that they are trying to do what they think is right, even if they may be mistaken, helps create space for real dialogue and understanding. Taking time to understand before reacting helps ensure that your response will be measured and appropriate rather than based on incomplete information or emotional reaction.

The Role of Spiritual Direction

Talking with a spiritual director or confessor about concerns regarding Church authority can help a person discern whether the concern is valid and how to respond appropriately. A spiritual director is trained to help people think through complex moral and pastoral situations in light of Catholic teaching. This person knows you, understands your spiritual condition, and can help you consider whether your reaction comes from genuine concern or from personal discomfort with rules or decisions. A spiritual director can also help you distinguish between what is truly unjust and what is merely inconvenient or contrary to your personal preferences. The spiritual direction relationship is confidential, which creates a safe space to voice doubts and concerns without fear of those concerns becoming public. Through spiritual direction, you may come to see that a decision you initially thought was unjust actually reflects the wisdom of the Church’s teaching on a particular matter. Alternatively, spiritual direction may help you confirm that your concern is indeed valid and help you discern how to respond constructively. A spiritual director can also help you prepare to speak with Church authority if that becomes necessary, ensuring that you approach such conversations with the right attitude and with clear thinking. When you lack a regular spiritual director, speaking with a trusted priest during confession provides an opportunity to bring these concerns to someone trained in pastoral care. Even a thoughtful lay Catholic who knows Church teaching well can sometimes help you think through a situation, though this is not a substitute for speaking with a priest or religious professional. The goal of seeking spiritual counsel is not to gain reassurance that you are right, but to seek truth about the situation and about how you should respond.

Discerning Conscience and Personal Preference

A person’s conscience is their own moral judgment about what is right and wrong, and Catholics must follow their conscience. However, conscience is not the same as personal preference or emotional reaction to something that bothers you. A well-formed conscience comes from knowing God’s law, understanding Church teaching, and praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. When someone says that their conscience prevents them from obeying Church authority, they must be serious about what this means. Conscience objection should not be used as a way to avoid rules you simply dislike or to claim special treatment because you think you know better than the Church. The Catechism teaches that Christians have the right and duty to inform themselves about matters that affect their conscience, but this formation comes through prayer, study, and consultation with wise people (CCC 1783 to 1785). If after genuine prayer and reflection a Catholic truly believes that obeying a Church authority would require them to act against God’s law, they may refuse to obey while still respecting the authority and accepting whatever consequences follow. This is very different from disagreeing with a Church rule or decision and then simply doing what you want. Conscience is not a license to ignore Church authority whenever it seems inconvenient or contrary to your preferences. Claiming conscience as a reason to disobey should be rare and should come only after serious discernment about whether obedience would truly violate God’s law or your relationship with God. Most disagreements with Church authority do not rise to the level of conscience objection and should be handled through other means.

Proper Channels for Expressing Concerns

When a Catholic has a genuine concern about a Church decision or action, there are proper channels within the Church for bringing these concerns to the attention of those who can address them. Speaking directly to the person or office responsible for the decision is usually the first step. If you have a concern about how a parish is being run, speaking with the pastor is appropriate. If you have a concern about how a diocese is being run, contacting the bishop’s office is appropriate. The Church teaches that we should work toward resolving disagreements directly with the person involved rather than taking concerns to others first (CCC 2487). When direct conversation does not resolve the concern, many parishes have councils or committees where pastoral matters are discussed and where concerns can be raised formally. Dioceses have structures for pastoral consultation and ways for people to bring concerns to the bishop’s attention. The Vatican has offices that handle appeals and complaints about diocesan decisions. These official channels exist precisely so that Catholics can voice concerns without resorting to public complaint or attempts to undermine Church authority. Using these channels shows respect for the Church’s structure and gives authority figures a chance to respond appropriately. It also keeps the matter private rather than airing disagreements publicly, which protects the unity of the Church and the reputation of the people involved. When using official channels, a person should be clear about their concern, factual about what they believe went wrong, and respectful in their tone even if they feel strongly about the issue. This approach increases the likelihood that your concern will be taken seriously and addressed fairly.

