Reconciling with the Church
The question is an abiding concerns for the Catholic parent: will the children continue practising the faith beyond their day of confirmation?
By all accounts, many do not. In Britain, some observers speak of Christianity in terms of erosion and even demise. Indeed, the case has been made that the Church’s evangelisation efforts, at least in Europe, should no longer focus on the so-called “un-churched”, but on those baptised Catholics who have become detached from their Christian beliefs.
Many dioceses and parishes in the United States especially are investing much of their resources in reaching out to lapsed Catholics. Such campaigns may include advertising in the press and on radio, distribution of Catholic media, and what may be called “direct marketing” by way of letters.
In South Africa, where the secularisation of society has not reached such alarming proportions as in Europe, the question of how to “win back” inactive Catholics is still nascent. It is reasonable to presume, however, that South Africa will catch up with Europe on that count. For this, the Church must be prepared.
The Catholic Church in Southern Africa has no apparent programme to win back lapsed Catholics. Indeed, research into why Catholics lapse and how they can be persuaded to return remains largely unexplored.
Some of those who take an interest in the question suggest that re-evangelisation should not focus on the 18-35 age group. Instead, they argue, the time to reach out to lapsed Catholics is when such people are about to enter the middle years of their lives, when they are matured and possibly more open to settle for answers in the human quest for spiritual nourishment. This approach has merit.
At the same time, the Church must reach out to those who, for whatever reason, have joined other churches, especially pentecostal churches.
Before all this can take place, however, the Church must identify the reasons why Catholics become alienated from the Church they grew up in, as well as whether and how these reasons can be addressed.
Here is an opportunity for evangelisation that may involve all the faithful, from bishops to laity. Let’s take it.
- The Look of Christ - May 24, 2022
- Putting Down a Sleeping Toddler at Communion? - March 30, 2022
- To See Our Good News - March 23, 2022
