We are a group of lay people from many walks of life committed to gathering in the spirit of Jesus and his followers while striving to live out the Gospel message of radical love, hope, and freedom.

We are: readers, choir members, cantors, eucharistic ministers; some of us bring communion to the sick and shut ins; lay associates of religious orders; active with Development and Peace, the CWL, and with refugees through parish sponsorships. We are truly engaged in the life of our parishes and the life of the Church. What we have in common is a deep faith in Jesus Christ and abiding love for the Church.

We are a group of concerned lay Catholics committed to the Church – the Body of Christ – to promote healing among all affected by the sexual abuse scandal and to instill a sense of co-responsibility between laity and clergy to restore trust through transparency, accountability, the empowerment of the laity, and the elimination of clericalism in all its forms.

Vision

As Lay Catholics called by our baptism to lead lives rooted in the gospel values of justice and mercy, we envision a Church undergoing a profound pastoral conversion and purification in order to accomplish its mission with greater transparency and accountability.

Mission

In light of the sexual abuse scandal that has damaged the credibility of the Catholic Church’s witness, our mission is to respond to the Canadian Catholic Bishops’ call for healing, reconciliation and transformation to revitalize the Church through new, more collaborative forms of ministry.

We do this by promoting healing and reconciliation for abuse survivors; empowering lay leadership and addressing clericalism; fostering transparency and accountability; engaging and collaborating with like-minded individuals and groups who share this vision.

Values

Rooted in the vision of Jesus and his values as expressed in the Gospel; and in the vision of Church expressed by Vatican II and Pope Francis, we affirm the following values:

Recognition of the spirit of God found within each person and all of Creation

Radical equality and the dignity of every person

Shared leadership

Co-responsibility

Transparency

Accountability

Humility

Hospitality