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ACallforaNewEmangeliza2on:
TheCatholic“Man-Crisis”,itsCausesandHowtoLaunchaNewEmangeliza2on
June2016Ma,hewJamesChristoff
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Overview
BackgroundoftheNewEmangelizaConProject
TheCatholic“Man-crisis”
WhytheCatholic“Man-crisis”Ma,ers
CausesoftheCatholic“Man-crisis”
7NewEmangelizaConPrinciples
Conclusion
2
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Background
• LedbyMa,hewJamesChristoff(pleaseseea,achedbio).
• Launchedin2013andbuildsoff5yearsofmen’sevangelizaConeffortsthroughCatholicManNight.
• PurposeistoconfronttheCatholic“man-crisis”andtodevelopnewardor,methodsandexpressionstodrawmillionsofCatholicmentoourLordJesusChristandHisCatholicChurch.
• Keyinsight:“IfwewishtohaveaNewEvangeliza2on,theremustbeaNewEmangeliza2on,crea2nggenera2onsofCatholicmenwhoareonfireforJesusChristandHisHolyCatholicChurch.”
NewEmangelizaConProject KeyAcConstoDate• AssembledresearchstaCsCcstoquanCfytheCatholic“Man-crisis”(seea,achedappendixforCatholic“Man-Crisis”Factsheet).
• IntervieweddozensofleadersintheNewEvangelizaConwhohaveaperspecCveonmen;allinterviewsavailableatNewEmangelizaCon.com.
• PublishedtheHelpingPriestsBecomeMoreEffec2veinEvangeliza2onMenSurvey(August2015).
• CollaboraCngtoincorporatefindingsthroughregionaleffortsincludingTheCatholicWatchmen/ArchdioceseofSt.Paul/Minneapolis,TheHolyLeagueandIntotheBreach/DioceseofPhoenix.
• LaunchingefforttopresentfindingstoleadersintheCatholicChurch.
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TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews
Clergy/OrdainedRaymondLeoCardinalBurkeBishopLeePiché-AuxiliaryBishopoftheArchdioceseofSt.Paul/MinneapolisBishopAndrewCozzens–AuxiliaryBishopoftheArchdioceseofSt.Paul/MinneapolisMonsignorCharlesPope–PastorandLeadingCatholicBloggerFatherMitchPacwa–EWTNHostandAuthorFatherLarryRichards–Men’sEvangelistFatherRockyHoffman–RelevantRadioFatherC.JohnMcCloskey–FaithandReasonInsRtute/EWTNHost/AuthorFatherBillBaer–ArchdioceseofSt.Paul/MinneapolisMen’sChaplain
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LaymenDannyAbramowicz–CrossingtheGoalPeterAndrastek–EvangelicalCatholic.orgDaleAhlquist–FounderoftheAmericanChestertonSociety,EWTNHostDougBarry–RounderofRadixandBaYleREadyStrong;EWTNHostMaYBirk–NFLSuperbowlWinner,NFLManoftheYearJohnBradford–WildernessOutreachKarloBroussard–MagisCenterDanBurke–ExecuRveDirector–NaRonalCatholicRegisterJeffCavins-InternaRonalCatholicEvangelist,WriterandSpeakerRichChapman–CatholicMen’sEvangelist/Author–AllProWisdomDr.PhillipChavez–Men’sSpiritualityInternaRonal/MasculineGeniusInsRtuteRichCleveland–AuthorofTheCatholicTopicalMemorySystemJasonCraig–DirectorofTrainingandDevelopment–FraternusJohnDejak–Headmaster–HolySpiritAcademyGordyDeMarais–FounderofSt.Paul’sOutreachDr.G.C.Dilsaver–AuthorofTheThreeMarksofManhoodTimDrake–AuthorandEvangelistDr.ToddFlanders–Headmaster–ProvidenceAcademySamGuzman–CatholicGentleman.netRandyHain–Author/Speaker–IntegratedCatholicLife.orgMarkHar_iel–NaRonalDirector–ThatManIsYouPeterHerbeck–VPofRenewalMinistries/CrossingtheGoalMarkHouck–PresidentofTheKing’sMenDr.AllenHunt–Vice-presidentofStrategyandContent–DynamicCatholicGenevieveKineke–TheAuthenRcCatholicWoman
