Why I feel like I need to give it all a rest

DEAR Fr. Brian,

ANGER: Frustrated Minister Your article in today's Sunday World about 'resting' Catholics really struck a familiar chord with me, so much it prompted me to send this email.

I, unfortunately, find myself identifying so much with the sentiments expressed. Since last year when we had a change of priest in the parish, and then further compounded by the 'word change' in our liturgy over more recent months, I'm finding myself ready to take a 'rest' too. I've felt compelled to leave my position of Eucharistic Minister as I get absolutely nothing from Mass in my local church anymore and I cannot reconcile the role with the emotion I feel - anger.

I'm tired of hearing that I/we (congregation) am/are the Church. If this is the case then why was the wording of the Mass changed without any mention or consultation. This word change has taken us back centuries. How is it going to encourage children or youth, by using words they can barely pronounce, definitely not understand or even remember - 'consubstantial' being one that readily
comes to mind.

And yet amid all the change, the wording of the Creed is left 'for us MEN...'. Surely they should have seized upon this opportunity to demonstrate that they aren't sexist any more?

I still go to Mass because I have to bring my Mother. I have stopped contributing through my envelope. I could go on but I think it was
really very well covered in your article - the 'bullying', 'talking down to', etc etc etc... I just wish the leaders of the Catholic Church and more of its Priests had some of the vision and understanding expressed in your article in order to see it safely through the 21st century and forward into many more, without too many in the congregations needing 'rest' time.

(Name supplied)

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Father Brian

A Little Bit of Religion news@sundayworld.com

TIME TO CHANGE HOW WE BELIEVE

The Church's edicts are so unsuitable to peoples' lives

THEOLOGIAN: Karl Rahner KARL Rahner who, it could be argued, was the greatest theologian of the past one hundred years, repeatedly said that the Christians of tomorrow will be either mystics or they will be nothing at all. Rahner (pictured below) knew that all the unhealthy certainties of the past would disappear, forcing believers to discover the life and the love of God in the midst of their confused journey.

For him the great love and the great suffering, which are essential parts of the mystic's way of life, open us to the unknowable. Coincidently it was pointed out to me recently that the word "mystic" is not even mentioned in the New Catechism of the Catholic Church. I checked, and "mystic" doesn't appear in the Index of subjects anyway.

Those two statements, tell us why we need healing in the Church today. The Church as we know it, with its structures and hierarchy, the language of faith can become dogmatic and abstract; it speaks to the head and not the heart. Rahner's conviction about the mystic's search was that we have to slow down to find God; or, more precisely, be found by God, in all the places we never thought of looking.

Faith for the mystic, is not so much about what we believe, faith is about how to believe. How to believe in a changing world is what many of the articles in this column are about. Vocations to priesthood and religious life are in freefall. Many of those priests who struggle on in ministry are overworked and elderly; too many are crippled by cold celibacy. The Church's edicts are unsuited to the lives of people who find faith in new ways and in new places. We need a new way of expressing belief to make this faith come alive. We need to kick-start transformation by encouraging a theology which is based on the insights of the Second Vatican Council.

Essential

MODERNISE OR ELSE: The Church’s as we know it needs to change it’s outlook It was during the Council that the Holy Spirit spoke with certainty and creativity. The problems which entomb us now are a direct result of the suppression of the Spirit of Vatican II. The cancer of clericalism has to be excised and an essential part of the treatment will be to affirm and encourage the church as the people of God. Pastoral theology is in dire need of reform. Healing will begin when we welcome the "infallibility" of the praying people of God. That in turn will inevitably lead to a spiritual renewal.The mystics will be the prophets.

We will never solve the problems of tomorrow by returning to the mistakes of the past. There is no alternative to the insights of the Second Vatican Council and there doesn't need to be because that's where the Spirit lives. Instead, today's reactive leadership often resorts to the theology of the ostrich - content to have a façade of unity or a superficial respectability. We have replaced the morality of the Gospel with the legalism of injunction. We forget that people have matured and can think for themselves. They will not be treated like children.

Trusting

In Christ's plan the mission of those chosen to lead the Church is to recognise, affirm, and enable the work of the Spirit to flourish in the community. That's what the Christian mystic must do - abandon everything, trusting God to lead us to a holy place.

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WE ARE NOT ALL LOSING OUR FAITH

DEAR Father,

FAITHFUL: Churchgoers I read your article in the Sunday World where you mention that lots of people are leaving the Church through frustration. I am not sure this is correct.

Frustrated we all are with leadership in the Church but I don't think lots of us are leaving because of that. I would suggest that our relationship with God, rather than with God through our local Bishop, takes precedence over everything else. In other words why should we pull out just because the Church leaders are not up to scratch?

In our town we have two churches and on Sunday the 15th January I went to Mass and I had trouble getting a seat as the place was full. I was early by the way! So the faithful are hanging in there.

One thing we have noticed over the past 10 years or so is that some of the younger generation seem to think that they don't need God in theirs lives at all. Yet they have their children baptised and make their First Communion.

So they have not really left the Church; they just need something to motivate them back to the Sacraments. Frankly I think that is precisely where the Church leaders are lacking. I am a great believer in the Holy Spirit whom I know will separate the chaff from the weeds. I seem to recall reading some time ago that St Teresa complained to the Pope several hundred years ago about the behaviour of the Church leaders in Spain. So what's new?

I don't agree with what you said in your article about lots of people leaving the church. Keep up the good work as we will win in the end.

(Colm -- full name and address supplied)

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