"It is the final firm determination of the bishop that secures the stable basis for consistent acting," he said. "And no healthy approach to lay-clergy collaboration can contradict this aspect of Christ's constitution of his Church."
Collaboration would be most fruitful and effective, explained the archbishop, when "any actions taken to respond to the challenges of the current crisis are parts of a greater whole" which is in harmony with the Church's essential nature. The "greater whole," he said, is the entire work of the Church for the salvation of souls, final responsibility for which rests with the bishop.
"It is the particular competence of the diocesean bishop to be the trustee of this common good and to ensure that all particular ecclesial acts contribute to this end."
Speaking after the event, Vigneron told CNA that he was preparing for the release of a report into clerical sexual abuse by the Michigan attorney general and that "there will be a great involvement of the lay faithful helping us as this unfolds."
While the laity could play unique and expert roles in many areas according to their skills and experience, Vigneron said that it is vitally important that all the faithful maintain their prayer lives and work to hold people accountable for inaction.
The archbishop told CNA that healing the scandal of sexual abuse in the Church was a spiritual as well as structural labor.
"All the laity can continue to be engaged at the spiritual level, to realize that if there's going to be change in the Church, part of it has to be that we all pray for that to happen," he said.
"The other thing is to continue to hold the pastors accountable, to urge us to do what we need to do to advance the purification of the Church and to support us as we're engaged in those challenges."
Christine Rousselle is a former DC Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. Prior to working at CNA, she was the managing web editor of Townhall.com; she has a BA in political science from Providence College.