KevinKnight–NewAdvent.orgBobKroll–WithAllYourHeart–Men’sEvangelistRickLentz–BrothertoBrotherMinistriesDr.PhillipMango-St.MichaelInsRtuteforthePsychologicalSciencesJoeMcClane–Evangelist/Speaker/Writer–TheCatholicHackAndyMcNuY–Evangelist/Writer/SpeakerKevinO’Brien–FounderofMenofChristDr.DavidPence–AuthorofReligion,SexandPoliRcs:forMenOnlyTomPeterson–FounderandPresidentofCatholicsComeHomeDr.LeonPodles–AuthorofTheChurchImpotentJesseRomero–CatholicEvangelistandAuthorTizocRosales–MenonaMissionBreakfastSeriesDr.KevinRyan–MenofSt.JosephDr.DeborahSavage–TheMasculineGeniusDevinSchadt–FounderofFathersofSt.JosephDr.BobSchuchts–FounderofSaintJohnPaulIIHealingCenterJasonSlaYery–Headmaster–AveMariaAcademyTimStaples–CatholicAnswersEmilySRmpson–AuthorandWriterDr.PaulThigpen–EditorofTANBooksRobertTunmire–CentralTexasFellowshipofCatholicMenMichaelVoris–PresidentofSt.Michael’sMedia/TheChurchMilitantDanWegner–CatholicStreetEvangelistBrianWilliams–TheLiturgyGuyKenWuchterl–ArgumentoftheMonthClubJaredZimmerer–Evangelist/Writer/Author–StrengthfortheKingdom
FatherMichaelBecker–Rector–St.JohnVianneySeminary/St.PaulFatherDougGrandon–MarriedCatholicPriest,ProfessorandEvangelistFatherMichaelSchmitz–YouthandYoungAdultEvangelistFatherMichaelVanSloun–Chaplain–MinnesotaVikingsFatherBrianDoerr–ViceRectorMountSt.MarySeminary/ThoseCatholicMenFatherMichaelPraY–ParishPriestDeaconHaroldBurke-Sivers–CatholicDeacon,WriterandSpeakerDeaconRalphPoyo–NewEvangelizaRonMinistries
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProject:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
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Knowledgeofthefaith
Low High
TheCatholic“Man-Crisis”
Hell“CasualCatholicMan”
Makesup50-60%ofCatholicMen
“CatholicQuiSers”1in3
bap2zedCatholicmen
High
Low
PracCceofthefaith
• UnderstandingofSpiritualBaYleandtheuniquesavingpowerofCatholicfaith
• Prayer• SinandneedforReconciliaRon
• TheEucharistandtheMass
• Charity• Teachingsonsexualityandmarriage
• CatholicManhood• Father’sroleinpassingonthefaith
• ApologeRcs• DevoRons
• ReconciliaRon• Mass• Prayer
• ParishMembership• EvangelizaRonofchildren• Fraternity
• ProudtobeCatholic• EvangelizaRon• Parishinvolvement
WeeklyMassASendance
30%
YearlyConfession
25%
EngagedinParishLife
8%
ImportantforkidstobeCatholic
47%
NoMonthlyPorn
35%
MonthlyConfession
2%
CertainaboutpersonalGod
43%
Sacramentsareessen2al
51%
GetSomethingfromMass
45%
WeeklyMassVeryImportant
29%
ConfessionVeryImportant
28%DailyPrayerisVeryImportant
37%
Source:TheCatholic“Man-Crisis”Factsheet-NewEmangelizaConProject:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
“Prac2cingCatholicMan”30-40%ofCatholic
men
“CommiSedCatholicMan”
10%
“Prac2cing”Catholic
26%
HelpingneedyVeryImportant
43%Canexplainfaithto
others
51%
ProudtobeCatholic
38%
5
Strongbondofbrotherhood
16%
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• MenareessenCaltopassingalongthefaithtochildrenandmenarefailing.
• Only47%ofmenstronglyagreethatitisimportantfortheirchildrentobeCatholic.
• Only17%ofyoungadultsarecertaintheywillstayCatholic;comparesto40%25yearsago.
• Catholicyoungadultsarenotreturningtothefaithastheymature.
• MenareessenCalforhealthy,growingparishes.• Parisheshavebecomefeminized.
