Forum: Organization

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It has been the contention of this newsletter that the Catholic Church in the United States is doing its job, rather well. Although this is not appreciated by the public press or even its own members. That is, it is doing its job rather well in certain areas, namely those most closely affiliated with public worship of God.

At the same time, most American Catholics neglect to appreciate the importance of social organizations, including their own church. Yet, these same people support the church organization and have a deep appreciation of its value. For example, the conviction that the Church should be the champion of the poor is the members’ highest value, according to recent polls, and is put into action publicly each time an appeal is made to a local congregation by a missionary and by countless personal actions through a myriad of church organizations by a great number of Catholics.

It is all, however, somewhat haphazard. Not entirely so, but largely. The Catholic penchant for organization does not extend often enough to this area. It seems to this author that the first need is for a greater appreciation on everyone’s part for the value of united activity. As priests and bishops are tied up with basic needs of  the organization, they cannot be expected to offer leadership in this area. Therefore, it is up to the lay people to do so, and, In the United States, by virtue of developed capabilities and resources, they are uniquely able to do so.

Most Catholics do appreciate their own efforts on behalf of others, especially those with the least ability to care for their own interests. They also recognize the value of working for these ends with other people. They do seem, however, in many instances, to exclude their official church organizations in this effort, that is, their parish and their diocese. Even though they claim to know better, they do not look to their parish and their diocese for sustained action in this area.

That is wrong. The parish and the diocese are ideally suited for this type of activity. Moreover, it is in the interest of the parish and the diocese that they regularly demonstrate their value in being agencies of general human welfare. As communities of disciples of Jesus Christ they have the same goal or aim that he had, and that was the welfare of all human beings, who are sacred, free, and equal.

Christians are disciples of Jesus living and working in various communities, especially in the United States in parishes and dioceses. These Christians seeks personal development, by gradually acquiring the perspective of Jesus, and pursuing his Way Of Life. They feel the parish is essential in these efforts.

They do not place such emphasis on the parish and the diocese in pursuing Jesus’ aims and goals in life. Yet, the first two do not make a great deal of sense without this final component.

In summary, then, we believe the Catholic Church in the United States is performing well in the basic task of emphasizing the importance of Jesus Christ and providing the helps to make effective contact with him, his perspective on life and his Way of Life. It is not doing so well, however, in helping people understand and pursue his aims or goals in life. To do so in an organized and effective way is entirely possible today and should be an essential part of the Church’s current agenda.

Lay people, as well as bishops and priests, appreciate the need for this activity. Moreover, lay people today are in a good position to do precisely this. They recognize the need and are currently engaged in activities towards that end.  They simply need to have their present activity better organized through the ordinary church structure. That could, and should be done now, under the leadership of qualified lay people.

In these ways, Jesus will be more authentically followed, as to his perspective on life, his Way of Life, and his aims and goals in life. And, the Roman Catholic Church in the United States will be more authentically a community of his disciples, furthering his ministries of prayer, service and love in this place at this time.

“The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, those too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.” With these words Vatican II opened its document on the Church in the world today. In doing so, it clearly identified its members with the right agenda for humankind.

For Americans hat agenda lists three items at or towards the top of the list: they are the economy, health care and immigration. Along with other Americans American Catholics have to be concerned about them.

The first item on this list is the economy. The number one issue for most Americans is their job;  it is of prime importance. Yet, the economy is a central and most difficult issue. The American economy is huge and complex. The government alone is deemed capable of addressing it.

The economy not only determines what one earns;  it dictates in  large measure how one spends that wage. Thus, it affects most areas of life.

There are two basic way of dealing with this issue for most Americans, the democratic way and the republican way. Moreover, the lines between the two are not clearly drawn.

America is a central country, actually most Americans are slightly to the right of the center  In recent days, however, that has been changing. The Democrats have been moving farther to the left with a new populism and abandoning the effort of President Clinton to make them more of a central party. And, at the same time, the Republicans are moving more to the right under the influence of Evangelical Protestantism.

Into that mix is the fact of globalization, which vastly complicates the situation, as it was developed during the days of a more regionally based economy The old rules, promoted by lobbyists that favored American interests and American politicians, no longer apply.

For Catholics the situation is complicated by the fact that the split between well-educated and relatively uneducated members is becoming wider than ever. This has implications in the choice  of a political party.

Thus, especially for a Catholic American, the economy presents greater problems than ever.  Yet, it is an area of importance for them, religiously and secularly.

Again, what the Church is doing it is doing rather well. What it is not doing that it could very well do  is a matter of expansion, more than anything else. The Church must always be open to this, although it is wise not to rush into new activities. On the other hand it must always be open to the opportunities the moment allows, although this may disturb age-old patterns. The decision between the two is not always easy, but few things that are worthwhile are easy.

It is but one of the tests of true leadership.                               

What do you think?

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