After John Paul II: The church renewal didn't happen

And the next pope has his work cut out

Saturday, April 9, 2005

Rev. Joseph F. Wilson

Those who push a list of changes for the Roman Catholic Church always look to the next pope as their great white hope. In Paul VI's day, progressive Catholics yearned for a non-Italian to bring a fresh approach to an ancient job; when they got a look at their non-Italian, they waxed nostalgic about the "Roman approach" and complained of the "Polish mentality."

One thing is certain: There will be a new pope, God help him. Given the internal weaknesses of the church, fault lines hidden in part by the adulation with which so many responded to John Paul II's personal style while ignoring much of his message, the papal tiara may prove to be a crown of thorns for the next successor to Peter.

John Paul often spoke of a "new springtime" of renewal in the church, but it remains more of a dream than a reality. To be sure, his energetic pilgrimages and robust defense of Catholic teaching inspired many thousands of Catholics, especially the young, to live authentically Catholic lives. As the older, more liberal religious orders and movements wane, newer ones more loyal to the pope and Catholic teaching – Focolare, Opus Dei, Communion and Liberation, among others – thrive.

Unfortunately, 26 years after John Paul assumed the papacy and some four decades after the Second Vatican Council, which he championed, this welcome flowering of enthusiastic, vibrant Catholicism is the exception, not the rule.

The creaking formal structure of the church itself in western Europe, North America and elsewhere gives serious cause for concern. In many places in Europe, the Catholic Church appears moribund. Traditional strongholds of Catholic faith, such as Ireland, have experienced a precipitous drop in vocations to priesthood and religious life.

Then there is the lamentable vocation situation in North America. Bishops across the continent are contemplating parish mergers and programs for laypeople to administer priestless parishes. Seminaries are training fewer seminarians. Most religious orders seem reconciled to disappearing.

Our country has seen a 60 percent drop in Mass attendance in 30 years, which, with the lack of vocations, points to a deep crisis of faith. In my diocese, Brooklyn, N.Y., we lose the services of 30 priests a year through death or retirement; we ordain two or three. Twenty years from now, according to projections, we'll have 85 active priests for our 221 parishes.

In the face of this disaster, we still do not lack voices insistent on characterizing this as a great age of renewal – and attributing much of it to John Paul II.

This situation poses an urgent challenge for the next pope. Even those on fire for the Catholic faith often have to contend with lackluster parishes, poor liturgy and little support for authentic Catholic renewal within their local dioceses. John Paul's bold vision of a re-energized Catholicism often found no response from entrenched church bureaucrats.

The clerical sexual abuse scandal has not helped the credibility of the church, and the revelation of the hierarchy's insensitive and ineffective response to these crimes simply highlighted the leadership crisis in much of the church – a leadership lackluster, uninspired and anything but visionary.

The episcopal appointments under John Paul are a curious subject. The popular notion that he reshaped the episcopate by naming conservative bishops cannot be sustained. He appointed most current bishops, a group I would not characterize as conservative or as effective or even having many convictions. They have shown little interest in addressing the many areas of crisis in the church.

I won't be surprised if John Paul's successor were to adopt a contrasting style. There may be fewer symbolic gestures, and he may not be such a crowd pleaser, but if he devotes himself to governance, the restoration of discipline, orthodox teaching and worship, and the appointment of bishops who are men of conviction, then maybe we'll get our springtime.

The Rev. Joseph F. Wilson is a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. His e-mail address is frwils@aol.com.

Used with permission