Church leaders and theologians praise Pope Francis' apostolic constitution as a breakthrough for expanding the roles of laypeople, even while it remains unclear how the shift in church governance will take place.
The second Women of the Church conference, in October at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, is meant to respond to the signs of the times, including renewed attention to laity.
At Fordham and Georgetown, experts in ecclesiology, law and psychology explored the depths of the issues that confront the church and offered possible pathways forward.
