We Need to Live Out

Cutting-Edge Catholicism

FATHER DWIGHT LONGENECKER

The biggest turn off for our young people, in fact the
biggest turn off to Catholics of every generation is
lukewarm Catholicism.

When I was living in England I was traveling across London one

day with a work colleague named Gerry who was a lapsed
Catholic. We spotted a couple of Hare Krishnas scuttling along in
their orange robes, shaved heads and begging bowls. My
colleague said, "Look at them. We Catholics need more people
like them."
I replied, "We've got plenty like that."
Two stops later on the tube train the doors opened and two
Missionaries of Charity stepped on board. I gave Gerry a nudge in
the ribs and whispered, "Look. There's two of ours!"
"You're right!"
Later that day as we were traveling home the underground train
stopped and one of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal stepped
in. He was six foot tall, shaved head, long beard, full Franciscan

habit.I said, "Look Gerry. There's another one of ours. We're

ahead three to two!"
Later that year Gerry started going back to church.
One of the highlights of my time as a high school chaplain was
having two of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal come to the
school for a mission. When I was chaplain I was passionate about
introducing the high school kids to vibrant, dynamic and cutting
edge Catholicism.
The biggest turn off for our young people, in fact the biggest turn
off to Catholics of every generation is lukewarm Catholicism, or
what C.S. Lewis called "Christianity with water." Give me the fullblooded stuff! Christianity with water is the weak hearted
compromising pablum that actually does more harm than good.
What I'm talking about is a kind of complacent, sentimentalized,
religion that doesn't do much good except if you're suffering from
insomnia.
This is what the Catholic Church most needs in this age: we need
to stop all the internecine quarrels about this form of liturgy or that
form of church music. We need to grit our teeth and put up with
one another and open our hearts and minds and learn from one
another. Mostly we need to all draw closer and closer to Christ,
soaking up his Spirit and each in our own way (according to our
own vocation and charism) live out cutting-edge Catholicism.
The question then arises, "What is 'cutting-edge Catholicism'?" It is
nothing less than being transformed into the image of Christ, and
what I have found in my journey is that no particular group or
religious community or personality type has the monopoly. It
should go without saying, but I've found saintly, joyful, simple
Catholics who are traddies and trendies. I've met sour, legalistic,
self righteous and angry traddies and trendies. I've met the real
thing amongst charismatic Catholics, liberal Catholics,
conservative Catholics and just plain bread and butter Catholics.
Likewise I've met phonies, frauds and pharisees in all of the above
groups.

What I want for me and what our Church and our world needs
most is that indefinable air of authenticity. It is hard to pin down,
but it always has a sense youthful curiosity mixed with the
wisdom of age. It always has a sense of seriousness mixed
with zest for life and a joyful sense of humor.
This person takes others seriously, but does not take himself
seriously. He is patient with fools, but not with tomfoolery. He is
modest but not prudish. He loves to pray but is bored with mere
piety.
The Franciscan Friars of the renewal had this gift. Mother Angelica
had this gift. All the saints had this gift
...and I want some.