Let’s go back, way back

Remember, it’s all about Him 

When ordinary Canadians, those who have neither love nor hatred for the Catholic Church, are asked what Catholicism means to them, they tend to answer by listing negative commands. No abortion, no sex outside of marriage, no contraception, no gay marriage, no women or married priests, no to what so much of the world assumes to be self-evident, apolitical and innocuous. Which is not to say that the Church has to change its teaching merely to satisfy current fashions, and for some of these issues change is simply impossible. But whether we admit it or not, even with the current Pope we have a profound reputation problem. 

This is seen particularly clearly in the current debate over divorced or remarried people receiving Communion. I don’t intend to argue the details, nuances and merits here, but to many outside or even within the Church it seems archaic and absurd that a Church so rejected in Europe and North America should reject those who actually want to be part of it. 

There are, of course, conditions of membership of, and participation in, any organization and if this applies to a club or team then it certainly applies to the Church founded by God. But this shouldn’t obscure the fact that we are not communicating the Christian essentials of the faith successfully. 

Recently the highly regarded Catholic journalist John L. Allen described the forthcoming Church Synod of Bishops on the subject of the family as “Must see TV.” It was a laugh-out loud moment. Mr. Allen, do you seriously believe that the world is going to leave Game of Thrones, America’s Got Talent and almost anything else on mainstream television for — ok, here goes — a large group of older men all dressed the same deciding on how young families should function and behave? Please! As the young people say. 

Yes I know it’s not fair and I know media tells lies about the Church, doesn’t understand the Church, doesn’t try to know the truth and speaks in generalities. But this isn’t fundamentally different from the way it treats many others in society and if we spent more time living as forgiving Christians rather than reacting as angry Catholics we’d all be a lot better off. 

I came into the Church in 1985 with an excitement that was difficult to contain. There were times when I wanted to scream at people in the street, demand that they realize how glorious and fulfilling and vibrant it all was. But the euphoria diminishes, is crystalized into a more considered and considerate faith and finds a natural equilibrium. 

But now it’s time for hard truths. I’ve met so many clergy who seem bored and tired of it all, so many fallen away Catholics who have been deeply hurt, so many hardcore believers who obsess about pedantry and ignore the central teaching, so many in authority who are ambitious and cynical. 

Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me. I mean no offence but I have to speak my mind and write my experience. It is so enervating to be told about the constant disputes, hear the stories of the hypocrisy, be let down by those you thought to be sold as Petrine rock. 

Yet to paraphrase Hilaire Belloc, while the Church might seem dark, the night is far darker outside. So I urge a nostalgia not for the 1950s but the AD 50s, to a Church built on Christ’s pristine message of love and peace and brotherhood. I suppose, in a way, I am calling for a new prejudice. The prejudice of love. Pre-judge everyone with love and, if proved wrong, give the pain to God. Be open and trusting and sometimes disappointed rather than be doubting and judgmental and sometimes surprised. 

I am guilty as anyone in this but I have felt closer to Christ recently than for many years, as I have taken off a metaphorically winter coat and replaced it with something fit for summer, for God’s summer, for the sunshine of Jesus Christ. It’s not about new or old evangelization, social media, ultra-conservative web sites, liberal post-Catholics taking advantage of the Church or anything similar. It’s about Him, carrying that cross to a place of suffering for you. You. If that doesn’t enthrall, nothing will. 

(Coren’s latest book is The Future of Catholicism. His web site is www.michaelcoren.com.)