Menu


THE CATHOLIC PROJECT

at The Catholic University of America

An initiative from Catholic University to foster effective collaboration
between the clergy and the laity of the Church
in the wake of the sexual abuse crisis.

Watch Video

National Study of Catholic Priests

Well-being, Trust, and Policy in a Time of Crisis

The largest priesthood study in over 50 years
looking at the Church's response to abuse.
Watch the presentation

Read Now

Current Projects

National Study of Catholic Priests

National survey of Catholic priests and bishops about the impact of the abuse crisis

National Eucharistic Revival

Catholic U. is fully engaged with the USCCB's call for renewed devotion to the Eucharist

Synod on Synodality

Catholic University participated in a synod series in the Spring of 2022

Diocesan Bankruptcy

Sharing Marie Reilly's work on diocesan bankruptcy

What We Do

The Catholic Project brings together clergy and laity to address the challenges that the Catholic Church faces in the U.S. As the bishops’ university, Catholic University is uniquely situated to bring about needed change in accordance with its mission, “to discover and impart the truth through excellence in teaching and research, all in service to the Church, the nation and the world.”

The Catholic Project addresses accountability, transparency, evangelization, reform, and renewal. The facets of our work include education and formation, research, events, and media.

Our Work

News & Commentary

Unpacking news and information

View All
Stephen's Column
The New World and Thanksgiving
Stephen White of Catholic University wrote about Thanksgiving this season: “Gratitude, as I said, is the form of the holiday. And gratitude is best demonstrated when the cause of our… Read More
Podcast
Making It Personal with Bishop Joensen
Enjoy this broad-ranging conversation between The Catholic Project’s Executive Director, Stephen White, and Bishop William Joensen of the Diocese of Des Moines: https://making-it-personal-with-bishop-william-joensen.simplecast.com/episodes/stephen-white-11-23-2024-Zy_eW_bi
Stephen's Column
On the Giving and Receiving of Honor
Stephen White of Catholic University reflects on Veteran’s Day. “To honor someone is to confer upon them some measure of our own esteem. One cannot give what one does not… Read More
Stephen's Column
Time, Hope, and All Souls
Stephen White of Catholic University reflects on the Feast of All Souls: “From the first instant of our existence, everything we experience happens within the inescapable framework of time: our… Read More
Dating
The Soloists
Last month, a Dominican priest (Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP) and I were invited to record a podcast episode hosted by two women (Diana Brown and Mallory Everton) who are… Read More
Stephen's Column
What is the Good News?
Stephen White of Catholic University writes in response to the 2024 Synod on Synodality in Rome. “When Catholics go fuzzy about sin, when we obfuscate about what leads us away… Read More
Stephen's Column
How to be a Missionary Church
Stephen White of Catholic University reflects on the oddities of patronage among the saints. “One of the delightful consolations of the Catholic faith is that we seem to have a… Read More
Stephen's Column
Wonder of Wonders
Stephen White of Catholic University reflects on the experience and practice of wonder. “Such wonder, the unaffected wonder of a child who marvels at the world and the one who… Read More

Collaboration Between Clergy & Laity

Over 50 years ago, Vatican II articulated the role of the laity in the Catholic Church in a document entitled Lumen Gentium. All members of the Church, not just the clergy, “contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church.” Lumen Gentium says pastors should “willingly employ” the “prudent advice” of the lay faithful, and “confidently assign duties to them” in service to the Church. With the help of the laity, “pastors can more clearly and more incisively come to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters.“

The Catholic University of America is uniquely situated to be a place where laity and clergy can come together in a spirit of mutual respect and charity to address the most challenging issues of our times. We believe, in the words of Lumen Gentium, that by drawing on the contributions of all its members, “the entire Church . . . may more effectively fulfill its mission for the life of the world.”

Our Mission

A new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful.
—  St. John Paul II,   Christifideles Laici, 3

Join Our Newsletter

Stay informed on upcoming events, news, and resources.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.