Decline of the Church- So it would seem

6-26-08: Decline of the Church – So it would seem:
Daerius faults Catholic religious services in which participation by the laity is limited to recitation “by rote," and in a monotone. He sees a relationship between that kind of religious service and decline in membership. In our country, with a higher level, membership is in decline compared to the nations of Africa, where the Church seems to be growing rapidly. He feels that the Church fails to recognize the difference in cultures, adapting where needed. And, of course, lastly but certainly just as importantly he cited the recent sexual scandals on the part of priests.
My first reaction to this comment: He must have listened too intently to Christopher Hitchens when he was interviewed by Bill Maher recently. Hitchens is making a small fortune for himself, selling atheism. In his latest book, “God is not Great,” Hitchens mentions all of the points Daerius does and adds a few more. The only thing that is different is that Hitchens targets all religion, not exclusively the Roman Catholic Church.
Daerius and Hitchens are not alone in their dislike of Catholicism. But they are not presenting any new arguments. Throughout the history of religion, there have been anti religious people who have used the same arguments. As to the charge that religion thrives on the ignorance of the more common folk, I think the irreligious stand on weak ground. To my knowledge, there have not been any quantitative studies made which could give us some additional light on the matter. But it seems clear enough that many, if not most of the enemies of religion, have an unbounded opinion of their own intellects.
We do have ample evidence that, throughout history, vast numbers of highly educated people have been champions of religion…perceiving no conflict between their minds and spirits.
This Contrarian Catholic, would seem to many Catholics to be an enemy of the Church. And, truth to tell, I have to admit that I take a curious sort of pleasure in awareness of that. But for the most part, I do not “argue” religion, because I do not think it to be productive…perhaps even counter-productive, if my purpose should ever be to convert. Aside from including them in my prayers, I am quite content to live peaceably with those who fault my Church…it being quite clearly able to manage without any arguments on my part. As a two thousand year old institution that has weathered innumerable attacks…some even physical, it has time on its side!
When the matter comes up, I remember most fondly the lines of the great historians Will and Ariel Durant: In Volume IV of their massive world history, we read: “If art is the organization of materials, the Roman Catholic Church is among the most imposing masterpieces of history. Through nineteen centuries, each heavy with crisis, she has held her faithful together, following them with her ministrations to the ends of the earth, forming their minds, molding their morals, encouraging their fertility, solemnizing their marriages, consoling their bereavements, lifting their momentary lives into eternal drama, harvesting their gifts, surviving every heresy and revolt and patiently building again every broken support of her power. How did this majestic institution grow?"
But now to some specifics. Daerius mentions scandals of today…pedophilia in the priesthood. being one. Scandal, it certainly is. And it is worsened by the fact that many bishops confuse it with homosexual orientation. Numerically, it seems that most of the pedophilia incidents were commited by priests who were homosexual in orientation.
There seemed at first, to be an effort to rid the priestly ranks of all homosexuals. And that was a terrible mistake. Pedophilia is Sexual abuse must not be conflated with sexual orientation. It is understandable, that people with homosexual orientation might very well be more drawn to the priesthood, just as they are to certain other professions. The effort by the bishops ought to be only to go as far as they can to detect and eliminate only those drawn to pedophilia, gay or straight. Indeed, if the Church were to disbar all homosexuals in the priesthood today, it would be in a very serious predicament. If they think there’s a shortage of priests now, just wait ‘till they see what would happen to their numbers, should they take such a drastic step!
Daerius indicts monotone praying by rote. Interesting. Most world religions, use this for prayers said by numbers of people, as opposed to silent prayer by individuals. In terms of the psychology of religion, it makes sense. Consider Buddhists and Muslims. Just as Daerius thinks this practice bad, I gain much spiritual strength when I join my voice with others saying these ancient prayers. Far from being a fault, I think of this (in comparison with Protestants) as a great virtue.
But when he speaks of cultural differences, I think he’s on to something! And, in a way, perhaps a too small way, it does that. Example. In most colleges and universities, there will be Newman clubs. These are chapels for collegiate Catholics and very often are staffed by Jesuits, who do customize a brand of Catholicism for the intellectually inclined. But a typical parish church cannot do this, for the simple reason that the majority will almost always approach their religion on much simpler level. And the parish priest, though better educated than most of his people and probably of an intellectual bent himself, would serve his people badly, were he to try to reach them on that level. This is the one thing I regret I can say unquestionably, that my own parish church does not meet my spiritual needs. And yet, though I oftentimes feel like a stranger in a strange land, and here is where the rote praying is perfect for me.
Mass is kind of theatrical, in a way. The priest has his lines and the congregants have theirs.
We, the priest and the laity, all have our lines memorized, like actors on a stage. That might strike some Catholics as coming close to sacriligious, but to me, it is the only thing that makes me feel like being part of a corporate body. I watch and listen intently to the priest as he moves about at the altar, reading his lines from the Missal…lines that are well-rehearsed. And though I might not feel a kinship with the other people in the pews, I feel very related to the priest and what he is saying or doing at the altar.
So…it seems that the things Daerius dislikes about Mass are the very things that pull me gently in, gently forward as we, the priest and I, perform our given parts, worshiping God in this unalterably beautiful way. When I pray privately and silently at home, sometimes using prayers written down by holy people of times long past, I feel increased closeness to God the Father and cannot imagine living without these moments. But the most sublime prayer for me is the Mass on Sundays. It is both an obligation and a fully pleasurable act. From the moment I enter the Church, I’m exquisitely aware of God’s unique presence. From my first genuflection all through to the announcement that the Mass is finished…I could cry for sublime joy.