Who’s Responsible for Fixing the Church? We Are.

Will Pope Leo XIV be a pontiff who speaks boldy and forthrightly in favor of equality for women and LGBTQ+ people?

While that question has been on people’s minds since the papal conclave ended on May 8th and the new pope was announced, for a Colombian jounalist who writes about gender equality, it doesn’t matter what the pope does, but what Catholic people do concerning gender and sexuality matters.

Writing for WorldCrunch, Stephanie Salazar Mahecha writes that “in the face of the unknown, it seems that it is the faithful rather than the Pope Leo XIV who will provide the answers.”

Salazar poses the following moral dilemma:

“If Pope Leo XIV decided to speak out against the greatest commandment, which is to love thy neighbor, would we have to obey in blind submission the main teaching of Jesus, just because the holy father decided to do so?

“Beyond whether or not the pope considers that the inclusion of women is an urgent priority — which it is — or that the LGBTQ+ population should be included; if I, as a faithful woman, consider that it is just and necessary, it is also my responsibility to promote that principle over and above what the ecclesial authority says.”

While it would be totally unlikely that Pope Leo would, in fact, make such a suggestion, Salazar’s point is that Catholics must respond in the way many already have: by following their consciences. The Catholic laity must claim their responsibility by reclaiming “our freedom of conscience and the legitimacy of what we believe in. Our convictions are not at the whim of the papacy or any other man in charge. Our deep and sincere convictions, in which we believe that the Church has to change, also endow us with responsibility.”

Salazar acknowledges that there is hope for Pope Leo, based on some of the first words he spoke as pope.  However, if the hope for inclusive messages is not satisfied, Catholic lay people must continue to speak out and act in favor of greater welcome and justice.  She writes:

“Pope Leo XIV precisely stated in his first address: ‘We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with its open arms, all, all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.’

“Now, if in this search for love and dialogue there is no space for women and LGBTQ+ people, once again the fundamental Christian call, which is love for all people, is not being fulfilled. If in those bridges of dialogue we continue not to be seen as legitimate interlocutors, it is also necessary that, as believers, we continue to demand what is just.”

Catholics at the grassroots level have been making changes in the church for decades now by welcoming and affirming LGBTQ+ people into their parishes and faith communities.  With very little leadership from hierarchical authorities, Catholics have been creating spaces for LGBTQ+ people, being guided by “reading the signs of the times” (as Vatican II recommended) and following their consciences. Without rejecting the church’s hierarchical structure, Catholics have taken responsibility for enacting their own role within that hierarchy by providing pastoral care and outreach.

As we continue the journey as a synodal church, Salazar’s message is a reminder that we must not despair and that we must not point fingers at others, but use our hearts, minds, souls, and voices to create a renewed church that welcomes all.

—Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, July 15, 2025