I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5)

An independent organization of concerned, committed Catholics, based in Pittsburgh, formed to affirm the laity’s rightful role of co-responsibility in the Church. Our focus is to bring about positive changes grounded in working collaboratively with the clergy and having the qualities of transparency, accountability, and competency.

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WHO WE ARE

We are a group of concerned Catholics committed to the Church – the Body of Christ – to promote healing among all affected by the sexual abuse scandal and to instill a sense of co-responsibility between laity and clergy to restore trust through transparency.
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OUR MISSION

We seek to give voice to Catholics who share deep concerns about our Church. Through constructive reform, not revolution, we seek to act in conformity with gospel values to make positive changes.
Learn Our Mission

WHAT WE ARE DOING

We are bringing together committed lay people, religious, and clergy to work in a spirit of co-responsibility with our Church leaders and hierarchy to create a template for constructive reform to move our Church forward.
Join Us In Our Efforts

FOCUS GROUPS

Seven Focus Groups within CCOC allow its members to use their gifts, energies, and abilities to prayerfully and deliberately discern how best to effect positive change in our Church.
Focus Group Details

CCOC ISSUES PROGRESS REPORT TO MARK THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF THE PA GRAND JURY REPORT ON CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE

CCOC has published a Progress Report on State of the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh on August 14, 2020, the second anniversary of the PA Grand Jury Report that shocked our Church with its revelations in 2018.

The Progress Report provides a two-year assessment of the changes occurring in the Catholic Church of Pittsburgh as it responds to the sexual abuse crisis, and to declining participation from lay Catholics driven by the global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent financial crisis .

CCOC’s Public Statement on the first anniversary of the Release of the Grand Jury Report was published on August 14, 2019. In the Public Statement, CCOC reviewed what had happened in our Church in the past year, what was happening then, and what needed to happen in the future to sustain the Church in our diocese and across America.

The Progress Report also contains an infographic with the grading of the efforts within the Church in nine categories and providing an overall grade of C-.

Click Here to Read the Progress Report and View Infographic on Page 2 of the Report

 

CCOC FEATURED IN ANOTHER NATIONAL MAGAZINE PROFILE ARTICLE

CCOC is featured in another profile article – this time in the National Catholic Reporter, a leading Catholic publication offering a significant alternative Catholic voice.

In the article, several members of CCOC offer their perspective on efforts to make positive change in the Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, and urge the diocese to do more to restore broken trust. Being chosen by National Catholic Reporter to be profiled is affirmation and validation that CCOC, along with the many other lay groups that are a part of WATCH (We Are The CHurch), are getting noticed and making a difference!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER ARTICLE ABOUT CCOC

A GATHERING IN JANUARY, 2020 ENERGIZES CCOC MEMBERS

Over eighty (80) CCOC members Gathered for an all-day event in January, 2020. There was time to discuss the current state of the diocese, parishes, and CCOC, identify priorities of needs within each of them, and consider planning initiatives and actions for 2020. The pandemic we are experiencing has slowed some of the initiatives, but not the enthusiasm for them! You are encouraged to read the Notes from the Gathering which captures the Spirit that was in our midst that day. After reading, please consider registering or joining a Focus Group!

CLICK HERE TO READ NOTES FROM THE GATHERING

WE BELIEVE

We believe that Catholics, lay and ordained, must walk together toward the holiness to which we are called by our baptism, and create a new culture of co-responsible leadership and governance that is transparent, accountable, competent, and rooted in the gospel values of justice and mercy. These positive changes are the only way forward to restore trust and safeguard the essential mission of the Catholic Church.

Join Our Mailing List

CCOC invites you to join over 1,000 other CCOC members to find your own voice in our Church!

Please use the Mailing List Form below to sign up for email alerts and become a part of a movement to make positive changes in our Church.

If you want to register more fully, including to be a part of a Focus Group, please fill out our Registration form. 

If you simply have a question or comment, please use our Email Us form.

CCOC appreciates and values your privacy. Your contact information will NOT be shared with or sold to anyone.