In response to your “News and Views” item last
Sunday (“An exodus of youth from Catholic
Church”): I found it interesting that only one
paragraph was partially devoted to the ongoing
scandal of priest abuse cases. I can tell you that I
(a 46-year-old male) and many others older than
30 have left the Catholic Church due to this
scandal and the cover-ups that appear to lead all
the way up the chain of command to the pope.
This is a major reason why youths and others
who attended Catholic Church regularly for
decades have left. The church’s handling of these
abuses has been an abomination. Also, the
millions of dollars that have been paid out in
settlements are not what I want to tithe my
hard-earned dollars for.
Don’t get me wrong, the Catholic Church does a
lot of good in this world, but it has a major task
ahead in bringing back the millions who have left
in recent years.
Cary Keller,Alpena
Teach the faith
Although there is a big percentage drop in the
number of Catholics, and a lower percentage
staying in the Catholic Church, that is not
necessarily a bad thing. As the pope has alluded
to in the past, the Catholic Church may be
smaller in the future. but the remaining members
will be more faithful to church teachings.
So many people call themselves Catholic but
don’t live their faith or believe the Catholic
doctrines. This is a scandal that causes a lot of
confusion. The big opportunity is teaching
Catholic doctrine to future generations. Many
Catholics are leaving a faith they never knew
because the church never taught them.
Tom Mitchell
Dearborn
Out of touch
Besides the young people, many adults have left
the church. Recently, I took a hiatus from the
church.
We have a church in which cardinals and bishops
play the role of God and, without trial,
excommunicate some because they dare to
challenge the church. The liturgy in itself is not
conducive to young or old. The songs the church
chooses often cannot be sung by the faithful.
Although I was very active in my church, the
pastor couldn’t have cared less that I left the
church. Outreach programs in the churches often
are minimal, at best. Homilies are often not
relevant to either the young or old.
Our church allows married Episcopal priests who
join the Catholic Church to remain priests, yet
the church does not allow our priests to marry.
The church still does not allow women in the
priesthood and leaves them as second-class
members. Jim Weninger
Waterford
Jesus was never this dull
There are more reasons than mentioned by the
Free Press for young folks leaving the Catholic
Church. These same reasons are why many
Catholics are not going to church as often.
The church will not recognize married priests or
women, so we get men from other countries w
hom we cannot understand when they are
preaching. We also have priests who think we
need to be in church for a minimum of one hour
for services, regardless of whether they have
enough material to sustain an hour service or
not.
When we are in church, the music resembles a
rock concert, because the organist thinks
everyone in attendance is deaf.
Recently, we also have had priests who have no
clue about how to formulate a good, informative
sermon. Dull and boring are not what church
attendees want when it comes to practicing their
faith. Jesus was never dull or boring.
John Leidlein
Detroit
Church leaders to blame
If Detroit-area Catholics are experiencing an
exodus of young people from the church, we
know the cause.
Citing fiscal efficiency, former Archbishop of
Detroit Adam Maida closed dozens of parish
schools and churches, decimating the Catholic
presence in southeast Michigan — all while
funneling millions of dollars from our
congregations to the John Paul II Cultural Center
in Washington, D.C., a museum honoring the
former pope.
In fewer than 10 years, Maida mortally wounded
Catholic culture in Michigan, wasting our
resources on a shrine to the man who allowed
the problem of clerical sexual abuse to flourish
under his lack of administrative attention.
Gregory Loselle
Southgate
Time to refocus
You can trace the beginning of this back to the
birth control commission of Vatican II. When it
was clear that the majority would call for
changes in the church’s position on
contraception, Vatican officials persuaded the
pope to dismiss the group. They were concerned
changes would diminish the authority of the
Vatican and the hierarchy. Then came the sex
abuse crisis, with its secrecy and cover-up.
Eventually, guilty priests were dealt with.
However, almost all the bishops who protected
and enabled them have not been held
accountable.
Couple this with a governance system that is
more like medieval monarchies than the
principles that Jesus Christ laid out to the
apostles — to be “the servants of the servants of
God.” It is also contrary to the tradition of the
early church that was much more collegial and
democratic. Then add the continued denigration
of women by following the cultural norms of the
Middle Ages. Then you can begin to see the
frustration of those who have stayed and the
indifference of those who have left.
Strong authoritative governance has allowed the
church to weather the turbulence of history, but
it has done so at a terrible price. We need to
refocus on Jesus Christ, knowing him, loving
him and serving him and our neighbor.
James E. Collins
Farmington Hills
Unwelcoming leadership
While the need for good music and thought-
provoking homilies is important to one’s
spiritual life, the bigger issue I think for the
Catholic Church is the disconnect between the
hierarchical church and the people who make up
the church. The church’s position on issues such
as the role of women and the laity, birth control,
divorce, homosexuality and social justice issues
beyond abortion are troubling to many who feel
that the lack of “welcoming” described in article
extends far beyond the absent handshake or
friendly “hello.”
If the Catholic Church is to reconnect with its
members, it needs to look beyond “Theology on
Tap,” as excellent as this program might be, and
examine the real reasons people are leaving the
church.
Katherine Zimnicki
Allen Park