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KARL KEATING'S E-LETTER
TOPICS:
CATHOLICS WHO DON'T THINK LIKE CATHOLICS
Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:
In October ABC News and "The Washington Post" conducted a poll of Catholics
in America. The results are not surprising: Catholics are not much better
off, theologically and morally, than other Americans--and that means they
are in pretty poor shape.
Here are the percentages of people who think the following practices are
"acceptable." The first figure is for Catholics, the second for Americans in
general.
| "Moral" Practices? | Catholics | All Americans |
| 1. Birth control using the pill or condoms | 88 percent | 94 percent |
| 2. Abortion when the mother's life is NOT in danger | 30 percent | 39 percent |
| 3. Premarital sexual relations | 67 percent | 67 percent |
| 4. Homosexual relations | 48 percent | 45 percent |
Given these responses, it's no wonder that 62 percent of Catholics say the
Church is "out of touch with the views of Catholics in America today."
I would recast that to say, 62 percent of Catholics in America are out of
touch with the faith they profess to believe. In other words, the problem is
with Catholics, not with the Church.
A similar number, 64 percent, say the Church should change "policies to
reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of Catholics today."
That means Catholics want to preach what they practice, which is a step down
from practicing what one preaches. "Don't ask me to reform my life! Change
the rules so I no longer am in violation of any. Hey, it's my self-esteem
that's at stake here!"
On the issue of priestly celibacy, 67 percent say the requirement should be
dropped, and a like number--64 percent--say women should be able to be
ordained. Such figures show a deep confusion among Catholics. When
two-thirds of them are so far off in their thinking, something is amiss.
The poll, which was conducted by telephone, apparently did not limit itself
to practicing Catholics but counted as Catholic anyone who identified
himself as one. Since only one-fourth of Catholics in the U.S. attend Mass
regularly, the results necessarily were skewed.
But, still ... the results can't be considered encouraging. What they tell
me is that the Church in this country has failed in its first task, which is
instruction in the faith. If the folks in the pews don't know their
religion, they can't practice it.
I suspect it's fair to say that most of today's priests have never--not even
once--preached a homily in which they forcefully explained why contraception
is a serious sin. I'll go further: I'll bet most priests never have
mentioned contraception from the pulpit, even obliquely.
"The hungry sheep look up and are not fed," says Scripture. Well, in this
case they are being fed, but with the same gruel fed to the rest of the
populace. Why are Catholics at Mass given, in so many parishes, the Social
Gospel but not gospel truths?
They should have no doubt that priestly celibacy makes good sense, but most
priests have never told them that. Is it any wonder that laymen follow the
lead of dissentient groups or non-Catholic opinion-makers? There are
excellent reasons to maintain celibacy, but which priests share them from
the pulpit? (For that matter, which priests even know them?)
As I said, the answers given in this poll are no surprise. Catholics are
badly off, intellectually and morally, and they need help. They need
instruction and correction. They need some holy hectoring.
Instead of trimming their remarks to pacify (or somnabulize) their
congregations, bishops and priests need to go on the offensive. They need to
be blunt about the necessity of subscribing to all Catholic teachings,
particularly moral teachings, since assent is weakest there. They need to
talk in black and white to get people's attention. They need to focus on the
hard sayings instead of on the usual fluff.
And they need to lose congregants. They will know when they're saying what
needs to be said when they see some people walk out of church.
I'm not talking about homilies that are harsh or rude and therefore
alienating. I'm talking about homilies that are firm and true and
challenging--and therefore alienating to those who are unwilling to repent
and reform.
Truth really is a two-edged sword. It divides, and people find themselves on
one side or another. But for too long, in too many parishes (probably the
large majority of them), truth has come after convenience.
It is inconvenient to make a fuss, to anger anyone, to say "This is right,
and this is wrong." It is much easier, or at least more comfortable, to be
Fr. Nice Guy, serving up platitudes so everyone leaving Mass takes your hand
and gushes, "That was a nice service, Father."
The parish I recently started attending used to have a pastor who was big on
"ministry to gays and lesbians." You know the type: He had an off-campus
condo and didn't live in the rectory. You can imagine what the Masses were
like.
The new pastor moved into the rectory, sold the condo, and started
celebrating Masses as they should be celebrated. I am told--this happened
before I joined the parish--that most of the homosexuals left. In the last
few months the congregation has been instructed and admonished from the
pulpit, and today more people are attending Mass than had attended under the
old regime.
Of course, changes come slowly. You can't reform people overnight. You have
to show them that much of what they hold is false or pernicious or just
plain silly, and you have to supply true and useful and sensible
alternatives. A few people catch on right away, but for most it's a slow
process. They have become accustomed to whatever they have believed and
however they have lived, and they fear change, even change for the better.
The change occurring in my newly adopted parish can occur in any parish. It
comes down to will. Do our priests and bishops have the will to instruct and
admonish (including the will to instruct and admonish one another)? Frankly,
I don't know.
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