Guy Ciarrocchi: Catholic leaders — Be not afraid

Sadly, my Church is missing what’s happening. 

With the best of intentions, targeted outreach, the formation of “study” committees, and recent messaging campaigns, it risks not only failing to attract fallen-away Catholics; it risks turning away devout Catholics — and the thousands converting and coming home. 

What they want is already happening right under their noses. Too many are missing it, as they await marketing reports and the results of study commissions.

My counsel is shared with love, concern and humility — not arrogance or righteousness.

The Church is a nearly 2,000 year old institution. It moves slowly: this is often a blessing, but can be a shortcoming. The leadership often takes a long time to observe a problem. Frequently the response is to establish a committee process. And once the process for assessing and recommendation is in place, stand back — it must be permitted to run its course.

In short, “Catholics” were not attending mass, and their kids were not always getting baptized.

Weekly mass attendance had been around 17 percent of baptized Catholics.

The Church is not a mere McDonald’s losing customers to Chik-Fil-A. Ours is a faith that fears losing souls. And in the majority of cases, those who stopped attending Mass were not becoming active Episcopalians — nor converting to any other non-Christian faith. They often stopped practicing faith.

But I bring “good news.” Conversion to Catholicism is on the rise! Forty-four percent annual growth in Los Angeles, 30 percent in Newark, 55 percent in Boston, 77 percent in Harrisburg — 60 percent in Philadelphia.

And Mass attendance is growing — especially on college campuses: 55 percent attendance at Catholic universities. The outdoor Mass at the University of Michigan stadium and the student-built “ice sculpture’ mass at Notre Dame — in 19-degree temperatures — were awe-inspiring.

No studies. No marketing campaigns. No mixers. No meet and greets. Not a new logo, nor a slogan.

They are coming back for the best, most basic and most powerful of reasons: they “Believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…”

In a world of chaos, anger and anxiety, people are looking for hope — not just for hope’s sake. In a world where words change meanings — up is down and down is up, people are hungry for stability and for truth. In a culture of relativism and of instant gratitude, a society that imposes moral codes that change faster than an AI search, people are looking for a rock to build their life on.

Both “fallen away” Catholics and many who are neither baptized nor practicing a faith are seeking Catholicism. They want the One, Holy, and Apostolic Church. They’re not looking for a TED Talk about optimism, with vestments and stained glass windows.

For too long, my Church fell away from promoting faith in America because of Catholic guilt, an inferiority complex (the scandals didn’t help) and America’s acceptance culture. Mistakenly thinking that tolerance for — and even collegiality with — our neighbors meant that we should not promote our faith. We traded God for “gods.”

Tragically, many of our Catholic universities taught our bishops and leaders looking to fill pews the wrong way.

Attempting to be all things to all people, the words Catholic, God, Jesus, or Holy Spirit were hidden or disappeared from university mission statements or messages to prospective students. So focused on filling seats and not offending, eventually St. Joseph’s University looked like Temple, but on the Main Line’s border — not only a de-emphasis on faith, not only diversity of opinion, but inviting and embracing values antithetical to Catholicism. Both may be fine academically, but neither is promoting nor proud of Catholicism. Georgetown stopped putting crucifixes in newly constructed buildings starting in the 1990’s.

Many leaders mistakenly came to believe that identifying with and promoting Catholicism told others they were not welcome. That’s wrong and misguided. Catholic means universal. The pillar-bordered St. Peter’s “square” literally opens outward — inviting everyone in.

At the same time, practicing our faith and calling on the Catholic faithful — and all who aspire to be Catholic — to devoutly, fully and unwaveringly practice the faith should be our heart-filled goal.

Devotion to our faith is not a calling that pushes people away, nor does it seek to expel those who make mistakes — those who sin. It is our faith — and the deep devotion to it — that calls everyone to it. And invites the sinful to repent and come back.

Catholic orthodoxy is not a litmus test to chase one away. It is a faith that asks you to open your eyes, ears and heart — and to choose to embrace it.

American culture, built as it is, understandably can view conformity, selflessness, and humility as antithetical to who we are. However, loyalty and devotion to God and one’s faith, steeped in 2,000 years of prayerful tradition — albeit it flawed at times — is a gift.

Yes, Church leaders must balance the books, wisely and prudently using resources — having advisers and committees for those purposes is necessary. And, embracing the American tradition of feedback — good and bad — can be part of our faith.

But with humility and respect, Church leaders: you do not need to search for, nor water-down the message — nor our faith.

Start with the Nicene Creed. Then, be not afraid.

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania.A Catholic striving to follow the commandments and eternally grateful for the gift of the Good Friday sacrifice, Guy can be found at @PaSuburbsGuy.