Following the symposium that was held at Canisius College on November 28, the organizers of The Movement to Restore the Trust held a follow-up workshop to discuss more deeply the crisis that lies within the Buffalo Catholic Diocese. 

"We had a very good workshop here at Canisius College. We started with an opening session where we heard from a survivor and we heard a very compelling story [which] helped to ground the effort here. People [now] understanding that what we're talking about arises out of the very real pain and suffering of victims of sex abuse," said John J. Hurley, president of Canisius College and one of The Movement to Restore the Trust organizers.

Those who attended were broken up into six groups, each discussing a different topic. 

Topics especially focused on the financial and spiritual healing for victims, which refers to what happens with the finances within the Diocese, accountability for bishops, the process of selecting and monitoring bishops, and having more women involved in Church administration.

And while no cameras were allowed inside the workshops to ensure everyone could speak freely, when they were done for the day, participants said they felt like they were a step further in the right direction. 

"I think it's our requirement as baptized Catholics to do this. We need to step forward and understand. Not we to the exclusion of the ordained clergy, but we in communion with the ordained clergy. [We] are the church and it's about time we started acting like adults in that sense, stepping forward and saying we're going to do this," Hurley said.

Besides the six main topics discussed, a general theme that was found among the groups was the need for more young people to participate within the Catholic Church, and how they would like to see that change.

"We're going to have to a special session, I think, on young people, teenagers, and college students. We need to listen to what their concerns are because they are the future of the church," said St. Christopher's Parish Member Robert Bennett. 

Following Saturday's workshops, groups will meet on their own time, doing research on their topics, looking for answers and  solutions that can be presented, and help to restore trust in the Catholic Church.