Too often, diocesan ministry is synonymous with paperwork, low morale and unravelling faith. Here, Fr B. offers a portrait of what so many of our parish priests now have to contend with.
“Change and decay in all around I see… O Thou Who changest not, abide with me.”
I entered the seminary in 1982 and was ordained in 1989. All my priestly ministry has been spent working in urban parishes and hospital ministry.
Recently, much has been said about the state and condition of the Catholic Church in the modern era; in particular the fall in the number of people practising their Faith and the on-going vocations crisis in our country. Also, the poor levels of knowledge of the Faith among our younger generation is a cause for concern.
To compound this state of affairs, morale amongst many of the clergy has also reached “crisis” point although publicly this will not be admitted. Privately, many would consider leaving tomorrow if they could find suitable employment and somewhere to live.
If these situations are allowed to continue, and all the current signs point to that, then within one more generation the present “model” of the church will be unsustainable.
Pointless schemes
Currently, many of our bishops have been putting in place various projects and schemes to plan for the future. None of these, as far as I can see, will make one iota of difference to anything, unless of course, arrangements are being made to create a completely new model of the Church which has little in common with what has gone before.
I, like numerous other clergy, have spent countless hours attending meetings where all kinds of twaddle has been spoken by both clerics and laity alike on how the church will come through this crisis all the stronger! Indeed, some do not even acknowledge any problem – this is simply God at work in His kingdom.
How such conclusions can be logically arrived at is totally beyond my understanding – unless I am missing something that is obvious to others.
Quite often I am told: “Don’t worry father, maybe God is speaking to the Church to point her into new paths.” But from the evidence available one could ask the following question: “Is it inevitable that the Church wind-up operations here in the U.K?” To me that is where the evidence points towards.
The failure of Catholic education
I now have a confession to make! Accepting the premise that our long term future lies with the younger generations in sufficient numbers to maintain our parishes one must consider the Catholic schools – and my confession is: I have given up on them.
Again, the number of meetings and time spent on these begs the question: “For what?”. I would estimate that around 95 per cent of children in our schools have no connection whatsoever with the parish church and the worshipping community. The parish church could close down tomorrow and they would not bat an eye-lid.
The way some clergy are treated by the school also leaves much to be desired. During my time as a parish priest I have among other things been told: a) It would be helpful if I made an appointment to go into school so as not to disrupt classes by my sudden appearance! b) Informed that Mass in school starts at 9am and must end by 9:30am.
As to the content and quality of the liturgy the least said the better.
Moribund parish life
Another eye-opener for me has been moving to another parish. I have worked in two parishes as a parish priest – on arrival in both, neither had: organist/choir, candles on the altars, monstrance for Exposition. Both parishes lacked liturgical books and neither celebrated patronal feasts – but bingo thrived! The churches and presbyteries had been left in poor condition with little or nothing to inspire one’s inner self. When I expressed surprise at such a state of events, the general response was: “Well, you see, Fr. X wasn’t really interested in anything like that!” or “Never mind Father there’s a new Sainsbury’s just opened in the parish, lucky old you.”
Can anything be done about this state of affairs? Well, for the phoenix to rise there have to be ashes.
The problem of the bishops
We look for leadership, and so we come back to our bishops. Most of our present bishops were probably young priests or students during the 1960s and early 70s. This period was, as we all know, a time of some considerable turmoil. Most of our bishops as students or young priests would have probably embraced many of the liturgical changes with enthusiasm. They are highly unlikely to admit serious errors and turn back the clock.
Many senior clerics equate the old Mass with the “bad old days” of strict seminaries and first appointments. Such logic does not have to be. The old rite and kind hearts can go together and indeed should do so.
Surely one must embrace the implications of the fact that the traditional seminaries are full and expanding and that there is an increase in demand for the old Mass?
I will end on this note: continue on the current diocesan paths and by the year 2025 very little will be left.
Fr B.’s article was submitted anonymously. All priests and religious who wish to treat of some aspect of the crisis in the Church but think it wise to remain anonymous, can be assured of absolute confidentiality. Please feel free to discuss your ideas with the Editor first.
[Taken from the Latin Mass Society's November 2003 Newsletter.]