Abbey-Roads2

The Catholic Apologetics Industry

I believe the term may have been coined by The Western Confucian, a very intelligent blog covering religion, economics, politics, and a lot more.  I perked up at his label,  “apologetics industry“, simply because it identified what I was attempting to editorialize in previous posts of my own, only I referred to it as, ”the God business”. 

Interestingly enough, it appears one of the reasons this is a growing business in Catholic circles, may well be attributed to the Evangelical converts to Catholicism whose popularity has raised the level of marketing sophistication in Catholic publishing, as well as the Catholic apologetics lecture circuit.  Media has played a big role in the phenomenon as well, such as EWTN and Relevant Radio, to name just two popular outlets.

Is it all about money?

As in politics, the entertainment industry, or any other business, the potential for the abuse of power and influence, along with the cult of celebrity and temptations to greed, can be an ‘accident’ waiting to happen in the Catholic apologetics industry.  (Although a marketing strategy is no accident.)  I found this article  on Christian celebrities at Charisma, a Protestant website.  It is rather interesting.

While doing research on a well known Catholic author/blogger, I came across an interview she did on one of her more ‘in the news’ topical books, which addressed one of the latest controversies of that moment.  Here is an excerpt:

IgnatiusInsight.com: If you had five minutes with Dan Brown, what might you say or do?

The Author: Ask him for some money.

Hey, why not? Maybe not for me, but perhaps for some of the thousands of institutions around the world – orphanages, schools, hospitals, old age homes, hospices - that are filled with people who’ve given their lives to sacrificially serving others in the direst of circumstances, inspired, called and nourished by the One whom Dan Brown continues to exploit, sitting up there in New Hampshire on his wads of cash. He should be ashamed. Perhaps, one day, he will be. - Ignatius Press 

Maybe I’m jaded.

Perhaps I’m too suspicious and critical when it comes to people who turn religion into a career or business opportunity.  (I suppose they have to profit from their otherwise useless, philosophy and theology degrees somehow.)  After all, one has to earn a living.  Nevertheless, I always roll my eyes and chuckle when the same people criticize Lourdes as too commercial because of all the religious shops, or complain about the cost of religious goods for Church or home, while religion has ‘kinda, sorta’ become their new business.

It is a strange time in the Catholic Church, when some Liturgists, Music Directors, DRE’s, and other parish employees earn higher incomes than the priest.  But then again, a priest has a vocation, not a career.  Let’s hope that never changes. 

[Art: "Money Changers in the Temple" - Tate Gallery] 
 

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.