• 70-90%ofparishlayrolesfilledbywomen.• Menareonly1/3ofweeklyMassa,enders.• 75%agreethattheChurchhasbecomefeminized(CruxPoll–January2015).
• 88%ofCatholicmenthinktheirdiocese“needstodomoretoevangelizeandcatechizemen.”
• HispanicsareleavingtheCatholicfaithingrowingnumbers.• Pre-VaCcanIICatholicsarebeginningtopassaway.• ChurchisconCnuingtoexhorttheneedforembracingthefemininegeniusandtoupholdthedignityofwomen.
Findings ImplicaCons
6
TheCatholic“Man-Crisis”Ma,ers
Source:TheCatholic“Man-Crisis”Factsheet-NewEmangelizaConProject:NewEmangelizaCon.com;Dr.VernBegntson–FamiliesandFaith;Dr.ChrisCanSmith–YoungCatholicAmerica;NotreDameStudyofParishLife,GallupPolls;HelpingPriestsBecomeMoreEffec2veinEvangelizingMenSurvey.
• Growingnumbersofsoulswillbelost.• U.S.ChurchfacesdramaCcallyfallingnumbersandweakeningparishesincomingdecadesasPre-VaCcanIImembersdieandyoungpeoplefailtoconCnueintheChurch.
• AcceleraCnglossesofmenduetofeminizaConofparishes,thelackofmalementorshipandbecausethemajorityofmenfeelneglectedbybishopsandpriests.
• ChurchaspiraConstoupholdthedignitywomenwillnotbepossiblewithoutnewgeneraConsofhighlyevangelizedandcatechizedCatholicmen.• TradiConaleffortstoevangelize(both“Old”and“New”EvangelizaCon)willbegreatlyhamperedwithoutlargenumbersofevangelizedCatholicmen;especiallyinhyper-masculinecultures.• VocaConscrisiswillconCnueaspoolofmenraisedinsolidCatholicfamiliesfalls.
• WesternsocietywillconCnuetodecayiftheChurchfailstogrowwell-catechizedmenwhowillfightforfamiliesandtheculture.
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FailuretoacCvelyevangelizeMen
AvoidanceofSin/Confession
De-sacralizaRonoftheMass
FeminizaRonofMass/Parishes
CatecheRcalfailure
LossofCatholicfraternity
HomosexualPriestScandals
Lackofresearchonstateofmen
TechnologyTsunami
VirtualUnrealityLossofNature
MulRculturalismPluralismRelaRvism
SexualizaRonPornographyContracepRon
AborRon
HedonismMaterialismEscapism
FeminismEmasculizaRonMarriageCrisis
HomosexualizaRon
IsolaRonLossofMaleFriendship
CausesoftheCatholic“Man-crisis”
7Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
SatanandhisDemons
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1. MakeMen’sEvangeliza2onEssen2al2. EstablishMen’sCouncilstoBuildLeadership3. EvangelizePriestsontheMass,Reconcilia2onandMen4. ChallengeMentobeCommiSedCatholicMen5. CatechizeMenonJesus,SacramentsandPrayer6. LaunchDiocesanMen’sEvangeliza2onCampaigns7. GrowFraternityinActs2:42Parishes
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7NewEmangelizaConPrinciples
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ExamplesofHighImpactAcCons• Popevigorouslycallsforanewemphasisonevangelizingmenandreleasesan
EncyclicalontheDignityofMen(ViriDignitatem).
• EstablishaMen’sCommi,eeinthePonCficalCouncilforPromoCngtheNewEvangelizaCon,theCouncilfortheFamilyandCouncilforCulture.
• IssueofCatholic“man-crisis”givenprominenceattheSynodontheFamilyandWorldMeeCngofFamilies2016.
• Celebratea“YearofSt.Joseph/fathers/men”.• EngageaReligiousOrderwithaspecialcharismfortheevangelizaConofmen.
VaCcan
USCCB
Dioceses
Parishes
• EstablishMen’siniCaCveswithintheCommi,eesforEvangelizaConandCatechesis,FamilyandCulture.
• PromotetheproperroleofCatholicmenintheAmericanfamilyandparish.• EstablishefforttoevangelizepriestsontheCatholic“man-crisis”.• FieldresearchandimplementdiocesanreporCngonmen.
