The Patheos website has a very interesting series of articles by prominent Catholic thinkers on the topic “Future of Catholicism.” As Catholic educators, it’s important to have a broad sense of what’s happening in the Church, and these articles offer intelligent insights into where we might be heading, where we ought to be heading, and where we should avoid heading.
Here are some choice quotes from the essays:
The answer, in other words, lies not in writing off popular culture and entertainment as some are inclined to do. Instead, Catholics need to become part of this world and transform it from the inside. – Tony Rossi
Use new media pro-actively; let the Holy Spirit guide you to the allurement of God’s people — as in Hosea 2:14 — in bold and sanctifying contrast to the vast wasteland that clutters the mind and warps the soul. Mount a website, get something on YouTube, pod-cast your sermons, post advice on FaceBook and tweet daily. – Fr. Robert Barron
The Eastern Church has managed nicely with a married clergy for hundreds of years. And I believe the Latin Church will one day adapt the same model: permitting married men to be ordained, but still retaining celibacy as an option (and, most likely, reserving the episcopacy only for those who are celibate, thus ensuring that the Vatican won’t have to contend with the peculiar circumstances of having a Mrs. Pope standing at her husband’s side while he offers a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s). – Deacon Greg Kandra
Unfortunately, many now know Catholics only by what they oppose: same-sex marriage, women’s ordination, abortion, etc. In the future, let’s be known by what we advocate. Let’s focus on the positive. At the very beginning gushed forth a wellspring of compassionate life so dramatic that centuries haven’t quenched it. Let’s hear that call of Jesus again — to love the “other,” to do justice for the weakest members of our society, to savor the beauties of this world, to serve God magnanimously. – Kathy Coffey
Take a look at all of the essays at the Patheos website.