As our archdiocese is beginning the process of taking a hard look at our resources, it seems to me a re-active process. Those spearheading the process are not to a point of taking a hard look at why Catholic numbers are down, why dollars are waning, why children are being baptised, but receiving little more Catholic education, or following through on the rest of the sacrements. And since they are re-acting, they are not attempting, at this point, to stem the bleeding and cure the wounds.
Is it because there are too many rules? Have we become disillusioned with the clergy? Is it just that faith is irrelevant and we just don't care? If that's the case how has that happened and what would make faith relevant once more?
I'd like to hear from "lapsed" Catholics and participating Catholics as well. What doesn't work for you? What does keep you in the Catholic church?
To change, it must come from the Spirit. To change, we must hear and feel and move with the Spirit. As lilies of the field we are as we are and God's love is the radiant beauty we reflect.
