Virtual Sales Meeting

By The Catholic Evidence Guild of Guam

Currently, the Church in the West is faced with a vocations problem. The problem is significant and simply put: no priest, no Mass, no Eucharist. "No Eucharist" necessarily follows with "no Catholic Church." Extraordinary ministers and Communion services aside, only ordained priests can consecrate fruits of grape and grain into the Blood and Body of the Redeemer. While we certainly have Christ's guarantee that such a lack will never completely happen (Mt 16:18 and 28:20), there can be no doubt that our Mother Church is suffering in many places throughout the world for lack of those sons who alone can preside at Mass.

To address this vocation problem, perhaps we can glean some helpful hints from the secular world of business and products. Whereas, in business, the volume of sales is an indication of corporate health, the same can be applied to the Church with its number of vocations. When a product is selling poorly, a company, before it can take corrective action, must first determine the nature of the problem.

•     If sales are flat everywhere then something may be wrong with the product.

•    If sales are down only in certain markets then most likely it is not just a product problem, but perhaps a people problem (poorly trained sales people, lack of product knowledge, unattractive display, etc.) as well.

•    If there is a problem with the product then either the product is fixed or it is pulled from the shelf.

•     Similarly, if the company has a "people" problem, then either the people are "fixed" (e.g. retrained) or they are removed or replaced. The arguments favoring a married priesthood, women's ordination, etc. as solutions to the problem are well known and are commonly thought of as "progressive." These may be contrasted with what may be called "orthodox" solutions. Simply naming classes of solutions does not point out which class actually has the better solutions. Let's see if we can first answer the question: "Do we have a product problem or do we have a people problem?" and look at the problems of diminished vocations from a business perspective as we conduct a "virtual sales meeting."

In order to decide whether we have a product or people problem, we may gain some insight by first answering the question: "Are sales down across the board or are they down in only some markets?" Human Life International undertook a study of this question and came up with the following conclusions (full study in AD2000 Vol. 11, No 7, August 1998, p. 12). For the purpose of definition, the study specifically refers to "orthodox" as a "general predisposition of fidelity toward the Magisterium since Vatican II." "Progressive" is then defined as "a general predisposition towards liberal activism and systematic toleration towards dissent from the Magisterium since Vatican II"

•     There are currently nearly twice as many diocesan priests per million active Catholics in orthodox dioceses (2,057) as there are in progressive dioceses (1,075).

•     The proportion of diocesan priests in orthodox dioceses has remained steady, while the number of diocesan priests in progressive dioceses has been continually declining for four decades.

A second statistical analysis presented in the same study looked at the numbers of diocesan priests ordained in the period 1986 to 1996. Two patterns were evident:

•     There are currently nearly five times as many ordinations of diocesan priests per million active Catholics in orthodox dioceses (53) as there are in progressive dioceses (I1).

•    The rate of ordinations of diocesan priests in orthodox dioceses shows a strong upward trend; the rate in progressive dioceses, relatively low four decades ago continues to decline. In orthodox dioceses, there were 34 ordinations of diocesan priests per million active Catholics in 1986, and 53 in 1996 - an increase of more than 50 percent. In progressive dioceses, the rate was 16 in 1986, and only 11 in 1996 - a one-third decrease.

Hence, we don't have a "product" problem. The celibate male priesthood is thriving in those dioceses "Where, in general, the sacred character of the ordained priesthood is more emphasized, liturgies are celebrated reverently according to the Church's rubrics, and doctrinal orthodoxy is insisted upon and promoted," as the study states. Instead, it seems the challenge resides in "people." Fortunately, the solution is not difficult because the nurtured tree bears fruit.

The need for adult catechesis is evident. We must look to continual growth beyond a high school level of religious education. As we seek out authentic adult catechesis for ourselves, we can be assured that our children will receive authentic Catholic education. A generic and indifferent "Christian" or "spiritual" education is not only inadequate; it is a large part of the current problem. Unless we ourselves have received proper instruction and spiritual guidance, we would be limited in our capacity to critique the quality of education our children might receive.

Locally, the Archdiocese of Agana provides opportunities to grow in a firm understanding of our faith, namely through the various catechetical and training programs offered by the Division of Pastoral Ministries, parish programs and evangelization efforts by church organizations. However, more of such programs and opportunities are needed to reinforce these efforts. Catechists, teachers of theology and those of us who are grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church are challenged to ever so generously share the richness of our faith with one another and with our children.

While we must always continue to pray for vocations, we must also r^ecommit ourselves to authentic Catholic education. Only when we remember all that is the glory of Mother Church, which is the glory of Christ, and appreciate its importance, will His people yearn For His product, the Eucharist,