• BishopcommitstopersonallyandacCvelyevangelizemen;establishesanongoingmen’sevangelizaConiniCaCveandinfrastructure.
• Bishopoffersclearchallengeandongoingguidancetopriestsandmentoevangelizemeninparishes.
• BishopmobilizesKnightsofColumbustosupportbishopandpriest’seffortstoprioriCzeEvangelizaConandCatechesisofmeninparishes.
• 100%ofparishescommittoestablishpermanentmen’sevangelizaConefforts.
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1.MakeMen’sEvangeliza2onEssen2al
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
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• BishopexhortsandleadstheMen’sMovement.• TheDiocesanMen’sChaplainischargedwithleadingandimplemenCngMen’sEvangelizaConIniCaCves.
• Bishop’sVanguardadvisesBishopandleadsimplementaCon.
• Bishop’sstaffsupportsimplementaCon.
ParishVanguard
Priest(andDeacon)
12Laymen
ParishVanguard
Priest(andDeacon)
12Laymen
• KOCsandotherdiocesanMen’sGroupsareacCvelycalledbyBishoptosupportMen’sEvangelizaCon.
• EachparishhasaParishVanguard(12Laymen)ledbythePriest(andDeacons).
• ParishVanguardprays,advisesandleadstheefforttoevangelizeeveryman/boyintheparish.
Bishop
12Priests(andDeacons)
12Laymen
Staff
Bishop’sVanguard
Men’sChaplain
Seminary
• SeminaryandCatecheCcalInsCtuteisacenterforformaConandtrainingofmen;theRector,staffandseminariansparCcipate.CatholicSchools,parCcularlyHighSchools,shouldbeacCveparCcipants.
CatecheRcalInsRtute
CatholicSchools
PriestsPriests
• PriestsaregatheredbyBishoptobuildwillandskilltoevangelizemen,includingthatmenareessenCal,SinandReconciliaConandre-sacralizaConoftheMass.
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2.EstablishMen’sVanguardstoBuildLeadership
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com
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EvangelizePrieststobeLeadersofMen
• PriestsevangelizedbyBishopstounderstand:• the“man-crisis”andtheneedformena“man-
specific”evangelizaConandcatecheCcalapproach.• thestrongposiCveimpactthatapriestcanhave
onmenifthepriestwillsimplytakeacCon.
• theneedtoreturntoamorereverentpresentaConoftheMassandhowtodoit.
• theimportanceofpreachingaboutSinandtheabundantofferingofConfessionCmes.
• theimperaCveforprieststodramaCcallyincreasetheamountofCmespentwithhismen.
• theneedforParishMen’sVanguards.11
3.EvangelizePriestsontheMass,Reconcilia2onandMen
• TheMasshasbeendesacralizedinmanyplaces.• Liturgicalabusesincludesloppy,irreverentofferingoftheMassbypriests,sappymusicpoorlyperformedandanover-representaConofwomenintheSanctuary,andparishculturesthatlackreverence/aweofChrist.
• 75%ofpeopleagreethattheChurchhasbecomefeminized(CruxPoll–January2015).• DesacralizedMasseshaveadisproporConatelynegaCveimpactonmen,causingmentooptout.
• PriestshavedeemphasizedSin,SpiritualCombatandtheneedforConfession.
• Only25%ofmengotoConfessionevenonceayear;only1in50gotoConfessionmonthly.
• ScheduledReconciliaConhours(e.g.1houronSaturday)inmostparishesallowsforonly5%ofparishionerstogotoConfessionmonthly.
• Manypriestsneglectthemenintheirparishes:• Onlyabout1in5priestsacCvelyevangelizeandcatechizemen.
• Only1in10speaktomeninhomilies.• HighlyEffecCvePriest“Emangelizers”leadmentomorefrequentlya,endMassandConfession,topraymore,andtohavestrongerfraternity.
Findings
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews;HelpingPriestsBecomeMoreEffec2veinEvangelizingMenSurvey;Catholic“Man-Crisis”Factsheet.
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KeyFindingsfromtheHelpingPriestsBeMoreEffec2veinEvangelizingMenSurvey
Priestswhodonotac2velyevangelizemen
50-60%
12PracCcesofHighlyEffecCve“Emangelizers”
Source:TheHelpingPriestsBeMoreEffec2veInEvangelizingMenSurvey(2014;N=1495):NewEmangelizaCon.com.
