Espresso: Losing My Religion

By Kokoy Espresso
Sun.Star
June 7, 2012

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/opinion/2012/06/07/espresso-losing-my-religion-225735

JUST recently, a priest came out with the observation that the Roman Catholic Church has been losing its faithful, in terms of mass attendance, that is. It was noted that the enormous decline was due largely to the lack of “lively” homilies by some priests, swaying the faithful to join charismatic groups and other congregations that perhaps offer less-boring preaching.

Though I submit that the justification is sound, I consider it naive for there are far obvious and compelling reasons worth mentioning that lead to the decline not only in mass attendance but in membership. The scandals involving priests and the Vatican, debates on moral issues and the Church’s involvement in politics and government are but some of the more damaging issues that greatly affect the integrity of the Church.

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Scandals involving priests not only hurt the Church but the faithful as well. The faithful look upon priests with so much esteem and respect, being symbolic oases of wisdom and reason. Thus when they commit grave infractions against the vow, the thirsty will seek sagacity elsewhere, and surely they will find it everywhere. Religious groups sprout quite remarkably; branching out has never been this extensive. It sure does help when you are in a nation where lunacy is often mistaken for prophecy. It helps also when the only requisite to forming a group is adding a word or two to the name Jesus.

Leaked information on the Vatican has likewise caused tremendous distress for the Roman Catholic Church. Even the Holy See gets tremendous criticisms on the way it handles the Church’s affairs. This is felt locally since technology, in the form of internet and cable news, make available all details, and from all angles, giving the public the clearest vantage point. For those not holding firmly, they suddenly lose their grip on religion. Losing faith, however, is not the case.

And then you have issues that create the great divide; same sex-marriage, abortion, divorce and euthanasia, subjects that tag along arguments and debates. The Church’s stand against a lot of issues repels those favoring otherwise. When a person’s convenience is compromised or when opinion is contradicted, there is the tendency to get out of the oven. This dilemma for the Catholic Church has initiated the birth of so many sects and congregations and continues to this day.

The Catholic Church’s intrusion -- involvement to sugarcoat it -- in politics and government issues hurts it the most, especially in the local setting. We are a devout people both toward beliefs and politics. We see politics as a way of life and go to religion to escape its negative consequences. To the many of us, politics is a separate world to that of our religion. Separation of Church and State is always the argument when the CBCP contradicts on a political issue. We hit the “encroachment” of the Church in political issues, saying they have no business doing so. But that of course necessitates a long debate. When morality is compromised, the CBCP will surely defend its turf. That is their moral, social and religious obligation. Let’s give them that, but they should, however, be as vigilant on omissions committed by priests as they are with politicians.

The Roman Catholic Church is not losing its following due to the attractive preaching of other congregations, it is losing its following because some go for liberalism; they see that in charismatic groups. It is not losing its following because homilies are boring, it is losing its following because some priests don’t practice what they preach. It loses its following not because the faithful loses faith in it but because the faithful loses faith in their shepherds.

The Church, any Church for that matter, won’t guarantee salvation; it can only guide the faithful towards that. But when the Church fails to lead, all else shall fail.

I, however, shall remain hopeful.