The most significant piece of the ecclesial tsunami currently sweeping across the Midwest, US’ 3rd largest diocese – 2.4 million-member Chicago Arch – to phase out over a third of its parishes on July 1; priests’ morale “horrid” (via @MaryAnnAhernNBC): bit.ly/3gB7Y0j
Pope Benedict predicted a smaller but more faithful Church. By that, he knew that the future of the Church depended upon a return to Catholic sanity rooted in Scripture and Tradition and authentic authority to promote the Church in its clearest identity. This included some elements of restoration to accomplish authentic renewal in continuity with big T and little t tradition/Tradition.
But Chicago’s leadership doesn’t get it and I fear the current Vatican regime doesn’t get it either. They think catering to those who left the Church (and I am not speaking about those who are fed up with the sex abuse scandal) but others who simply have lost their Catholic Faith because of how doggone poorly Vatican II was imposed by the most pre-Vatican II authoritarian and clerical ways, is the way forward.
They are blind guides. They do not see that the flourishing communities in the Church are conservative “new movements” like the Extraordinary Form Communities, the charismatic communities, the home schooling communities and many others worldwide. I cannot name one progressive “new movement” or liberal parish producing vocations and keeping young people or attracting them. Not one.
The same with religious orders and dioceses. The more conservative and traditional ones are growing.
And there is a parallel in politics. Liberal/democrat states are seeing their people flee to more conservative/Republican states to get away from dictatorial/hypocritical politicians and politics.
But even the dictatorial democrats know they are losing especially in their Covid leadership and relaxing their dictatoraial policies that have alienated their own.
If only Chicago, San Diego and Newark would learn from Extraoridanry Form parishes, the charismatics and homeschooling communities among others, and renew the Church where we have a smaller but more faithful Church that Pope Benedict prophesied.
12 comments:
This coming Saturday, my parish, as well as parishes throughout my diocese, is hosting a "Parish Synod". We are invited to come and share our thinking as to how we can breath life back into the church. I'm very much looking forward to participating. The leaders are lay reps from our parish who will ultimately "carry" our conversation, along with reps from other parishes in the diocese, to our Bishop. I guess the idea is that he will gather and synthesize the thinking of the lay folks in the diocese ahead of the Synod in Rome. Am I dubious that this will have any impact? YES, but I'm going to participate regardless. The commentary in this posting really captures my thinking as to the way forward. It's timely and I appreciate it. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised with what I hear on Saturday. In short, I'm in the camp of "the definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result". We'll see what happens.
Typical liberal - misuses language for their own purposes - very Orwellian. I am surprised he did not use a “New Springtime.”
Cardinal Cupich is a Democrat. I wonder if he has gotten the latest news from his Party:
"In “How Democrats Can Stop a Red Wave,” Hounshell and Askarinam suggest that abortion can win votes for Democrats. In recent years it has not, and data suggest it will not. The authors look at the Virginia gubernatorial race in which Glenn Youngkin won handily. His opponent, Terry McAuliffe “spent millions of dollars portraying Youngkin as an extremist on abortion.” McAuliffe was convinced, as were many Democrats, that bombarding voters with ads about Youngkin’s opposition to abortion would win him votes."
So when you vote Democrat, this is what you are voting for, no matter how hard you try to spin it!
Tom Makin,
If you stand for tradition, as I know you will, your comments will likely not make it into the report. However, support for gay marriage, transgenderism, and hatred for tradition will. Good luck. I hope I am wrong.
I’m only a political “scholar” of no importance whatsoever; however, language matters, and while
I am not a member of, donor to or habitual voter for the Democratic Party, which, regardless of what Fox says, is the actual name of the party. The improper use of the party name shows 1) carelessness, 2) the kind of political bias that engages in name calling and/or 3) ignorance.
