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Empty Pews

     It's all about pleasing the crowd, now, isn't it? I think that's the message most seminarians get. Whatever pleases the people, that's the law. Panes et circenses ("bread and circuses," the Roman adage summarizing how to subdue the dumb crowd, that is, fill their bellies and delight them with entertainment). There are many, many Catholics, even clergy of every level, who understand Catholicism in a rather "watered down" way. According to their philosophy, success is measured upon how pleased the crowd is. (Oh, and on how much money we can get from them... but I'll leave that for another day.)

     The problem is, that good Catholics suffer abuse from dissident, heretical and disobedient pastors with humble submission. If they complain, their pastors resort to name calling, damning them to the lot known as "divisive," yet hypocritically may I add.

     The bad Catholics, like the ones who want women priests or married priests, who treat the Eucharist sacrilegiously, who practice many forms of impurity, who support the pro-gay agenda or endorse contraception, in flagrant resistance to the entire teaching, practice and tradition of the Church, don't give up without a fight. No, they don't humbly submit. Either they yell, insult, belittle, slander or otherwise attack, or they quietly plan intrigues to undermine and backstab their priests when they disagree with them. And not only their priests; they muscle out the humbler ones who adhere to Church doctrine in the most brutal and humiliating ways. Or they reduce them to ridicule to move them from their position, that is, from adherence to Rome to adherence to their base passions.

     No, it's not about pleasing the crowd. That just kills the Church. Watering down Catholicism kills vocations, destroys families, ruins the prayer life, perverts all customs and virtues. What fills the pews? The only message of salvation, not political correctness.

     In light of this reality, someone wrote the following song. It creatively describes the relationship between pathetic liturgy and doctrine to the many who abandon the Church in one way or another. Some may wonder whether I penned it, but no I did not. (I only wish I could claim so!) But the very fact that this person asked to remain anonymous further stresses how aggressive the dissenters are.

What a Horrible Church

      (To the tune of Louis Armstrong's, "What a Wonderful World")

      (Hear/watch him sing it on YouTube: Click here.)

I see banners of green, purple and red,

Bongos ‘n’ drums waking the dead,

            And I think to myself, “What a horrible church!”

I hear children screaming, running around,

Parents chit-chatting... what have I found?

            And I say to myself, “What a horrible church!”

(Bridge)

The statues look pretty, the colors so life-like,

But they’re stored in the confessionals. I tell you, it’s not right!

The a cross-wearing woman says, “How do you do? God wants to tell you,

She loves you!”

I see bowls full of bread, crumbs fallin down,

Dancers in tutus, and colorful clowns,

            And I scream to myself, “What a horrible church!”

I hear strumming guitars, “inclusive” hymns,

The video screens, the lights start to dim.

            And I cry to myself, “What a horrible church!”

            I moan to myself, “What a horrible church!”

                        Oh noooo...!

     Aren't the faithful creative and expressive?