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The fundamental problem with attendance is evidenced in the picture the Beacon used for the story. There is not one person in that picture under the age of 45!

What does that say about the state of the Catholic Church? I disagree with johnsimoneau I don't believe it has anything to do with the scandals - and honestly to condemn the entire church by the actions of the few is very narrow minded.

In order to draw families, young families, back to the Church there needs to be change. I am not talking about dogma or practice, I am talking about execution. You need priests that are not afraid to leave their offices and talk to people outside the church's four walls -- stop waiting for people to come to the church bring the church to the people. Services need to have some life to them, the music needs to progress beyond the dirges that you find in every Catholic Church. I am not saying they need to bring in rock bands and modern worship services -- leave that to the Southern Baptists. But they do need to arrange the music to be more upbeat and allow the Spirit to be enjoyed not depressed.... And the older folks need to deal with the fact that change is good for the church, pull out and running away to follow a Priest stuck in the old ways is the most un-Christian thing to do it is sad.

It needs to be more that just approachability and upbeat music, it needs to be a supportive community that makes people want to be apart of it. For example - when a church family experiences a loss the church should rally around that family and quiet frankly I don't see that as a first response it is almost a guilt response when someone else steps up with the casserole. The priests should be the ones encouraging this togetherness and that will never happen if they stay so apart from their congregation. So to the priests I say, get out of your offices and off your thrones and mingle with the people as a human being.