Therefore, as respects” change”, it is not that the Catholic Church is unable to change. It simply prefers (chooses) not to.
So while Benedict “can”, the problem is simply that Benedict “won’t” – allow priests to marry or for that matter, relatedly allow women to be priests. If the Progressives expect change/movement on this and many other fronts, it may indeed be a case of Mission Impossible for them, as Mission America steamrolls right over it.
Deciding to stay the course, and without a new market and customer base, the Church was doomed to collapse as that decision put the progressive segment in virtual runoff. The pivotal boomer generation abruptly changed its weekly services attending habit from the “every Sunday” frequency of generations before, to just twice a year in the newly formed C&E (Christmas and Easter) Club. That affect was compounded by the fact that succeeding generations were not ingrained with the “Catholic guilt” legacy, the pervasive bulwark of the Church’s progressives membership infusion these last two centuries in the United States, Europe and probably the rest of the developed world. The influence to view anything other than Catholic as wrong, coupled with a one way ticket to Hades for missing a Sunday mass became ineffectual. The robust recruiting/holding effect of that eternal damnation sword of Damocles was forever gone with the boomers and succeeding generations.
Again in corporate terms, and one losing relevance with its customers, the Church ironically decided not to reengineer the company, but rather boldly retool its customer base, to one more attuned to buying its traditional product offering. To do so however, would require the Vatican “Board” to find a new “CEO-like” symbol for the brand. Enter John Paul II, the de-facto Eveready Bunny of Catholic Inc. marketing and recruiting.
He kept going and going and going – everywhere, to mitigate member outflow, and grow elsewhere. His mission then to generate real global member growth by both slowing the erosion rate of the progressives, and simultaneously accelerating new demographic membership. The latter required focus on geographies where core church conservatism would still sell and sell well – i.e. third world nations.
Generally impoverished and seeking anything spiritual to latch their hopes and dreams onto, these people’s became easy prey for a clever and attractive sales pitch. Perhaps the most “Popish” (although this Analyst has been impressed with Benedict’s unexpected ability to pull it off too) of any papal leader in modern times, in terms of his way and mannerisms, almost actor like, John Paul II was able to brilliantly make that important personal sales connection with this vulnerable audience, and reason why he sold so incredibly well.
In conclusion, the Vatican shrewdly realized the 20 generation or so catholic guilt cycle is broken and it’s progressive base must be courted if it is to be retained. To do so requires the Church to compete with progressive Christian religions and do what it has made a very clear decision not to do – i.e. change. That decision not to change from hardcore church conservatism principles, evidence John Paul’s reign, was confirmed in a final swipe at the progressive membership with the selection of a staunch conservative, the German born and raised Benedict, as John Paul’s successor. Conservative, not as respects global issues related to defense and economics per se, but rather hawkishly conservative on church dogma and principles – i.e. the stand on abortion, inaction on sex abusing priests, women priests, divorce, stem cell research etc. A Pontiff who to be fair, and quite sympathetically, grew up an very difficult if not horrible environment, including being forced into membership in the Hitler Youth during World War II, which he appropriately then and since roundly denounced. Yet still one who’s hardened upbringing and embracement of religious conservatism is further evidenced in nicknames Benedict has been given in the press, including “God’s Rottweiler”, “Panzerkardinal” and “Cardinal No”.
With that background, the takeaway message from the white smoke billowing from the ancient chimney of the Sistine Chapel three years ago upon the election of Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI - We’d (Catholic Church) rather grow by losing (.i.e. not changing) – the Progressives.
Bottom line then, Benedict will assess the U.S. Catholic dilemma upon his return to the Vatican from this de-facto data gathering trip. It is clear his conservatism is non-wavering and non-negotiable. While he may on some fronts rhetorically cater to the demands of his Progressive constituency, particularly this week in the media spotlight, he will not do so substantively. The erosion of the U.S. Progressive Catholics may be temporarily stemmed with his charming visit, but will resume with a vengeance once this week fades to memory, and the Progressives realize the status quo is what it is - unchanged. His focus instead will be on leveraging Hispanic Catholic membership so as to adapt, embrace and draw in the real sweet spot and windfall prize in the Church’s recruiting bulls-eye - Charismatic Catholics.
In conclusion, growth is a good thing, but it too can be replete with disappointment and questioning why it can’t be further improved. Even with both overall global and subset U.S. growth, the Catholic Church can no longer even take pride in its long held position as the world’s most populous religion (currently 1.1 billion), having just recently abdicated the title to Islam. The loss of the Cafeteria Catholic progressive base being one contributing factor to that title loss.
The Vatican should be reprimanded for its rather un-Christian-like sacrificing multi-channel economic diversity in its member mix, for “less than optimum growth”, when with real accountability and a little open mindedness, modern thinking, and principles relaxation, become a true 21st century Christian religion and achieve “maximum growth”. That growth vis-à-vis both “Progressives and Charismatics”, rather than sacrificing one for the other.
Indeed a re-look, re-think and re-tooled strategy for “growth through (all aspects of) diversity” is in order, rather than continuing the John Paul, now PanzerPope’s dated non-Christian “growth through (Progressives) abandonment/divestiture”, income-centric discrimination based member growth strategy.
It’s time the Catholic Church responsibly evolve in true Christian spirit and fashion to provide rather than deny its cafeteria customers reasonable taste expectations, more menu choice. Indeed a better patron growth alternative approach than abruptly telling them “NO!” in analogous manner as the Seinfeld Soup character might a customer he cares for not, and sending them elsewhere for what they so simply crave - a practically prepared, sensible and fulfilling spiritual meal.
