Three ways the new leader can right the Catholic Church after decades of sexual abuse revelations, permissive moral theology and experimental liturgical changes

Taylor R. Marshall | July 16, 2025

(The Washington Times) — It’s no secret that the Catholic Church, in its historic territories, has faced a decline in Mass attendance, priestly vocations and birth rates after decades of sexual abuse revelations, permissive moral theology and experimental liturgical changes.

After the death of Pope Francis, Catholics wondered: Did we reach the final crescendo of theological, moral and liturgical ambiguity, or shall we buckle down and prepare for more?

I speak for tens of millions when I say Pope Leo XIV’s election marked a moment of hope. Pope Leo’s first 60 days in the position revealed his return to traditional papal attire and the use of Latin for papal blessings and the Mass.

Perhaps Pope Leo XIV is about to take decisive steps to reverse the gravest scandals of his predecessor. Allow me to propose three ways he might achieve this.

Overhaul the handling of sexual abuse with transparency and justice

Pope Francis’ handling of the sexual abuse crisis represents a profound failure that undermines the church’s moral authority. The most prominent example is the case of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, who was expelled from the priesthood in 2019 after being found guilty of sexually abusing minors and adult seminarians over several decades. Pope Francis faced public outcry for moving too slowly, acting only after years of allegations and public pressure.

Similarly, there is the case of the Rev. Marko Rupnik, a Jesuit priest and friend of Pope Francis, who was accused of psychological, spiritual and sexual abuse involving nuns. Only after public outcry did the pope order the case to be reopened in 2023. This failure to act decisively sent a message that the church prioritizes optics over justice, further wounding victims and the faithful.

Pope Leo XIV should prioritize a comprehensive overhaul of the Vatican’s approach to sexual abuse, ensuring zero tolerance and full transparency. He can issue a new papal decree within his first year, mandating immediate removal of accused priests from ministry, public disclosure of allegations and a streamlined process for victims to seek justice.

Reaffirm Catholic teaching on marriage and sexuality

Pope Francis also introduced doctrinal confusion by seemingly sanctioning irregular unions regarding divorced and remarried couples (without annulments), as well as homosexual couples. Moreover, his 2023 approval of blessings for same-sex couples and cohabiting couples, as outlined in the Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans, further blurred the church’s moral teaching.

Pope Leo XIV must issue a new encyclical reaffirming the church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality, correcting the ambiguities. Citing the Catechism and Scripture, he should clarify that Communion is reserved for those in a state of grace and that blessings should be given to couples seeking to conform their relationships to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church. This document would aim to restore doctrinal clarity, ensuring that bishops apply the church’s teachings uniformly.

In my recent book, “Christian Patriot: 12 Ways to Create One Nation Under God” (Post Hill, 2025), I argue that the foundation of Catholic society is holy matrimony and the family. One chapter highlights Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, which brilliantly upholds traditional Catholic teaching on marriage and the family as the bedrock of civilization.

Pope Leo XIV has already publicly praised Rerum Novarum on these points, and he could finesse and expand it in a new encyclical, reaffirming sacramental marriage and the traditional family.

End the liturgy wars and restore the traditional Latin Mass

In 2021, Pope Francis issued an unpopular decree restricting the increasingly popular Traditional Latin Mass (Traditionis Custodes). With this action, he overturned Pope Benedict XVI’s official provision that granted priests the freedom to celebrate the traditional Latin liturgies. His controversial decision failed and has fueled division by alienating Catholics throughout the world.

Pope Leo XIV should repeal Traditionis Custodes and affirm the traditional Mass’ rightful place in the church’s inheritance. By mid-2026, he could convene a liturgical conference to promote reverent celebration of both the traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass, ensuring unity through diversity rather than suppression.

A hopeful future

Pope Leo XIV has a historic opportunity to heal the wounds of the past decade. By overhauling the response to sexual abuse, reaffirming Catholic doctrine on marriage and sexuality and restoring the traditional liturgies, he can lead the church back to its sacred roots.

These actions, grounded in Scripture and tradition, would restore confidence among the faithful. The Catholic Church needs a pontiff who upholds its traditional doctrine with clarity and courage. I am optimistic that Pope Leo XIV will be that shepherd.

Taylor R. Marshall is the author of “Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within” and his latest book, “Christian Patriot: 12 Steps to Create One Nation Under God.” He and his wife live in Texas with their eight children, where he teaches at the New Saint Thomas Institute (NSTI.com), providing Catholic education for students in 80 nations.