%0 Journal Article
%T Democratisation of a Hierarchical Religion: the Roman Catholic Church in the Time of a Credibility Crisis Caused by Sexual Abuse Misconduct
%A Lisak, Marcin
%J Studia Religiologica
%V 2012
%R 10.4467/20844077SR.12.001.0793 
%N Volume 45, Issue 1
%P 7-19
%K demokracja, religia, Kościół katolicki, nadużycia, skandale seksualne, odpowiedzialność; democracy, religion, Catholic church, abuse, sexual scandals, accountability
%@ 0137-2432
%D 2012
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/studia-religiologica/article/democratisation-of-a-hierarchical-religion-the-roman-catholic-church-in-the-time-of-a-credibility-crisis-caused-by-sexual-abuse-misconduct
%X 
	This paper reflects, from a sociological perspective, on the nature of authority in the Church and on the modes of governance and character of the internal self-organisation of the institution of Roman Catholicism. Historically there are no restrictions to democratisation of the Catholic church. On the other hand, at the time of a credibility crisis the necessity for accountability strengthens the trend towards wider forms of democracy. The efficiency and integrity of Catholicism demand transparency of structures and accountability of leaders, who have frequently, especially in Ireland, failed in their supervision by mishandling and covering up abuse cases.