A good corrective to my post of last night on “How Churches Die.” It’s from a priest who’s been a reader of the site since almost Day One, and a great e-friend. Here’s his email:
Just read your post on how church’s die. To a certain extent, I believe youare right on target. On the other hand, however, I don’t see it. There will have to be some major changes– major changes. Change is the only certain thing right now. But on Easter weekend we had our largest crowds ever and our largest collection (no one seems to be holding back contributions.) I sense that the majority of Catholics are fed up with the hierarchy and are genuinely frustrated by the current news. However, if their local community is healthy– if it is a home, a place of safety and joy, then they seem to be able to make a distinction between that and the larger picture. No one in my parish has looked askance at me. Instead, I have experienced an outpouring of love and support from the people who are genuinely concerned about my own well-being in this environment. That has been truly affirming. However, as a citizen of a mostly non-Catholic “red state,” I can’t say the same when I go out in public.
For what it is worth, I think that so long as the people are being fed spiritually, they will still identify closely with their parish community. And, all modesty aside, if they love their pastor, he is more important than their bishop or pope. After all, I am there for their baby’s baptism and their mother’s funeral. The real test will be to see how this sort of new identification– against the whole idea of a Catholic Church and more of a sort of Particular Church, will pan out in the years to come.
The Dish 