Inconsistent“Emangelizing”
Priests20-30%
“Emangelizing”Priests15-20%
1. Offers the Mass in highly reverent way and helps men to understand the Mass.
2. Teaches men how to know and draw closer to Jesus Christ.
3. Challenges and teaches men about Catholic Manhood.
4. Helps men to grow in devotion to Our Lady and St. Joseph.
5. Teaches about Sin and promotes Reconciliation.
6. Teaches men apologetics. 7. Personally and regularly
gathers, teaches and mentors men and boys.
8. Has a “man-plan”. 9. Regularly speaks to the needs of
men in homilies. 10. Encourages and builds Catholic
Fraternity in the parish. 11. Gathers men for Eucharistic
Adoration.
12. Actively supports the KOC.
ImpactofHighlyEffecCveEmangelizersonMen
• More likely to pray, attend weekly Mass and monthly Confession.
• 20% more likely to be daily mass-attenders.
• 25% more likely to be a Knight of Columbus. • 25% more likely to volunteer in the
parish. • 26% more likely to read Scripture
weekly. • 30% more likely to come to a bible
study.
• 40% more likely to participate in men’s events.
• 70% more likely to attend weekly men’s events. • 70% more likely to have close
friendships with other men in their parishes.
• 75% more likely to have other Catholic Men to encourage them in their faith lives.
• 111% more likely to feel a bond of brotherhood in the parish.
12
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• ChallengementobewarriorsinChrist’sKingdomintheSpiritualCombatagainstSatan,preparingthemtobecounter-culturalandformartyrdom.
• DescribeanddefendthevisionofNoblePatriarchyinwhichmenupholdthedignityofwomen/wivesandareself-sacrificingprotectors,providersandleadersintheirfamily’sspirituallives.
• ConfirmandteachmenabouttheiressenCalroleintheevangelizaConandcatechesisoftheirchildren.
Commi,edCatholicMenPriest,ProphetandKingintheSpiritofSt.Joseph
13
4.ChallengeMentobeCommiSedCatholicMen
• KnowandhaveaconversioninJesusChrist.• Leadtheirfamiliesaspriest,prophetandkinginthe
self-sacrificialmodelofSt.Joseph.• HaveadailypracCceofPrayer/theRosaryand
Scripturereading.
• Experiencethelife-changingpoweroftheMasseveryweekandkeeptheSabbath.
• Ba,leSinandgotoReconciliaConmonthly(atleast).• Havestrongbondsoffraternitywithothermenin
theirparish.
• RegularlyperformactsofCharity.Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
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• CatechizementoknowtheauthenCcAlmightyKingJesusChrist.
• ExhortmentobeabletogivewitnessonwhatawesthemaboutChrist.
• DrawmenintoapersonalrelaConshipwithJesusChrist.
• CatechizementounderstandthepowerfullymanlysacrificeoftheMassandthenon-negoCablea,endanceofweeklyMass.
• OfferearlymorningMassCmesforworkingmenduringtheweek.
• ExpandtheopportunityforMen’sHolyHoursforEucharisCcAdoraConandConfession(atminimum,monthly).
• CatechizemenonSinandtheurgentneedforallmentogotoConfessioneachmonth.
• StrongrepeCCveemphasisonscourgeofpornographyasamortalsin.
• DramaCcallyexpandtheopportuniCesformentoa,endConfession.
MeeCngandKnowingJesusChrist
Eucharist
Confession
Prayer• CatechizemenonthepracCceofprayer,Our
Lady/theRosary,St.JosephandothertradiConalCatholicdevoCons.
• Gathermentogethertopray.• Teachmentoleadprayerintheirfamilies.• TeachmentoprayandtoreadScripture.
14
5.CatechizeMenonJesus,SacramentsandPrayer
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com.
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Knowledgeofthefaith
Low High
“CommiSedCatholicMan”
10%
“Prac2cingCatholicMan”
30-40%ofCatholicmen
“CasualCatholicMan”Makesup50-60%of
CatholicMen
High
Low
Commitmenttothefaith
BishopCatholicManNights
Rota&ngparisheshostmonthlydiocesangatheringbyBishopofpriestsandmentomeetJesusin
Adora&on,ConfessionandFellowship.
