Longer term, we should work toward transforming the church leadership. Lay experts should be involved in clergy assignments when the safety of children is at stake.

We should create an office of the lay provost to perform oversight and accountability. We should evaluate how to create a priesthood for the 21st century that attracts people to a revitalized Catholic Church. We need better screening procedures for new priests.

Priesthood is a daunting challenge for the Catholic hierarchy. By allowing the sacrament of marriage to co-exist with the sacrament of holy orders, we should consider allowing priests to marry and women could be ordained priests.

Clearly, we must have change and more lay involvement. If not, I fear we will see many people turn from anger and betrayal to rejection and departure from the church.