Churches are full of static Catholics

SIR – Concerning the reported falling attendances in Church, I wonder if this may be a problem to do with training. Training may happen initially, but after that – nothing. We sit in pews and hear Mass, but there is no programme of onward progression. Speakers may give very interesting talks from time to time, but they are passive to the receiver, as are homilies.

Once you have gone through the initial instruction – or perhaps passed through childhood – then that is it, and you are on your own to get on with it. Further in-service training does not exist as such in Catholicism.