There is no doubt that institutions, irrespective of their political background or expression of faith, need reform on a regular basis. I am also a firm believer that reform leads to evolution and innovation. It is therefore no wonder that when an organisation does not embrace reform its ideas and values tend to end up forgotten.

It is very easy to understand why such logic fits particularly well the Catholic Church. The last decade has been marred with a vast variety of scandals ranging from serious accusations of systematic coverage of paedophilic activities in various dioceses worldwide to financial scandals that led directly to the elite members the Vatican.

Hard not to include in this melee the fact that the institution has lost its grip on a significant section of its followers or, more accurately, these have lost faith in the institution. It is no longer hip to have a priest as a member of the family.

The reasons behind such a decline in the Church’s popularity are there for everyone to see. The facts leading to this rapid decline are no longer the exclusive competence of investigative journalism as these are splashed all over the social media.

I’m not that much interested in looking at the obvious but I’m more inclined at looking at an issue which I consider fundamental as it hits hard the core of the Church’s doctrine and mission.

From my perspective, the Church has lost its fundamental objective as it has transformed itself into a political institution that wields its influence to preserve its status. This transformation happened gradually over the last 60 years or so.

During this period, the world has not just undergone severe political and social changes but one would also argue that people have become more aware and more independent. This is also a result of the economic freedoms that democracy allows but also thanks to the information revolution that allows instant communication to happen on a vast scale.

It is no longer hip to have a priest as a member of the family

Information has equipped the average Joe with a far more superior tool than economic prowess that is instant knowledge. Relying on faith to sort out life is no longer a good enough answer to the modern-thinking man.

Quantum advancements inscience cemented the independence of the ‘new’ thinking society at the detriment of faith, religious beliefs and cults. From this perspective, the Church was facing an uphill struggle not just against the power wielded by individual thinking but also against the advent of relativism.

The curse of modern moral relativism has been very much at the heart of Pope Benedict’s warnings and one can easily fathom why. Suddenly, it is very hard to reconcile the Catholic way of life with the whims of modern society and those of the thinking man.

In all this, the Catholic Church ignored the changes happening in society. Change was in turn countered through dogma.

People are no longer ready to accept what the Catholic institution is preaching and, for the first time, the Church is challenged in its foundations, leaving it fighting for its own survival.

I am not a fanatic but I was raised under the influence of the universal principles wielded by the Catholic faith. Even though I am highly critical of the Church due to its various deficiencies, I still believe it has a very important role to play.

We live in an era defined by technological advancements, yet, poverty, ignorance, death due to civil wars, famine, corruption and other maladies run rife.

Ironically, all of our advancements prove to be insignificant in the wake of one of the most powerful yet disgraceful human characteristics: greed.

The Church is so much involved in defending its status quo that it missed the fundamental battle that humanity faces, that against self-destruction. This is where the Catholic Church can be of a positive influence and a beacon of guidance and hope in such moments of uncertainty.

Dogmas are not going to solve the challenges that humanity faces but dialogue, understanding and leadership might do the trick. With respect to this, one cannot help but praise Pope Francis. He’s doing a sterling job as he walks the talk.

The Church needs to evolve and that’s a fact. It needs to act more as a beacon of hope in an otherwise sterile world that is void of those principles that keep societies healthy and prosperous.

It is also understandable that reform is a lengthy process that will also be hackled by elements inherent within the Catholic Church itself. As Catholics, we have a responsibility and if we believe in the benefits the institution can provide, then we must act and be more involved in supporting the change and not be just mere spectators.

The Church has to be inclusive because, at the end, we are into this all together as the future is for us to define.

Robert Busuttil is an engineer.