One noteworthy fact: the decline is most evident in the German-speaking countries, where tens of thousands of Catholics leave the Church every year. And yet the Pope seems to be taking advice disproportionately from the German-speaking bishops.
REGINA: There's been a kerfuffle online about young people asked their opinions by the Vatican for the upcoming youth synod, only to be ignored. What effect do you think this Pope is having on young people?
LAWLER: It’s very hard to say. I’m afraid that young people will be hurt the most by the confusion. But we’ll know more after this Synod meeting.
REGINA: How can a layperson respond to protect the Faith?
LAWLER: First and foremost, pray: for the Pope and for the Church. Next, be strong in upholding the consistent teachings of the Church. Don’t apologize for the truth. Third, ask pastors and bishops to be clear, too, in teaching the truth. Ask bishops, especially, to fulfill their teaching role by providing some clarity in a time of confusion.
FIND PHILIP LAWLER’S ‘LOST SHEPHERD’ HERE.
ABOUT PHILIP LAWLER: Philip F. Lawler is editor of Catholic World News, the first English-language Catholic news service operating on the internet, which he founded in 1995. He is also the program director of the Center for the Restoration of Christian Culture at Thomas More College in New Hampshire. A Harvard graduate, Mr. Lawler has served as Director of Studies for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in Washington; as founder and president of a national organization of Catholic laity; and as editor of Crisis magazine. In 1986 he became the first layman to edit The Pilot, the Boston archdiocesan newspaper. From 1993 through 2005 he was editor of the international monthly magazine Catholic World Report. His essays, book reviews, and editorial columns have appeared in over 100 newspapers around the United States and abroad, including the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Boston Globe. He and his wife Leila have seven children and (at last count) fourteen grandchildren. The Lawlers now live in central Massachusetts.
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