Many dioceses across the country are facing priest shortages. Diocesan bishops have been told there are programs to deal with the problem.
These programs tend to be based on a business model., even though the Church is a great deal more than a business. Francis of Assisi finally figured out what God meant by "Repair my Church."
The Church exists to build the kingdom of God on earth. The criteria for judging the building of the kingdom differs from the criteria for building business.
Without denying the need to deal with the problem, we have to ask, "What is the problem?"
The problem is not "We have too many parishes" The problem is "We don't have enough priests." It's the priest shortage that needs attention.
Walmart (if you will allow a comparison to business) does not close stores because it doesn't have enough managers. It gets more managers.
As Pope Benedict XVI said on December 10, 2006, "The parish is a beacon that radiates the light of the faith and thus responds to the deepest and truest desires of the human heart, giving meaning and hope to the lives of individuals and families."
Closing parishes extinguishes beacons that radiate the light of faith. Isn't that counter-productive?
