The following letter appeared in the Times Leader a few months again. I repost it here, because it succinctly captures the purpose and beliefs of this blog.
Scandal, crisis, pain and upset: These words have appeared in print a lot lately, especially in regard to the Roman Catholic Church. With the sexual abuse scandals nagging in recent memory, a painfully mismanaged school consolidation making headlines, and mass parish closings looming on the horizon, Catholics have a lot to be upset about. Yet, through it all, the church remains. Perhaps weakened and smaller in number, the church remains nevertheless. It is in this endurance that one can take hope.But simply hoping for a better future is not enough. In order for the Diocese of Scranton to survive and thrive, there needs to be a serious rethinking of priorities. Good liturgy is apparently not a priority. It seems that art, beauty, and Catholic heritage are brushed aside in favor of minimalism.
Catholic education does not seem to be a priority, either. In a 2005 document on education, the United States Catholic Bishops urged the church to make Catholic schools “available and accessible in all areas of a diocese for children who are from poor and middle-class families who face major economic challenges.” The embarassingly mismanaged school consolidation stands in contradiction of this ideal. Tuition has been raised considerably and hundreds of students leaving the Catholic school system are deemed an acceptable loss.Recently, there has been an insistence that each parish establish a pastoral council. While this sounds like a positive step, it will not alleviate the pastors’ workload. In fact, the bodies are to be strictly consultative, not policy-making, and do not have a say in administrative decisions. One task that the councils will undertake is the development of a unique parish mission statement. This is a top priority for diocesan leaders, even though it makes little sense to do so. Christ already gave the church its mission statement over 2,000 years ago: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” ( Matthew 28:19-20). Can the Diocese of Scranton improve on God’s words? Furthermore, how does each parish having its own mission statement promote unity?
The Diocese of Scranton needs to focus less on business-like mission statements and capital campaigns and more on fulfilling its mission of spreading the Gospel. Good liturgy, compassionate service to humanity, and the advancement of Catholic education should be the primary vehicles for doing so. When scandal, crisis, and other products of a flawed humanity obscure this mission, do not be afraid to stand up and remind church leaders of where their focus should be.
