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Every Catholic parish has some components in its life that are universal – the altar, the celebration of the sacraments, religious education, etc. However, at the same time, nearly every parish has certain aspects that make it unique.
When I think of the diversity of parishes in the Diocese of Austin, I am fascinated by their uniqueness, their diversity, their individuality. We have parishes that serve academic communities, rural communities, others that are completely urban in their makeup. Throw in linguistic differences and various forms of apostolic zeal. Needless to say, these parishes cover the whole range of economic diversity as well. What a mix!
What ties all this together? What creates unity about which the Church cares so much in these 125 communities of faith scattered across 25,000 miles of Central Texas? Well, of course, it is the faith itself. The parishioners of St. Michael’s in Uhland and the parishioners of St. Jerome’s in Waco all share their common faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings. That is very true. However, on a day-by-day basis, it is the office of bishop that provides that necessary and beautiful unity. In a very real sense, each parish has two pastors. The first is the canonical pastor who is there with them sanctifying, teaching and healing day by day, and then the bishop who stands side by side with every pastor in the Diocese uniting them together through his office.
This reality is dramatized most effectively with all the priests of the Diocese joining the bishop at the Cathedral where he blesses the sacred oils in large containers and sends them out by the pastors to the various churches. The oil used in baptism at St. Michael’s is one with the oil used while baptizing babies at St. Jerome’s. Many parishes, one bishop, one faith, one destiny.
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Have you noticed that there is a widespread view that the country is “on the wrong track.” Political candidates, TV commentators, newspaper pundits and preachers in various churches seem to be of a common mind on that. The Secret Service scandal, Walmart’s bribery in Mexico and beyond, “flash mobs” in department stores, the Navy captain providing pornographic movies to his crew, an $800,000 weekend meeting of the General Service Administration, an agency that is supposed to shepherd our financial resources, violation of corpses in Afghanistan, etc., etc., etc. None of these problems are new; none of them particularly original for this period. What is different is that these very discouraging modes of operation are more easily tolerated than was ever the case in the past. Most of us are saddened by it, most of us regret these activities but most of us feel that there is little that we can do about it. Is that the case?
Our culture, if you can call it that, is the first one in human history that has denied itself the right to pass on responsibility to the next generation its own set of values.
Not only does that lack of religious values add to the criminal activity I mentioned above, but it is one of the underlying causes of so many other agonizing human problems from which we are suffering in this country. Shattered marriages, all too many immature, irresponsible adults, alcoholism and drug addiction, lack of commitment to education and a host of other tragic let downs that mark our society, our families and our individual lives.
Why not try something new? Religious formation. Some of the churches have sizable school systems and most churches have Sunday school, but they tend to concentrate on the religious teachings of that particular church. The U.S. Supreme Court continues to feel that any religious formation in the public school system is a violation of the Constitution. What a tragic mistake.
Not only are the American people blocked from using its enormous educational system from transferring moral values in any realistic way, but the court has actually worked against outside groups, such as churches and synagogues to reach its students. Several decades ago, serious efforts were made in areas such as “released time” and other efforts to provide religious instruction to public school students, but it was always rejected by the Court. The vast majority of American people hold that religious values are extraordinarily important and they ought to be imported to each new generation as effectively as possible. Can anybody imagine teaching math and science one hour a week after school? If only half our students attended those voluntary classes, can you imagine the destructive effects on their education? Well, that is what we are doing with religious values and we are paying for it.
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Ecumenical, Humanity
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alcoholism, Culture, drug addiction, humanity, irresponsible adults, marriage, mistake, moral responsibility, Religious education, Religious formation, religious values, responsibility
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