The previous regional bishop had visited our church a couple of times but when I spoke to him after Mass, he didn't take my concerns too seriously. Having someone from the hierarchy actually seek out a dialogue with those of us in the pews was a refreshing change of pace.
When I arrived for the Q and A session, the 5:30 PM Mass with Bishop Mark O'Connell was running late. The church was unusually packed because many people had come from other parishes just to see the bishop. After Mass, he exchanged greetings with the departing crowd and at least one person posed for a photograph with him. I wondered if the bishop's celebrity status gave him an inaccurate impression of our congregation's numbers and its struggles.
After the church emptied out, a few dozen parishioners remained for the Q and A session. Except for a boy who had come with his parents, I was the youngest person in the room. Very discouraging! Bishop O'Connell told us a little about himself and said a microphone was available if anyone had a lot to say. An older gentleman started things off by asking what a vicar was. Another parishioner wondered why some people held hands during the Our Father while others lifted their hands up in the air. With all the problems plaguing the Church, this is what was people cared about?
As the discussion continued, someone wondered if the Archdiocese's new collaborative plan was spreading priests too thin. A woman asked why the annulment process was painfully complicated. These questions were alright but I found myself wondering why many Catholics tend to shun critical thinking. The Archdiocese of Boston has done some pretty unchristian things over the years and those actions have seriously damaged an already weakened religion. If we are supposed to call out evil in all its forms, why do so many devout Catholics turn a blind eye when hypocrisy, arrogance, corruption and lies come from the hierarchy itself?
Most of my fellow parishioners just go with the flow for fear of being disobedient but how fruitful can a church be if it's filled with timid people? In a sermon from a few years ago, one of my priests asked his congregation why a large percentage of Catholics didn't stand up for their religion once they stepped outside the church doors. Well, if you promote a culture of subservience, this is exactly the kind of harvest you'll reap. Standing up to injustice requires courage and passion. Blind obedience doesn't.
Look at how some priests talk of suffering. They say it's a gift from God. They tell us not to complain or be sad because we should accept it gracefully. Really? If nobody got angry about a hardship then there wouldn't be much motivation to do something about it. It seems like the Church wants us to be passionate about our faith but not too passionate lest we call out the hierarchy when they do something wrong.
Even many of the Catholic blogs and websites I've read refuse to look inward for fear of being disobedient. The disclaimer at St. Blog (an online clearing house for Catholic blogs) asks members to “recognize and respect the Magisterium of the Church and be obedient to the Pope and authorities under him. After all, without those, you aren't really Catholic are you?” Actually, there are times when not asking the uncomfortable questions makes you less of a Christian. Sometimes Jesus was as gentle as a dove and turned the other cheek. Sometimes He rebuked the Pharisees, toppled tables, and kicked the moneychangers out of the temple.
When I see pews filled only with meek old people, I question whether the hierarchy’s approach over the past few generations has served the Church well in the long term. Ask yourself what will become of these parishes in a couple of decades?
The Q and A session with Bishop Mark O'Connell was half over so I could no longer be silent. After raising my hand, I asked one of the priests for a microphone adding, “I have a lot to get off my chest...”
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