Reform is afoot in the Vatican. Pope Francis has tightened the reins on the Vatican bank, worked through a gruelling visit to Brazil, named a new secretary of state, and is now busy preparing for the October meeting of cardinals who will advise him on how to breathe new life into the Catholic Church.
The new pope’s agenda is simple: spread the good news of Jesus Christ in a freer and more convincing way. Christ stated the church’s mission very plainly: “Go out and make disciples of all the nations.”
Here in America, Catholic parishes need to take measures to better carry out this mission, including:
Parishioners and clergy must take responsibility for evangelisation
The church is not a spiritual McDonald’s whose success largely depends on its managers, the clergy.
Paraphrasing President John Kennedy’s call to service, “Ask not what the church can do for you, but what you can do for the church.”
Evangelicals and Pentecostals have much to teach Catholics in this regard.
Polls show Catholics stayed away from church because they were ignored, slighted, or scandalised. Sometimes they misunderstand church teaching. They need to know that they are missed and that the door is open for them.
Catholic colleges and universities
Catholic colleges and universities believe unequivocally that it is an honour to be Catholic, and need to be demonstrably evangelical. The people who are often proudest to be part of Catholic education are in fact non-Catholics: Protestants, non-Christians, and even atheists.
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is an essential consequence of the Gospel, which means we must be involved in the public square – as Catholics. With enough prayer, sacrifice, advocacy, common sense, and sheer grace, Wall Street might cease being a casino; and likewise, civic leaders, public unions, and bondholders might be able to find agreement in the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression. Continue reading
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