A bold diagnosis of a declining Church
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit has published an interesting document called Unleash the Gospel. It is the fruit of a diocesan synod in a climate of severely declining sacramental practice, vocations to marriage and priesthood, and the closure of parishes.
It is a decline in the practice of the faith that is replicated to a greater or lesser extent in huge parts of the world – even in Africa.
I was speaking to a Religious from Zambia who was telling me about the vocations crisis in her country. The comforting thought that the Church in Africa is growing is only true in a few parts of the continent. In Zambia and elsewhere they are losing huge numbers of Catholics to Pentecostal sects.