In 32 years of consistent voting, I’ve voted for four (4) Democrats — or Democratic Party candidates — for my Daddy on county council, an Orthodox nominee for governor running against a then-anti-Catholic Republican nominee for governor and — ABSOLUTELY PAINFULLY AND UNDER MUCH STRESS, for the last two Democratic nominees for President. I am not a liberal mealy-mouth! In this campaign cycle, I’m already on the list for Liz Cheney, Nancy Mace (simi-enthusiastically) and Ben Sasse, just to name a few. I happen to think arguments go a lot further if they are framed properly and actual names are used. “Fat Frank” wouldn’t like to be called anything other than “Pope Francis,” so far as
I know, for example. Anyway, I’m waaay more often with you, Father, than against, but I don’t tell you about that because who in heck with an IQ above 65 wants to hear a constant chorus of
“mega dittos” or some such?
I really dislike the looks of Cupich. I can't help it. He has a smug and unintelligent look on his face. I live out in the Chicago suburbs and haven't really taken advantage of doing a tour of all the beautiful churches in the city. Now it will be impossible because I'm sure Cupich has targeted the prettiest churches and I really don't want to drive downtown because I want to avoid getting carjacked by an oppressed criminal.
Maybe this stuff will backfire on the dictators who want to crush what they believe is their opposition. I pray that God ignites greater zeal amongst the faithful people and their desire for what is true and beautiful will grow stronger.
I believe that closing churches is part of the scheme to suppress good and faithful priests. Please don't overlook the persecution of good priests who have been sidelined. Please pray for Father James Parker who is my friend and a holy priest who suffers an unjust punishment like many others. Yes, I do include Father Altman in that group and all good Catholics should too.
"He has a smug and unintelligent look on his face" is about as vacuous as complaining about Pope Francis' smile.
Fr K,
Cardinal Cupich was intellectually destroyed when he went to England by an English parish priest at a talk Cupich was giving. He appears to be an “empty cassock.”
He calls the closure and consolidation plan in Chicago “Renew My Church” when it should be named “Managing the Decline!”
There are plenty of Catholics in Chicago - the majority have simply stopped going to Mass and financially supporting their parishes. That Novus Ordo has yet to work its “magic.” Any decade now!
James E,
FYI, it was Ronald Reagan, a former Democrat, who renamed the party appropriately as the Democrat Party, because he said that the party is anything but democratic. I agreed with Ronald Reagan's idea back then and more so today. I agree with TJM's assessment of the party each time he writes it and he is correct to remind supporters of that party that they are supporting evil. I guess it really doesn't matter because they should soon change the name themselves to the Socialist Democratic Party and then to Communist once they have total control.
There are times when I wonder if we are over estimating the growth and vigor of the traditional parishes (sic). Yet last night our Knights of Columbus meeting was literally packed with men, young and old, seeking to serve the parish and community. Our pastor has had to change some procedures for processions because we are too many in number to simply lap the nave only once. So many young families with baskets of tiny children fill our pews for two Masses every Sunday that seats are actually hard to find. And we are scheduling pot lucks for the First Friday and First Saturday Masses because so many are coming from so far they need to feed their families before returning home. Our food pantry collection site measures the collected food in hundreds of pounds.
There is a fire here that doesn’t burn too fast, but like the steady even heat of a forge. The young people are not ecstatic, but duty driven. Like the farmers of the Midwest they seem to always be moving at a steady pace to manifest their Faith in works and offerings. There is more here than just the form of the Mass. The Lutherans and Episcopal churches can have very traditional looking services, but it is empty. The modern Mass can feign excitement and relevance when it does not need to because it actually has the Real Presence. Yet it often feels over familiar with Our Lord and not humbled by His attendance.
RCG, excellent observations especially concerning the seriousness of young people and the EF Mass/parishes--not superficial at all. And I would have to say the same was true in the pre-Vatican II Church, even with converts. Today, we have so many converts who seem to leave the practice of the faith rather quickly after the Easter Vigil. I don't think that was the case prior to Vatican II.
There is something about the seriousness of the pre-Vatican II liturgy and parish life that leads to a deep, serious commitment. Not so much with the new way of things although I don't want to stereotype that.
And that’s what makes TC so despicable: bitter old men who have failed peddling a banal product want to deprive true believers of their rightful heritage
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