text: Gerry O'Hanlon, S.J., Dublin, Ireland made a really good submission to the Aussie Royal Commission that gives a picture of how the church has moved over the past 1000 years from a more synodal and collegial to a hierarchical and centralized structure.  But what is important in this paper is his discussion of culture and context and what made it so difficult for the bishops and the Church to see and respond to the problem of child sex abuse.  He, like many others, calls for a more synodal church "in which the voice of women and men, sexually active and celibate, are heard ..."
  
  the submission is here  http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/exhibits/261be84b-bec0-4440-b294-57d3e7de1234/case-study-50,-february-2017,-sydney  
  
  There is a second - very good - exhibit by O'Hanlon at the same place.
  
  The CARA study doesn't deal with what structural changes the Church needs to make.  It assumes a status quo that is unrealistic for the future.