Dear Editors of Catholic Exchange:
I found Mr. Allen's article Reversing a Tragedy concerning the fall and rise of Catholic influence in media and culture very interesting.
Yes, at one time Catholicism was welcomed in our culture. As an example, Frank Capra movies and other movies of the thirties and forties portrayed the Faith in a positive light. Such programming gave people a peek inside something holy, sacred and reverent—the rest is history, as Mr. Allen notes.
While Mr. Allen's chronicle of the resurgence of Catholic speakers, writers and publications is positive and gives us hope, it fails to address the fact that the Catholic message is mostly being received only by Catholics who already try to live the Faith—Catholics who go to Sunday Mass; make holy hours at least once a month, if not once a week; say their rosary often and actively seek to live the Faith and learn more about it. What is lacking is the ability of Catholic teaching to penetrate the secular post Christian culture.
Where are the Sheens, Sheeds and Chestertons of today? Where are Catholic intellectuals, wits and apologists who can capture popular interest with their personalities? Where are the entertaining intellectual debates of faith and philosophy such as those between Chesterton and Shaw?
We have a wealth of good solid apologists, but, it seems to me, they are engaged in countering weak and possibly heretical utterances of fringe Catholic groups and individuals or engaging our Protestant and fundamentalist brothers on dogmatic truths of the Catholic faith—the true Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Mary, etc. This is good, but the culture at large is oblivious to Catholicism.
If we are going to impact our society, Catholics must find an audience outside the Church doors. The Church must produce apologists and evangelists who engage society at a human level using language and terminology that speaks the Catholic faith without the buzzwords and hot buttons that turn people off.
Mr. Bill Bennett's Book of Virtues is an excellent example of this. We must produce evangelists who will debate the Patricia Irelands and Norman Lears of the world with a vocabulary and logic that promotes our Catholic faith but does not allow these people to dismiss us as “Catholics.”
I realize we have little chance of “converting” some of these public figures. As Hillaire Belloc said, some people will use logic to defend their position, but abandon logic when the real Truth is presented. Our victory will come from those who listen to the debate. They will recognize what is Truth, and the Truth will set them free.
Bryan Beauchamp
La Place, Louisiana
Dear Bryan,
Thank you for your response. You make some excellent points, especially that most Catholic media groups appear to be nourishing the already well fortified. While recognizing the importance of this, Catholic Exchange's goal is to engage the broader culture in precisely the manner you describe. We hope to eventually develop mainstream radio and TV programming to help advance this goal.
I would argue that there are many Catholics even *inside* our Church doors who need to be awoken in the Faith so that it can become real and meaningful in their lives. Knowing when to stand and when to kneel does not a true Catholic make. And, unfortunately, our Faith's current crop of gifted apologists and evangelists does not seem to be reaching many of these good people either. By the grace of God, we and others can ultimately succeed at awakening the sleeping Catholic giant.
In JMJ,
Tom Allen
Editor, CE
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Dear Catholic Exchange:
I've lived through the days when I was very proud to be Catholic. I'm still proud of my Faith, but I'm so very disillusioned with our leaders.
Of course, there are exceptions. I read something attributed to St. Francis de Sales that has helped me stay the course: “While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal—who allow scandals to destroy their faith—are guilty of spiritual suicide.”
My children have left the Catholic Church to attend a Fellowship church and are very much involved in teaching the Word. At least they still love the Lord. We're under a lot of pressure to join them, but they know we will not leave the Church. I try to stay knowledgeable of my Faith and read Envoy Magazine, which helps me answer some questions.
I pray that your predictions about Catholic media come true. Please pray for my family and me.
Thank you,
Joan Sharron
I will, Joan.
Aren't we fortunate to have both Word and Sacrament!
God Bless,
Tom A.
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Tom, great piece! I wish I could be as optimistic as you about the role of the Internet. On the other hand, look at the roaring success of the “Lord of the Rings” movies, which are as Catholic as you can get. Hollywood can be re-conquered, since there is obviously an audience for this stuff if it is intelligently and attractively presented. Thanks for making the point.
God bless,
Jim Bemis
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Mr. Allen,
I enjoyed your commentary and shared it with my father. Here is his input:
That was quite an astute observation about the decay of Catholic influence in our culture. Mr. Allen seems to implicate Kennedy as the leader of the decline, but I prefer to think of Kennedy's approach as simply another symptom of the overall American response to the hedonism and egotism that sprouted in the late 50s early 60s from our culture's underlying worship of the individual. “I don't have to listen to nobody, especially anyone who might tell me how to lead a proper and moral life” touts such an ideology.
Let's hope that Mr. Allen can draw a wholesome, modern, rational audience and move them to good ACTION to replace the garbage with some fresh fruit—things like loudly boycotting sponsors and purveyors of filth, death and immoral business practice.
Thanks for the work you are doing for the People of God. May He continue to bless and guide you.
Lorine O'Sullivan
St Mary's Parish
Sacramento, CA
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Dear Tom,
After reading your article Reversing a Tragedy, I just wanted to send you a word of encouragement. Catholic Exchange is a great website! God is with us if we allow Him to be. I found your website when either my daughter or her husband sent me the Words of Encouragement by e-mail. By the way, my daughter has switched her homepage to CatholicExchange.com. Keep up the good work!
In God's love,
Mike Lojo
P.S. It's ironic how I started this e-mail considering how I was introduced to CE!
Thanks for the encouragement, Mike!
God Bless,
Tom A.
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