The Rev. Tom Reese, a longtime expert on the U.S. Bishops Conference, takes a look at the agenda for their upcoming meeting (June 17-19) and doesn’t like what he sees.
The meeting does seem to have more “inside baseball” then previous meetings; that is, they’re dealing with the world of the church more than the church in the world. The bishops will be looking at more new translations of Mass prayers, a process that Reese and other Catholic, notably Erie (Pa.) Bishop Donald Trautman have criticized from the start. “The inability of the U.S. bishops to fight off this stupid idea is tragic,” Reese comments.
But more disturbing, Reese writes, is the lack of discussion on two issues of immediate concern: how to deal with the Obama administration and the many Catholics who are leaving the fold.
About the latter, Reese says: “Nor do the bishops give any indication that they know they are on a sinking ship. One third of Catholics have left the church. Any other organization would try to find out why and develop a plan to get back their members or customers. Have the bishops commissioned a study of these former Catholics?
No. Data doesn’t count.
The bishops, like the leaders of GM, Chrysler and the Republican Party, think that old strategies (emphasize orthodoxy and play to your base) will work. They blame the exodus on secularism, consumerism, individualism and sin.”
