Catholic Evangelicals…reflections on a term.
The New Evangelization.
Angela has an interesting post concerning her “infiltration” into an Evangelical forum a while back - she’s so slick. It definitely sounds as if it wasn’t a very good place to express Catholic beliefs in. I had no idea some Evangelicals were so hostile to Catholicism - and yet we Catholics are so nice as we promote the ‘new springtime’ of Catholic evangelization.
The Catholic “New Evangelization” effort is very good of course, called for and promoted by the Holy Father himself (JPII). Today, our highly educated laity, the most educated in the history of the Church, is decidedly well motivated and prepared for this work.
The New Evangelization and weblogs.
I noticed on another popular weblog, several comments about Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s recent statement saying he did not think the interest in the TLM in New England was very strong. Obviously the wrong thing to say as far as the advocates for the TLM are concerned. The man who had been the darling of the blogosphere just a few months ago, with several bloggers linking to him and his posts, is now nearly being ripped to shreds - at least in one or two forums I read. Angela’s post reminded me of those comments.
There appears to be a sort of a Catholic evangelical movement emerging in this country, consisting of highly educated laity whose self-appointed job appears to be the correct interpretation of Church teaching, liturgical reform, and above all - speaking the mind of the Pope. At least that is the impression I get reading other blogs. Gratefully, as one blogger once commented, bloggers do not speak for the Church. Neither do a lot of other voices - no matter what side of the fence they sit on, or what position they hold in a parish. The Pope, his cardinals and bishops, with their priests do that.
The Church as a career opportunity.
Popular writers and evangelists, all have their following - that is certainly not a bad thing - that is how they stay popular. However, I believe their success can be an attractive business opportunity for some, while inspiring a career path for others. Religion can become a business like any other industry. Recently one blogger complained there would be more men doing parish work if the pay was better, expressing his opinion as to why there were more women working as DRE’s and in other positions on the parish level. It is a valid point - but does it have to be about money all the time? I have a nephew who is a Pentecostal minister, he also supports his family by working in construction. He regards his ministry as a call from God, not a career.
I cannot help but wonder if not a few vocations are lost because a man or woman chooses to work for the Church, rather than enter priesthood or religious life. Vocations can be lost, “many are called, few are chosen”. It is not unthinkable that maybe a few young men and women with theology degrees have opted for lay status and independence when they may have been called to religious life. It may even be a contributing factor as to why a person may leave a religious vocation, after having perceived the life more as a career than a supernatural vocation. I honestly think many people - who are ‘into” religion - may see religion as a career opportunity or simply a career path, feeling no need to consecrate their lives in the religious state.
I have also noted that a few, if not many bloggers see themselves as evangelizing through their weblogs. (Yes, we as lay people are called to evangelize, but as Fr. Corapi once said, maybe not so much with words.) I imagine some of these writers are hoping for their big break into publishing, hoping to be picked up by companies such as Our Sunday Visitor, the Daughters of St. Paul, or some other publishing house. That can happen and has happened - but again, it’s not a bad thing. Just an observation, and maybe a question for some, is it evangelization or self promotion? (Yes, I continually ask myself the same thing.)
Saying and writing the right thing.
However, getting back to the lead subject, the Evangelical website Angela wrote about; in my recent experience, if a person says anything the least bit critical - although you don’t even have to be critical - about one of the popular Catholic icons or talking heads, that person can expect to get nailed by the Catholic evangelicals. On the flip side of that coin, if you go after a Bishop Trautman, and apparently now, Cardinal Sean, or go after a liberal priest or architect, ripping them a new A-hole - well that doesn’t present much of a problem.
But is this the New Evangelization? Is this really the role of personal blogs? Maybe - maybe not - time will tell.
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Very true and thought-provoking words, Terry.
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I think you’re right…I’ve seen the same thing. There is lots of room for interpretation, and while I disagree with the Cardinal, I see his point and I don’t think he deserves to be shredded for having a legitimate opinion.
I agree that some bloggers (and even professional writers, Catholic or non) tend to claim to “speak for the Church” when in reality, they are speaking for themselves.
I will admit to the attitude myself in “speaking for the Church”, but then again, when I do so I do try to be sure I’m speaking in terms of catechesis, not matters of personal opinion, if you understand what I mean.