Target:15-20%ofMenOffered:Monthly
MonthlyParishMen’sGatherings
LedbythepriestwithParishMen’sCouncilwithfocusonbuildingfriendshipandbasic
knowledgeoftheCatholicfaith.Target:40-60%ofMen
Offered:Monthly
ParishMen’sSmallGroups
Focusonbuildingbrotherhood,growthinholinessthroughbible
andbookstudies.Target:2-5%ofMen
Offered:Ongoing/Weekly
BishopConferenceandSeminarSeries
BishophostedDiocesan-wideeventsonkeytopicswithtop
speakers.HeldatCathedralandselectedparishes.
Target:15-30%ofMenOffered:Mul&ple&mesayear
6.LaunchDiocesanMen’sEvangeliza2onCampaigns
15
Men’sTeachingMasses
Diocesan-wide24monthcampaignofTeachingMassesforpriests,men,fathersandsonsemphasizinghowamancanengageintheMass.Heldat
Cathedralandselectedparishes.Target:100%ofMen
Offered:24MonthsRSVP
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews:NewEmangelizaCon.com;CatholicManNight.com
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• SignificantissueofmaleisolaConinparishes.
• 55%ofmenlackbondsofbrotherhoodinparishes.
• 31%donothaveaclosefriendshipwithanothermaninparish;30%onlyhaveonly1-2friends.
• WhenmenhaveclosebondsofbrotherhoodtheyaremuchmorelikelytogotoMassandConfession,topray,readScriptureandgetengagedintheparish.
• Acts2:42offersaprovenmodelforhowpriestsandparishescangrowthrivingparishes:
“Andtheydevotedthemselvestotheapostles'teachingandfellowship,tothebreakingofbreadandtheprayers.”
• ThePriest(withdeacons)callsandleadstheParishMen’sCouncil,supportedbyKOCs,othermen’sgroupsandbyparishstaff.
• MonthlyparishMen’smeeCngsofallpriests,deacons,menandboysoftheparish.
• MeeCngsshouldincludeActs2:42elements:teachingsoftheapostles,fellowship,Sacramentsandprayer.
• ParCcularemphasisonhelpingmenmeetJesusChrist.
• Manyaremovingforwardwithmen/boysHolyHours,Confession,catechesisandfellowship(e.g.HolyLeague,CatholicManNights,CatholicWatchmen).
• AddiConalsmallgroupandweeklyapproachesrecommended(e.g.TMIY,MenofSt.Joseph,CrossingtheGoal,Fraternus,KingsMen,FathersofSt.Joseph,etc.).
• Specificcontent/formatuptothepriestandtheParishMen’sVanguardbasedonwhat’smostneededintheparish.
ParishMen’sCouncil
Priest(andDeacon)
12Laymen
EverysingleManandBoyintheParish
Staff
16
7.GrowFraternityinActs2:42Parishes
Source:TheNewEmangelizaConProjectInterviews;HelpingPriestsBecomeMoreEffec2veinEvangelizingMenSurvey;Catholic“Man-Crisis”Factsheet.
BefriendEvangelizeCatechizeMentor
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17
ConclusionMenoftheChurchmustrespondtotheCatholic“Man-crisis”• Launchedin2013,TheNewEmangelizaRonProjecthasassembledanalyRcaldataandinputfromdozensofmenwhoareworking
toevangelizeCatholicmen.
• SinceVaRcanII,therehasbeenagrowingCatholic“Man-crisis”.LargenumbersofCatholicmenhaveleptheChurchandthemajorityofthosewhoremain“Catholic’lackapassionforJesusChristandHisCatholicChurch.
• TheCatholic“Man-crisis”maYers,forthefuturehealthoftheChurchdependsonlargenumbersoffaithfulCatholicmenpassingalongtheirfaithtotheirchildren.Men’ssoulsmaYer,thesoulsofwivesandchildrenmaYer.Ifafatherisnotengagedinthefaith,childrenaremuchlesslikelytoremaininthefaith.WithoutadramaRcnewintervenRonoftheHolySpiritandstrongmenwithevangelicalzeal,theU.S.CatholicChurchwillseesignificantdeclinesinthecomingdecades.
