Catholic exodus

* Your editorial "Examine the Catholic exodus" (NCR, March 7) is right on. The recent study by the Pew Forum shows a significant exodus of Catholics from our eucharistic communities. Most analyses in Catholic newspapers and magazines seem to dismiss this fact by noting that the total number of Catholics in our country is being augmented by large numbers of mostly Hispanic persons adding to the total number.

The only addition I would make to the editorial is to ask the further question: Why are so many of us staying? Why do people like me who are discouraged and dismayed by a pope who calls for the end of discrimination and violence against women while continuing to allow discrimination against women in our church remain in the Catholic church? Why does a father who has two wonderful adult daughters who happen to be lesbian stay after hearing the Vatican and our bishops say they are intrinsically and objectively disordered in their sexual orientation? Is it because we ask, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John .6:68) I have often thought of walking away from this all-too-human, male-dominated institution. But I stay. We need to discuss why so many are leaving, but we can also learn to move forward in building Christ's kingdom on earth by talking about why we stay.

STEVE BALOG

Mount Angel, Ore.

* Your article reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a member of my former parish. I told her I had transferred to a different parish. She understood. Two things we talked about that were not mentioned in the Pew Study were priests who lack the gift of pastoring and long-winded, unprepared homilies that say nothing. The scarcity of priests means that bishops have to appoint men as pastors who are not cut out for the role, as in my former parish. Folks who care about ministry in the parish throw in the towel, leave or drop out altogether. Years ago I read in a book by Martin Luther King Jr. that he started preparing his Sunday sermon on Monday morning. During the week he spent at least a dozen hours reading about and reflecting on the scriptures. How many priests do that? How many would be willing to submit their homilies for publication? Maybe bishops or priests' councils should offer refresher courses in both biblical exegesis and homiletics.

MARY ANNE VINCENT

Corona, Calif.

* Millions who had no obstacle to full participation in Catholic life have drifted away. Often the cause is confusion or question about church teaching. For some it is disillusion about church personnel or practice. A theology that has not coped with the findings of biblical scholarship and science also causes a weakening of faith. The faithful hear one thing in church about the origins of humankind and something totally different in the daily press and see little attempt being made to reconcile the discrepancy. Theology seems stuck in untenable fundamentalism in some areas. Action will be needed from top to bottom of the church.

(Fr.) CONNELL J. MAGUIRE

Riviera Beach, Fla.

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