But for my part, I actually avoid the popular topics…there are enough people out there talking about “the latest”, and I’d rather have my own personal echo chamber. I can hear better that way.
But let’s face reality; whereever people have a voice, they will exercise that voice, and I would assume that even those in rabid disagreement with the Cardinal or other Catholics who speak to unpopular positions are likely just speaking from their passion on the topic and really don’t mean to villify anyone.
It is the nature of the beast, the nature of our fallen side to turn our gifts into something other than that for which is is intended.
It is always the greatest gifts we have that is attacked and twisted to cause division.
(Thank you, TOB)
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
You don’t think I am highly educated, self appointed Catholic evangelist, do you?
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Thank you for your comments ladies - each of you bring your own special gift to the Internet - Adoro, your personal blog has a wonderful way of touching many souls.
Angie, yes, you are an intellectual snob - and a Catholic evangelist reminiscent of Tammy Fay Baker! You are as bad as Cathy, caking on the eye make-up - how do you keep your eyes open at all? LOL!
Thanks for your comments though - I thought everyone might be dead.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Terry - ROFMAO!
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
I think I’m not going to comment on this post.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:27 am
You’ve pointed out something that’s been bothering me about the “Catholic” blogosphere for some time. It’s turning into a celebrity culture. All these laypeople, who have no right to speak for the Church, spouting off their opinions as if they’re dogma. It’s a dangerous trend.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:34 am
Terry,
An excellent article. It highlights one of the reasons why we’ve pulled ourselves away from the Catholic blogosphere - the cattiness of so many of the participants (present company excluded, naturally).
(Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t cattiness in the world of the arts, but at least you expect it there - in every sense that the word implies!)
But so many, regardless of which side of the Catholic aisle they sit, seem unable to refrain from expressing their views in the most dogmatic, uncharitable, snarky means possible, which winds up not only alienating those who might disagree with them, but also obscures the good they often do. (In particular, one might look at a Catholic blogger whose last name is the same as that of a major league baseball stadium somewhere in the Eastern time zone.) There are also those who seem incapable of resisting the urge to demonstrate their knowledge to one and all in a most authoritative manner, as is so often the case with young people (so as not to be accused of singling someone out, I’ll stipulate here that to a 47 year old like me, almost everyone younger than me is a “young person,” although I’ll add that we don’t link to bloggers like them anyway).
Your postings on this topic have been quite good lately - you are hitting hard at a topic that everyone in the blogosphere should carefully consider.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:54 am
Mitchell, I’m not happy about this at all - I am 11 years older than you, so you are a kid to me! I am weeping as I write this.
Seriously, thanks for your comments, I really appreciate what you have to say - in the past year or so I think I have written and learned a lot.
If I was back in school, I would do a paper on the subject of blogging - it would be great for a psych study, wouldn’t it?
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:19 am
Having a case of chronic hypertension (among other maladies) one method I have adopted as therapy is to restrict the number of blogs that I regularly read.
When I started out in this “hobby”, I tried to read everybody who was “anybody.” But I have cut it back to my local pals and perhaps four or five of the highly visible (and more reliable) posters.
There are a couple of locals who are chronic problems that I do try to stay on top of also.
Maybe it’s a coincidence, but one of my blood pressure medications has dropped from two, twice a day, to one, once a day.
I don’t need the aggravation.
And, for those of you playing the numbers game, by cutting back on the number of posts that I make, I have doubled by unique reader Sitemeter count.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:53 am
Terry - thanks for the kind words. You’re absolutely right - the two best sources I can think of for a psych study would be the blogosphere and a political campaign…
Ray - someday you have to tell me how you can cut your output and increase readership. If we cut our output any more than we have, we’d be blogging once a week! Of course, there are those who might think that a good idea…
July 4th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Oh, but its so much *easier* to work for the Church rather than to lay down your willfulness and take a vow of obedience!
Actually, I quite agree with you…there’s no end to the type of bargaining with God that will be attempted in avoiding a vocation. I think all the “lay ministry” helps to assuage the guilt that maybe some are called to give all of his- or herself…not just the work dimension of his or her life.
July 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
The one thing about Pentecostals is that they average about 2.2 children — as they believe in birth control.
The average USA Catholic family has about 4.3 children. You can easily see the need for some church related positions, especially professional ones, such as DRE’s, or teachers to pay more - or at least something closer to their secular equivalent.