EXCERPT: Among all the reasons why parish numbers across the country are shrinking (once we adjust for demographic shifts and integration), one central fact stands out: parish life itself has changed.
Fifty years ago, many Catholics participated mainly out of guilt, fear, obligation, or duty. Catholics feared Hellfire if they fail to comply with the church's rules and regulations. In this sense Catholicism was radically unlike Protestant churches. Protestant congregations were “voluntary associations.” Their behavior resembled many clubs, non-profit organizations, community groups and charitable societies. But Catholicism was still a “command institution,” where behavior was more like the military, or one’s place of employment, or citizenship itself -- after all, Catholics were born into Catholicism, while Protestants generally chose their church. The difference was like night and day.
All that has changed. Now guilt, fear, obligation, and duty have little hold of most Catholics' Participation. People go if they want to, not because they fear punishment for staying home. So now Catholics treat their parish more like Protestants always have -- and the attendance numbers have followed suit. Whereas Catholics used to out-attend Protestants three to one, the figures are nearly identical now. It’s not night and day anymore.
But one difference remains: Protestant churches have long experience operating as voluntary associations, so their leaders have learned about motivating members. Catholic churches have no such history. Our clergy knows that the old system doesn't work anymore, but they haven't had long to develop the new one. And no organization can thrive if leaders cannot motivate members.
What's to be done? Our church needs to find new methods for attracting and retaining members. And guess where we should look to find them?
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