“The history of the church, e.g., the early Benedictines, has shown that early in ecclesiastical history the task of the clergy was to assist the laity in exercising the latter’s role in the church.” ~ Louis J Putz CSC. 

(the operative word is “assist”)

What Louis wrote, and most especially what he did in his life, was all focused on the Laity. Louis understood the two-tiered model of the Church, and this applies to many denominations, is fundamentally flawed. A correct and authentic ecclesial model holds that hierarchy, Laity, and clergy, are the direct province of the Laity. The Laity should direct both of the worlds of secular and religious as if they are one. Louis believed the role of the clergy and hierarchy was to assist the Laity. We see this theme in the Documents of Vatican II. 

So what happened? From the Dark Ages to today, the clergy took advantage of the fact that most Laity was relatively uneducated regarding scripture, philosophy, and theology. 

The Laity is educated today, and there should be no excuses for Laity and hierarchy being a seamless garment in collaboration, education, and innovation in and for the Church in the modern world.

Think about how various movements in the world of religion work to bring about awareness of the role of the Laity and how other organizations are helping educate people, both hierarchy and Laity, to a better understanding that WE, together, are the Church. 

The documents of Vatican II layout a roadmap for the modern apostle regardless of denomination.

“It grows increasingly true that the obligations of justice and love are fulfilled only if each person, contributing to the common good, according to his own abilities and the needs of others, also promotes and assists the public and private institutions dedicated to bettering the conditions of human life.” ~Gaudium et Spes

...The difference in being human and the difference it makes….