Monday, April 21, 2014

Thoughts on the Francis effect

Just what is the so-called Francis effect?

Those who wish Pope Francis ill proudly claim that church attendance has not increased and Catholic churches do not seem to be experiencing the same kind of enthusiasm found in St. Peter's Square on any given day.

Is church attendance the measure of the Franis effect, I wonder, and is that not a question only an American would ask? Last fall I overheard a bishop wonder what Francis had up his sleeve and then commented that he thought Francis was trying to get bishops to work. 

It has been reported that after his first six months as pope Francis had garnered more attendance in St. Peter's Square than both Popes John Paul and Benedict combined. This is not to disparage either one of those great and holy men. But it does indicate that Francis has a charisma that neither of the other two possessed. A different pope brings a different gift. John Paul and Benedict each brought great gifts and great personality to the office. The gift and personality of Francis just different.

Estimates of the crowd in St. Peter's Square on this past Easter Sunday suggested an attendance of about 150,000 people. Francis can draw big crowds. No doubt. And he seems to love nothing more than being in their midst. All of which says that Francis is carrying out a ministry of presence like never before. And when he has to preach his preaching is merciful.

There is no competition among popes. One commentator summed up John Paul's pontificate by identifying him with the words, "This is what we believe." and much of John Paul's pontificate seems to have reminded us of our identity as Catholic Christians.

The same commentator noted that Benedict's papacy could be summed up in the words, "This is why we believe it." Benedict provided our Catholic identity with a solid grounding, a very necessary rationale. The same commentator now claims Francis can be summed up with the words, "Now go out and do it."

What is different in Francis is that he can be identified much more with the sense of Catholic Christians living fully their faith. The emphasis is on action, an active verb.

The Church in my archdiocese is faced with numerous possible parish closings and consolidations. There already has been reaction from parishioners whose parishes are on the block. There are those who want things to stay the same even though there is almost no life left in their parishes at all. One parish whose parishioners are complaining has reportedly not experienced a single baptism in three years. What is the reason for keeping a parish open whose parishioners appear to be indifferent to its current future and growth?

The machine to which many are clinging is enough to keep them alive but it is not enough to get them to do what Francis wants us to do. It is not enough to get them to do what Jesus asks of us - to preach the Gospel! To tell the Good News to others! To go out on mission like the first disciples did! Instead we wait for the unbeliever to come to us. And then in some places we have to look them over to make sure they fit into our plan.

The bishops call for evangelization but this is almost a joke. What will get parishioners who want their parish to make them comfortable Sunday after Sunday energetic and enthused about preaching the Gospel to neighbors and strangers? What will move us from coffee and donuts after Mass to knocking on doors and inviting others to come join us? Few clergy want to do this.

Oh, of course it's not true of all, but the truth is there is a lot of dead weight among North American Catholics. Our German and Irish and Italian and eastern European immigrant ancestors have built us a church that is a now a haven of rest for us. And we want to keep it that way. Do not bother us with even the cry of Emma Lazarus to give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Let the government take care of them and let us remain in our shells.

The Francis effect is challenging all the moribund thinking in the American church including that of our bishops - some of whom are more concerned about their personal housing than they are about spreading the Gospel. What can we do? Not much really. Except to place ourselves into the hands of God and his mercy. Only God can draw us out of our torpor.


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