• ThecausesoftheCatholic“Man-crisis”arenumerousandcomplex,butincludemassivesocietalchangesfromoutsidetheChurchandmanyproblemswithintheChurch.
• AsmenoffaithwhobelieveinthepromisesofChrist,itisrighttoneverlosehope:JesusChristhaswonthebaYle.AtthesameRme,faith,hopeandcharitycompelstrongCatholicmentoriseupandbegintotaketheevangelizaRonandcatechesisofallmenasalife-and-deathsituaRonandtorespondwithnewardor,methodsandexpressions.ItiscriRcalforBishopstoriseuptopersonallyleadanddirectpriestsandlaymentoconfrontthe“Man-crisis”;agreatuntappeddesireandenergyinCatholicmeniswaiRngtobeawakenedandled.Menwillrespondifbishopsandpriestschallengeandleadthem.
• TherecanbenoNewEvangelizaRonunlessthereisaNewEmangelizaRon,creaRnggeneraRonsofCatholicmenwhoareonfireforJesusChristandHolyMotherChurch.
MovingForwardwithaNewEmangeliza2on• Asetofpreliminary“principles”forguidingaNewEmangelizaRonhasbeendevelopedanddiscussedinthisdocument.What’s
neededisnotdramaRcnewprogramsbutareturntothebasicwaysthattheChurchFathersgrewtheChurch;aferventcommitmenttoevangelizemenandtheembraceofActs2:42asamodelforrebuildingarobustCatholicfraternity.
• ThisdocumentismeanttobeasetofguidingprinciplesforaNewEmangelizaRon.WhilespecifictacRcsandapproacheswerepresentedbasedonwhat’sneededandworking,eachdiocesemayneedtomodifytacRcstofitspecificregional/parishneeds.
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Appendix
18
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Ma,hewJamesChristoffBackgroundMaYhewJamesChristoffisaconvertandwasacceptedintotheCatholicChurchin2006.Priortohisconversion,hewasapluralist,believingthatallreligionshadtruthbutnosinglereligionhadthe“Truth.”Inthemidstofalife-threateningbaYlewithcancer,MaYhewhadaseriesofencounterswithJesusChristthateventuallyledhimtotheCatholicChurch.
SinceenteringtheChurch,MaYhewhasbeenthinkingandwriRngabouthowpeoplecanbeYermeet,knowandloveJesusChrist.In2013,MaYhewlaunchedTheNewEmangelizaRonProject(NewEmangelizaRon.com)tohelptheChurchconfronttheCatholic“man-crisis”andtodevelopnewardor,methodsandexpressionsfortheevangelizaRonofCatholicmen.Theprojectgoalsareto:1)buildafactbasethatclarifiestheartudesandbehaviorsofCatholicmen,2)engagetopCatholicthinkersincludingbishops,priests,deaconsandlaymentodeterminethecausesoftheCatholic“man-crisis”and,3)proposeasetofprinciplestoguideaNewEmangelizaRon.
TheNewEmangelizaRonProjecturgencyisdrivenbythisidea:TherecanbenoNewEvangelizaRonwithoutaNewEmangelizaRon,creaRnggeneraRonsofCatholicmenwhoareonfireforJesusChristandHisHolyCatholicChurch.
MaYhewhasconducteddozensofin-depthinterviewswithleadingCatholicthinkersandevangelistsonthetopicoftheCatholic“man-crisis”andhowtoaddressthecrisis.MaYhew’sworkhasbeenfeaturedinCatholicWorldReport,LifesiteNews,theCatholicHeraldOurSundayVisitor,TheWanderer,Aleteia,CatholicExchange,CatholicStand,CatholicGentleman,ThoseCatholicMenandotherCatholicpublicaRonsandwebsites.HehasappearedonEWTN,BBCRadio,EWTNRadio,NaRonalCatholicRegisterRadio,RelevantRadio,ChurchMilitantTVandothermediaoutlets.TheNewEmangelizaRonProjecthascoveredinnumerousarRclesinmajormediasourcesincludingtheWashingtonPost,theLosAngelesTimes,theDrudgeReport,HuffingtonPost,USNewsandWorldReport,Slate,Salonandmanyothers.
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!1"
The!Cath
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Unchecked, the exodus of Catholic m
en from the faith is likely to continue as m
en become increasingly
casual about Catholicism.
