A thought that keeps coming back

This is more journal entry for public viewing that it is anything else, but I have something I want to share.

I've had this thought for a while now, about the Church and how we can revitalize ourselves as a faith, globally and locally.

I have this thought a lot, but I talk myself down. I feel like maybe it is too unloving or too harsh to follow through with. I feel like it might do more harm than good. But for more than five years I've been having it and it keeps coming back.

So here it is.

I would like every priest at every mass this Sunday to stand up during the homily and tell the people what the Church really believes as best he can in 45 minutes to an hour. And when he's finished, I'd like him to, with as much charity as possible, tell people who don't believe those things that they shouldn't receive communion and that they should take a long hard look as to whether they should be in those pews.

I'm not saying to kick folks out. Part of the role of a Church is for those strong in faith to keep bringing along those who aren't, but there are within the Church those who hold views totally contrary to the Church's incontrovertible teachings.

Say someone is opposed to priestly celibacy, that's not a problem, as that practice is a discipline the Church has, not some kind of eternal doctrine or truth.

But say someone else doesn't believe in the trinity. That's a deal breaker. Or say someone believes firmly in the sacramental equivalence between marriage and a homosexual union. Also a deal breaker. (Which to be clear, that's not the same as supporting it's legalization, which is a different issue, and technically, probably not a deal breaker).

We are not a religion that is trying to figure out what it believes. We know. We have creed and catechism. Generations of poor catechesis has created a HUGE number of cultural Catholics.

I know the Church is probably thinking practically. Were they to do this, a lot of people would walk out, collections would plummet, they'd get even more bad press. But I'd like to see the Church, at least the one that I know, the American Church, to do something like this.

I want to reignite the faith of all the drones I see around me on Sundays, but I don't know if I or anyone else can. Don't think that I believe we're all drones at mass though, it's not that bad.

For every couple of drones, I see the young mother singing loudly while holding her kid. I see the 20-something college guy who didn't bring his buddies, but at least he made it to pass. I see people who really believe and know what's going on dotted all throughout the church.

Let me stop here.....Again I've talked myself down. I don't think that would be a good idea to give that speech and send them packing. The Church, ever wise, probably realizes that as it is now, we have a way to reach those people. They'll be back next Sunday

The priests do need to do a better job of catechizing from the pulpit, but to revitalize the Church, we don't need to send anyone away.

Those of us believers who are really into it though. The ones better than me, and even the ones like me, have an obligation to do more to bring the others around.

Keeping them coming back matters, but we need to make sure that when they come back, we do our parts to teach the faith, preach the faith and live the faith.

We must be examples, but we must also teach. I feel bad asking more of an already taxed priesthood, so maybe this role really belongs to the laity. I can't reignite a parish alone, but I'm sitting here blogging to a group of less than 10 readers.

If I want change, I need to get involved in my parish. So that's what I'm going to do. If you want change in yours, friends, don't pass the buck. Become that change.

I don't know what real good I can do, but I take solace in the words of Pope Benedict XVI on the day of his election.

"I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers."