How can the Collapse of the Liturgy be reversed?

[Rickwood]

Wow. If you agree with the Pope–you are “bashing”. If you pay attention at Mass (and unfortunately the abuses simply “pop out”)–you are judged a “liturgy policeman”–even when none are mentioned. If you discuss possible solutions to the problems that the Pope mentions, you are uncharitably told to “sit down and shut up” and told that “life experience” or even reliance on actual Church documents means nothing. Sad.

I think you are making sweeping generalities which in no way apply to all dioceses or parishes. Three things that really stand out for me is the quality of my pastor and bishop; the true way which the Church functions and the means in which I communicate with with pastor and bishop.

In my experiences, if you have a pastor and/or a bishop that does not care, you are are going to be very frustrated and even angry if you cannot summon God’s Grace to not be pulled down by what’s going on around you.

Looking back I once had a pastor that simply wanted to put in the fewest number of hours/week as he could. He didn’t like liturgical problems per se, but he wasn’t about to spend time introducing real reform. My bishop at the time couldn’t have cared any less. In both cases things have improved dramatically and it makes a dramatic difference.

The second point is how does the Church actually function? It’s not government, business, education, etc. It’s the Catholic Church with its own set of laws and ways of doing things – some often quite foreign to Americans. That’s why I always feel a bit bad when I see the GIRM/RS crew screaming on here about “abuses” and “that’s what Rome says.” Often naive and sometimes misleading.

Then there is the absolute lack of communication skill I experience with some people whose mission it is to root out all “abuses.” I think a lot of us are overly direct on these forums and if this is how we act in real life, it’s not wonder we don’t make any real progress. And it’s not simply a matter of tact. It seems that far too many people make factually inaccurate statements that could really turn someone off – and it does.