Growing the church

The future of the church will depend on how effectively church leaders concern themselves with realities such as those mentioned in two sociological studies headlined "The 'bookend' generations" (NCR, March 9). The conclusions of the findings speculate that the U.S. church may be only a fraction of its size in the future. Findings refer to the pre-Vatican II Catholics who grew up with the Latin Mass and dated theological virtues. To them serious failings consisted of missing Mass on Sundays, premarital sex, masturbation and lying. With the younger generation, social sins--bigotry, failure to give women equal rights, lack of respect for diversity, neglect of the poor--are major ills that need to be confronted.

I don't see any threats to the church as long as these differences are confronted by church leaders who can make decisions, either by requiring uncritical acceptance of what the pope calls fundamental values or boldly stepping up to the plate and making spiritual and religious decisions that can stand up successfully to critical examination. Members of the hierarchy, the clergy and the laity, with mutual respect for each other, can enable the U.S. church to grow, not shrink to an organization of only blind followers.

JOSEPH P. MANTHORNE

North Andover. Mass.

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