Clericalism: The Institutional Dimension of the Catholic Sexual Abuse Crisis

Clericalism confronts what many consider the most urgent and unresolved issue facing the Catholic Church today: the systemic failure to enact lasting reform in the wake of the sexual abuse crisis. Moving beyond surface-level explanations, this timely and courageous book draws on insights from a wide range of secular disciplines--including organizational behavior, sociology, economics, and psychology--to diagnose the deep structural and cultural forces that have allowed clerical abuse and cover-ups to persist. At the heart of the analysis is clericalism itself: a system of rules, incentives, and unchecked authority that distorts accountability and impedes meaningful change. By tracing how these mechanisms function within Church life, the author offers not only a sharp critique but also a constructive path forward--one that prioritizes transparency, shared responsibility, and the dignity of all the faithful. Both urgent and hopeful, Clericalism is essential reading for those committed to the renewal of the Church, including lay leaders, clergy, theologians, and anyone seeking to understand--and help heal--the institutional wounds of Catholicism today.