When to Seek Legal Help

In some situations, particularly when a matter involves potential abuse, financial wrongdoing, or violation of civil law, a Catholic may need to seek help outside the Church’s internal structures. If a priest or religious worker has abused a child or vulnerable adult, reporting to civil authorities is not only permitted but morally required. The Church’s internal processes cannot and should not replace civil law enforcement when crimes have been committed. If a Church official has stolen funds, mismanaged property, or violated civil law in other ways, civil legal action may be appropriate. Seeking legal help in such situations does not contradict the Catholic commitment to work through Church structures for most disagreements. Rather, it reflects the reality that when harm has been done to others or when civil law has been broken, civil authorities have a role to play. A Catholic can simultaneously respect Church authority and seek justice through the civil legal system. Some situations involve both internal Church matters and civil law concerns, such as disputes about property or contracts. In these cases, consulting with a lawyer can help clarify whether a civil lawsuit is appropriate or whether the matter should remain within Church structures. The decision to pursue legal action should be made carefully and with advice from people you trust, including spiritual directors and lawyers. Such action should never be taken primarily out of anger or a desire for revenge against Church authority. Rather, it should be pursued when you believe that civil law has been violated and that civil courts are necessary to address the wrong.

Responding to Unjust Discipline

When a Catholic concludes after careful discernment that a Church disciplinary rule or decision is genuinely unjust, there are constructive ways to work toward change. One approach is to study the issue thoroughly and present arguments to Church authority about why the rule or decision should be reconsidered. This means gathering information, understanding the historical reasons the rule exists, and developing a clear case for change. Such arguments should be presented respectfully to appropriate authorities rather than being shared publicly in ways designed to embarrass Church leaders. Another approach is to work with others who share your concern, developing a petition or formal request that many people can sign. Collective action through official channels shows Church authority that many people agree with your concern and may encourage them to reconsider. Different parishes, dioceses, and Church organizations have different structures for involving people in decisions, and you should learn what options exist in your particular situation. Some issues require patience and persistence over many years before Church authority is willing to reconsider a rule or decision. The role of Saint Catherine of Siena in encouraging Pope Gregory to return to Rome shows that respectful, persistent advocacy can influence Church leaders. Pope John Paul II listened to requests from many Catholics about changes to the liturgy and to certain pastoral practices. This does not mean that every request for change will be granted, but it shows that Church authority can be influenced through respectful advocacy. When working for change, remember that you are seeking to improve the Church’s service to God’s people rather than simply pursuing your own preferences or interests. This attitude should guide your approach and your tone in every interaction.

Accepting Unjust Treatment

Sometimes despite doing everything right, a Catholic will experience treatment from Church authority that truly seems unjust and that does not change through appeals or efforts to seek understanding. In these situations, Christian faith calls for a kind of acceptance that does not mean approval of the wrong but rather a commitment to not allowing bitterness to poison your soul. Jesus himself was treated unjustly by authorities, both religious and civil, and he taught his followers to endure such treatment with grace. In Matthew 5:38 to 42, Jesus tells his followers not to resist evil but rather to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. This teaching does not mean that people should accept abuse or exploitation, but it does mean that Christians are called to respond to injustice without hatred or a desire for revenge. Saint Paul writes in Romans 12:19 to 21 that we should leave room for God’s wrath and overcome evil with good. When a Catholic has exhausted reasonable efforts to address an injustice and has found no remedy, they can commit the matter to God’s hands and trust that God sees what happened and cares. This does not mean accepting injustice passively in all circumstances, especially when others are being harmed. Rather, it means choosing not to allow unjust treatment to define your faith or to drive you away from the Church. The Church remains Christ’s body even when individual members of the Church fail to act as Christ would have them act. Your faith in Christ can remain strong even when your faith in particular Church authorities has been disappointed. Many saints experienced unjust treatment from the Church itself, yet they remained faithful and found peace through prayer and trust in God’s ultimate justice.

