--> First of all, another great in-depth report, Luke.
--> I can begin to understand this situation, albeit on a smaller scale. In my small town, there are three Catholic parishes: two of them with near 100% white congregations, and a separate very small and dwindling black congregation. I often say that the black parish needs to be shutt…
--> First of all, another great in-depth report, Luke.
--> I can begin to understand this situation, albeit on a smaller scale. In my small town, there are three Catholic parishes: two of them with near 100% white congregations, and a separate very small and dwindling black congregation. I often say that the black parish needs to be shuttered and its parishioners welcomed into the other two parishes. It would certainly make better use of financial, physical, and personnel resources. However, that's easy for me to say: I'm not a member of that parish. I try to imagine how I would feel if it was the parish where my parents and grandparents received their sacraments that was made redundant. The scale may be smaller, but at a personal level it's all the same.
--> We need courageous bishops to preach the Gospel to the modern world. But, until the pews are full again, we also need courageous - and prudent - bishops to make these kinds of decisions.
--> First of all, another great in-depth report, Luke.
--> I can begin to understand this situation, albeit on a smaller scale. In my small town, there are three Catholic parishes: two of them with near 100% white congregations, and a separate very small and dwindling black congregation. I often say that the black parish needs to be shuttered and its parishioners welcomed into the other two parishes. It would certainly make better use of financial, physical, and personnel resources. However, that's easy for me to say: I'm not a member of that parish. I try to imagine how I would feel if it was the parish where my parents and grandparents received their sacraments that was made redundant. The scale may be smaller, but at a personal level it's all the same.
--> We need courageous bishops to preach the Gospel to the modern world. But, until the pews are full again, we also need courageous - and prudent - bishops to make these kinds of decisions.