THE WAY FORWARD
Everybody is shocked and rightly angered over the sex abuse scandal in the Church. As more revelations surface the crisis appears to be bigger than anyone imagined and It stings like rubbing salt into a wound. Priests are capable of sin and unfortunately, many people have wrongly left the Church because of this scandal. The Catechism of The Catholic Church teaches “Outside the Church there is no salvation” - Certainly, I am not looking to leave the true church founded by Christ Himself. What is needed is a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation.
We have been in need of a renewal for some time now. Prior to the sex abuse scandal, the Church was focused on getting lapse Catholics back in the pews. Due to the current scandal this mission is now harder than ever. In response respond to this great loss of active members our bishop initiated the “Church Alive” campaign. The name sounded like something dreamed up by a marketing firm hoping to sell people the idea that the Church is making a real comeback. It fails in part since we all realize that we need action and not catchy slogans to turn this ship around. So, the question is how do we go about orchestrating a comeback?
Our local pastor had some ideas but it seemed to be just more marketing ploys. He initiated new policies: Door greeters, meet and greets, shake hands before Mass starts, and my favorite - donut Sundays! But I am not here for the donuts and in reality, these ideas are not new. This is how successful Protestant Churches bring people in their doors. I couldn’t help but wonder why we taking our cues from the Protestant Churches when we have the Mass? Yes,The Mass! The Eucharistic celebration where we unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life. Where the same sacrifice made at Calvary is made present on our altars. Only Catholics have the Mass! The big issue is that most Catholics really don’t understand the Mass. I can prove my point by asking Catholics this question: "What is the Mass?" How many would answer correctly? Not many. Clearly we have a lack of proper catechesis.
More troublesome is when the misdirection comes from the clergy. I have attended too many Masses where the emphasis was placed on the Eucharist as a communal meal instead of a sacrifice. I have been at Mass where the presiding priest changed the words of the offertory to “May the Lord accept the gifts from OUR hands...” In doing so he intentionally obfuscated his rule as a priest to offer the sacrifice of the Mass from his hands in Persona Christi. This is one example of a liturgical abuse I have witnessed and I could mention many more. Our actions reflect our beliefs. Lex orandi, Lex credendi.
What would a real renewal of the Church look like? I put together a list of things that I think are reasonable if not essential.
- The tabernacle placed in the center of the church. Catholics always genuflect as they enter the pew. We acknowledge the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is moved away from a place of prominence this gesture loses its intended meaning.
- Stop Communion in the hand. A diminished belief in the Real Presence is the result of Communion in the hand and many sacrileges occur. Ideally, the indult granted by Pope Paul the VI permitting this practice should be rescinded. For more information I highly recommend reading Pope Paul the VI’s instructions on this matter titled “MEMORIALE DOMINI” - Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
- No altar girls. Let’s encourage priestly vocations - not hinder them.
- Priest offer Mass facing “Ad Orientem.”
- Homilies that contain more solid Catholic catechesis. Many Catholics sitting in the pews are not well catechised. Those who are long to hear Catholic teaching to reinforce their beliefs.
- More use of traditional sacred music. No contemporary folk Mass.
- Stop the abuses outlined in “Redemptionis Sacramentum” by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 25 March 2004. Why is this document largely ignored? For instance, how many churches still use a communion plate?
- Follow the General instructions of the Roman Missal. (GIRM) I have attended many Masses the proper rubrics are not followed.
- Follow canon law. The Church dispenses wisdom in Her ordinances and works toward the common good.
Protecting God's children
The Church is not only guilty of covering up sex abuse within its ranks but also guilty of remaining silent when children are at risk in society at large. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Today we are told if you see something, say something.The Church is negligent in protecting children today by being silent when an outcry is required. The Church is largely silent about the multitude of abuses the children are exposed to in their everyday life. The Supreme court legalized gay marriage across the US on June 26, 2015. It happened literally overnight and I was appalled and stunned. This is truly an attack on the family. Did I hear anything against it from the bishop or at the pulpit. No! Check the Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper archives, nothing.
Many children are trapped in an abusive public school system. Again more silence from the Church when action is required.
Many children are trapped in an abusive public school system. Again more silence from the Church when action is required.
The Pittsburgh Public schools:
- Have 27 failed schools - approximately half of all their schools. (A failed school ranks in the bottom 15 percent of standardized test scores.)
- The teachers’ union openly supports Planned Parenthood and publishes this testament on their website.
- The school board has a memorandum of understanding with Planned Parenthood allowing them to enter the schools and teach sex education. The Planned Parenthood based "comprehensive sex education" curriculum taught in public schools does violence to the morality of our children.
- Have LGBTQ benefits in their teachers’ contract to facilitate hiring immoral teachers.
- The Pittsburgh Public School policy supports gender fluidity. Students can self-identify as any or no gender. The policy states that the parents are not to be notified unless the student gives permission. Also, the school must designate teachers to promote this cause to the students. This includes allowing boys who self-identify as female in the girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms. These policies are further bolstered by the City government which has passed a bill banning conversion/reparative therapy to minors under the age of 18. Any therapy to overcome same sex attraction and gender dysphoria is considered by them to be child abuse. It follows then that puberty blocker drugs and opposite sex hormone injections are “OK” and not considered child abuse. More recently, our city is now hoping to pass a bill overturning a law that restricts drag queen shows only to areas zoned as industrial. Yes, they want men dressed in drag to be able to perform anywhere in the city. This is already happening in our libraries. Carnegie Library sponsors “Drag Queen Story Hour” recommended for children from birth to 5th grade!
The Church was busy closing Catholic schools at a time when public schools were busy corrupting the morality of children. The diocese of Wichita Kansas provides tuition free Catholic education to children. 38 schools with nearly 11,000 students. Consequently, this Diocese is experiencing a vocation boom while most other diocese are suffering a severe lack of vocations.
If Wichita can do this, why can’t other communities?
We are quickly headed to a world wherein the influence of Catholicism is greatly diminished. A Godless society where in the name of freedom we will lose our freedom. The last moral authority standing is the Catholic Church and currently It is on shaky legs. Let us pray for strong leaders. Let us pray for a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation.