Maintaining Faith During Disappointment

Disappointment with Church authority can sometimes shake a person’s faith in the Church itself or in God. It is normal and honest to feel hurt, angry, or confused when Church leaders act in ways that seem to contradict Gospel values. Catholics should not pretend that such feelings do not exist or that they should simply disappear through prayer. Rather, bringing these feelings to God in prayer, expressing them honestly to a spiritual director, and allowing yourself to process them is part of spiritual maturity. Many great Catholic thinkers have written about their struggles with Church authority and their efforts to remain faithful despite disappointments. These writings show that honest questioning and the effort to work through disappointment are themselves forms of faithfulness. However, there is a difference between wrestling with disappointment and allowing that disappointment to lead you away from the faith. The Catechism teaches that faith is a supernatural virtue that allows us to believe in God and in God’s revelation even when we lack complete understanding (CCC 150 to 159). This faith includes trusting God even when we do not understand everything about how the Church functions or why Church leaders make the decisions they do. The Church is not the same as any individual priest, bishop, or even the Pope, though these people do guide the Church. Your faith in Christ and in the truths Christ revealed does not depend on whether every Church official acts justly. Building your faith on Christ rather than on Church leaders shields you from spiritual harm when those leaders fail. This does not mean ignoring failures or pretending they did not happen, but it does mean keeping your primary focus on Christ and not allowing human failings to shake your core commitment to the Gospel.

Learning from Church History

The history of the Church provides many examples of situations where Church authority acted wrongly and how those situations were eventually addressed. During the Inquisition, the Church used methods that modern Catholics recognize as unjust, yet the Church survived this period and eventually moved away from such practices. When the Church resisted scientific discovery about the nature of the world, it eventually came to accept and support scientific research. The Church once supported slavery and failed to advocate strongly enough against it, but later Church teaching clearly condemned slavery. These historical examples show that Church discipline and Church practices can be unjust even when Church authorities believed they were acting rightly at the time. They also show that the Church as a whole can recognize injustice, admit error, and move toward reform. The fact that Church authority has made mistakes in the past should give modern Catholics both humility and hope. Humility because it means that contemporary Church authorities might also make mistakes or fail to address injustices adequately. Hope because history shows that the Church can acknowledge error and reform itself over time. The Church’s ability to reform itself and to move away from unjust practices shows that it is alive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. When advocating for change or responding to what seems like injustice, Catholics can be encouraged by the knowledge that change has happened before and can happen again. This does not mean that every change you advocate for will come or that you will see it in your lifetime, but it does mean that such advocacy is not futile or against the nature of the Church.

The Prophetic Role of the Catholic Faithful

The Church teaches that all the baptized faithful have a role in the Church’s life and mission, not just the ordained clergy and religious professionals. This includes what is sometimes called a prophetic role, meaning that lay Catholics can and should speak truth to Church authority when they see injustice or errors. The Second Vatican Council taught that the whole people of God shares in Christ’s prophetic office and that the Holy Spirit distributes gifts among all the faithful for the benefit of the Church (CCC 904 to 907). This means that if a lay Catholic sees that something being taught or done in the Church contradicts the Gospel, they have not just a right but a responsibility to speak up. However, this prophetic role should be exercised carefully and with respect for the legitimate authority of the hierarchy. Speaking prophetically does not mean speaking rashly or disrespectfully but rather speaking truthfully and lovingly about concerns. Saint Paul’s correction of Saint Peter provides a model for how one member of the Church can address concerns with another, even when the other person holds higher authority. The prophetic voice of the faithful has been important in the Church’s history and has sometimes prompted reforms and movements toward justice. When Church authority resists what seems like obvious injustice, it is sometimes lay Catholics who keep alive the call for change. This is not undermining the Church’s hierarchy but rather fulfilling the role that the Holy Spirit has given to all the baptized. A Catholic engaging in this prophetic role should do so with humility, recognizing that they might be wrong and that Church authority might see things they do not. Still, the willingness to speak truth respectfully to those in power, even at personal cost, is part of what it means to be a faithful Catholic in the world.

