The frontline workers of the Church are rightly being challenged to be more missionary and outward-looking. The fulfilment of this by clergy, Religious, catechists and parish workers is hampered, firstly, by the failure of leadership in the Church revealed by the IICSA report, then by the decision of the bishops in favour of a biblical translation for liturgical use that uses non-inclusive language, and now by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) failing to mind its language by stating in relation to same-sex unions that “God does not bless sin”. Each of these unravels the great work going on in parishes and schools to fulfil the call to mission.
Until the leadership of the Church takes this call seriously, those on the front line are fighting a losing battle. Geoffrey Howe put it well: “It’s rather like sending our opening batsmen to the crease, only for them to find that before the first ball is bowled, their bats have been broken by the team captain.”