Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Ecce Homo with Jesus and Pontius Pilate, 19th century
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.
Maybe my coffee just hasn’t kicked in but your little “the scandals didn’t help” aside really made me chuckle.
Gee, ya think Guy? Priests sexually abusing children across the country had a negative affect on Church attendance…and that’s my TED talk.
The focus now is on sexual abuse of students by public school teachers and the unions who cover it up.
Victims of these public school teachers and their unions are restricted in their litigation rights.
But you knew that.
Please share the info you have. Or is the boogeyman covering it up?
Also Pops, please focus. This article isn’t about public schools, but (I hope) you knew that.
Just to clarify, is your contention that there aren’t increased exposure of teachers abusing students sexually or that unions are not covering it up?
Pops is right, and you’re embarrassing yourself, AB.
DelcoPops,
Anyone that pays attention and is sincere knows that Catholic abuse occurred less than almost in any other institution(s) (i.e., other religions, and other professions, etc.) The Catholics have always been hated by the elites. So the elites amplified and sensationalized what happened, as much as they could possibly push. They gleefully delighted in attacking Catholics and Catholicism. So be it.
Catholics in authority abused children, and it occurred frequently, and it was absolutely terrible. And many in their leadership participated in it and they did cover-ups, and they rotated predators to other parishes, and it was all so terrible. It happened less than in almost any other institution but the horror was also amplified as much as possible. And the Catholic leaders were weak and pathetic in their response.
All of that happened, and it doesn’t define Catholicism. Arguing with AB about it all isn’t going to solve anything, nor convince AB. Say a prayer for AB. And one for me, too, please. God bless. Press on!
As a currently lapsed Catholic, that wasn’t what it was for myself or many of my peers.
My biggest gripe with the church is their completely abandoning the original churches and schools who helped build them and keep them afloat and the fact that the entire point of Catholic schools was to give the most disadvantaged specifically a quality education.
Catholic schools were never supposed to be like private schools, and the church was never supposed to be a business.
Belief in the Catholic Church (notice, I didn’t say theology) is not helped by having scandals such as in Canada, where unfounded accusations of deadly abuse of indigenous people were met, not with challenges but with Papal apologies and recently, a Papal expression stating that “God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.” This is a condemnation of, and insult to, any soldier who fought against evil since the beginning of civilization. It also is in direct conflict with both the Old and New Testaments. As a veteran, I find it personally offensive. Things like these are great off-putting reasons not to join a Catholic parish.
The greatest commandment, given by Jesus the Christ, is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second commandment, given by Jesus the Christ, is to “love your neighbor as yourself,” and these two commandments summarize the essence of the law and the prophets. Leviticus 19:18: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Who is my neighbor?
… Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
By the way… Jesus was telling a joke with the Samaritan story. Jokes are told with three parts which is what that story does.
A Jewish man was walking along in the sand. He was a serious Jewish man, not one of these Eastern European atheists. Anyway, he tripped over something, picked it up, and brushed it off. It was a genuine genie lamp!
Genie: I’m a one (1) wish genie. What do you want?
Jewish Man: I thought I get three (3) wishes… why are you telling me I only get one (1) wish?!?
Genie: Unfortunately for you, as luck would have it, I’m a one (1) wish genie. So. What do you want?
Jewish Man: (Pulls out map of the Middle East. Explains the situation) …and so… I want peace in the Middle East.
Genie: Did you hear me? I’m a one (1) wish genie. I don’t have that power. Give me a different wish.
Jewish Man: I’ve been married for 50 years. I’d like my wife to rub my feet, and seduce me like she did long ago.
Genie: … so show me that map again.