Practical Steps for Moving Forward

If you are currently experiencing what you believe is unjust treatment from Church authority, some practical steps can help you navigate the situation. First, take time to pray about the matter and to examine your own heart and motivations honestly. Ask yourself whether you might be reacting to personal preference or inconvenience rather than true injustice. Second, gather information about why the decision was made and what Church teaching says about the matter at hand. Third, speak with a spiritual director, confessor, or trusted Catholic friend about your concerns and ask them to help you discern how to proceed. Fourth, if you remain convinced that injustice has occurred, seek to understand what channels are available to you for expressing your concern. Fifth, prepare your concern clearly and factually, focusing on specific examples rather than general complaints. Sixth, approach the person or office responsible for the decision with respect and a genuine openness to their explanation. Seventh, if direct conversation does not resolve the matter, use official Church channels to bring your concern to higher authorities. Eighth, avoid sharing your complaints publicly or using social media as a way to pressure Church authority into changing a decision. Ninth, be prepared for the possibility that your concern will not be resolved the way you hoped and that you may need to accept the decision while continuing to advocate for change. Tenth, remember that your relationship with God and your commitment to Christ are more important than any particular decision by Church authority. Following these steps will help ensure that you respond to perceived injustice in a way that honors both your conscience and your respect for the Church. They will also increase the likelihood that your concern will be taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Understanding God’s Permission of Injustice

Catholic theology teaches that God is all powerful and all good, yet injustice exists in the world and sometimes within the Church itself. This raises the difficult question of why God permits injustice to happen, including injustice committed by those who serve God and the Church. One answer is that God created human beings with free will and that true freedom includes the possibility of choosing wrongly. If God forced all people always to act rightly, people would not really be free. God respects human freedom even when people use that freedom to do wrong. Another answer is that God works through human history and human failures in ways that we do not always understand. Saint Paul writes in Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for good for those who love God. This does not mean that injustice is good or that God causes injustice, but rather that God can bring good out of even bad situations. The existence of injustice in the Church and in the world calls Christians to work for justice and to refuse to accept wrong passively. If God did not permit injustice or if injustice did not call out for correction, there would be no need for the virtue of justice or for the call to defend the weak and vulnerable. The fact that injustice exists gives us the opportunity to practice justice, compassion, and the love Christ taught. For Catholics who suffer injustice from Church authority, this theological understanding may not remove the pain or disappointment, but it can help locate that suffering within a larger spiritual framework. You can trust that God sees the injustice, cares about it, and will ultimately bring about justice even when earthly authorities fail. This trust does not require you to approve of the injustice or to stop working for reform, but it can bring peace and stability to your spiritual life despite your circumstances.

Reconciliation and Healing

After experiencing injustice from Church authority, healing and reconciliation may take time and may require outside help. Some Catholics who have been hurt by the Church benefit from speaking with a therapist or counselor who understands both psychology and religion. These professionals can help you process feelings of betrayal or anger and can support you in building back trust. Others find healing through writing about their experience, through conversations with trusted friends, or through different spiritual practices that help them feel close to God. The Church itself offers reconciliation through the sacrament of penance and reconciliation and through the healing that comes from gathering with others in prayer. Some situations require a more formal process of reconciliation between the person who was harmed and the Church authority responsible. The Church is increasingly recognizing the importance of acknowledgment of wrong, apology, and restitution when possible. If Church authority has admitted error and apologized, accepting that apology and working toward reconciliation can be part of healing. Even if Church authority does not apologize or recognize the injustice, a Catholic can still work toward forgiveness as part of their own healing. Forgiveness does not mean accepting that what happened was right or that the person who wronged you did not do something wrong. Rather, forgiveness means releasing the anger and desire for revenge so that you can move forward spiritually. Many Catholics have found that holding onto anger toward the Church or toward Church leaders has kept them trapped in spiritual pain. Choosing to forgive, even when forgiveness is not offered or asked for, can be a powerful way to free yourself from that pain. This process of healing and reconciliation should be supported by spiritual guidance and should happen at your own pace without pressure. The goal is ultimately to restore your peace and your right relationship with God even if your relationship with particular Church authorities remains damaged or complicated.