This article remarks that the church in the United States (1986) is passing through a new and critical phase with regard to two aspects of its life: 1) how its clergy-and especially its bishops-will relate as teachers to its highly intelligent and trained laity, and 2) how the church as a whole will enter into the debate in American society on political, social and economic issues. The following reflections will be developed by the author: 1.- The role of the laity is to transform secular society issues in a new and urgent way from within. 2.- Integralism will always be a temptation for the Catholic Church or for any group convinced of the rightness of its positions. 3.-The church has every reason to be concerned about the integrity of its doctrine as well as the consistency of its tradition.