• A
bout 11 million adult m
en in the U.S. w
ere raised Catholic but left the faith1 and m
en are under-represented in the Church versus their share of the total population (46%
of parishioners are male
versus 49% of the population). 2
Casual Catholic men lack passion for the faith.
• M
en don’t believe that Catholicism is unique and essential for a happy life.
• 8 out of 10 m
en agree that “how one lives is m
ore important than being a Catholic.”
3 •
4 in 10 men believing that Catholicism
does not have a “greater share of truths than other religions.”
4 •
Only 38%
of Catholic men strongly agree that they are “proud to be Catholic.”
5 •
Only 26%
of Catholic men consider them
selves to be “practicing Catholics.” 6
• O
nly 34% of Catholic m
en strongly agree that Catholicism is “am
ong the most im
portant part of life.”
7 •
Men don’t believe that the Sacram
ents and Devotions of Catholicism
are important.
• A"large"m
ajority"of"Catholic"men"(57%
)"are"not"certain"it"is"possible"to"have"a"personal"relationship"w
ith"God. 8"•
Only 51%
of Catholic men strongly agree that the “Sacram
ents are essential to their relationship w
ith God.”
9 •
Only 32%
of Catholic men strongly agree that the “Sacram
ents are essential to their faith.”10
• M
any men are not m
oved by the Mass and are less m
oved than wom
en across the various aspects of the M
ass: the readings and the Gospel, hom
ily, music, the Eucharist, prayer,
worshiping w
ith other people, the presence of God. 11
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1 Luis Lugo et al., “Faith in Flux,” The Pew
Forum on Religion and Public Life (A
pril 2009): 1. Estimate based on: a) Pew
notes that 9%
of U.S. A
dults have left Catholicism
, b) U.S. C
ensus data that shows there are 250 m
illion U.S. adults and that
men represent 49%
of adults. 2 Luis Lugo et al., “U
.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” The Pew
Forum on Religion and Public Life (June 2008): 63.
3 “Gallup Poll of C
atholics, 2005”, Question 18, http://w
ww
.thearda.com/A
rchive/Files/Codebooks/G
ALLU
P05_CB
.asp. 4 Ibid., Q
uestion 19. 5""M
ark M. G
ray and Paul M. Perl, “Sacram
ents Today: Belief and Practice am
ong U.S. C
atholics”,"Center for Applied Research in
the Apostolate – “CA
RA
” (April 2008): 100."
6""Ibid., 100."7""Ibid., 103. 8""Lugo,"“U.S."Religious"Landscape"Survey”,"29."9" G
allup, 2005, Question 21.
10"""CA
RA
, 2008: 100. 11""C
AR
A, 2008: 41."
-
!2"
• 48%
of men agree that “M
ass is boring”12 and 55%
agree that they “don’t get anything out of the M
ass.”13
• O
nly 29% of m
en believe that weekly m
ass attendance is “very important.”
14 •
Only 28%
of Catholic men believe that Confession is “very im
portant”. 15 •
Only 31%
of men strongly agree that it is “very im
portant” to attend Mass on H
oly Days. 16
• O
nly 39% of m
en strongly agree that the Sacrament of A
nointing of the Sick is “very im
portant.” 17
• O
nly 43% of Catholic m
en believe that it is “very important to help those in need.”
18 •
Only 30%
of Catholic men believe it is “very im
portant to have a Devotion to M
ary” and only 23%
believe it is “very important to have a devotion to the Saints.”
19 •
Only 37%
of Catholic men strongly agree that “daily prayer is im
portant”20 and only 33%
of Catholic m
en pray on a daily basis. 21 •
49% of Catholic m
en feel that they “cannot explain their faith to others.”22
• D
uring the last 20 years, men have becom
e less certain about being Catholic: in 1987, 50.1% m
en said they w
ould “never leave the Church”23; in 2005 the num
ber had fallen to 42.3%. 24 This m
eans that alm
ost 60% of Catholic m
en would consider leaving the Church; these m
en have become
“Casual Catholics”, Catholics who are casual about the faith.
Catholic men’s am
bivalence about Catholicism results in low involvem
ent. •
Only about 1/3 of Catholic m
en (33%) say they attend M
ass on a weekly basis. 25
• O
ne third of Catholic men (34%
) are not formally m
embers of a parish. 26
• A
large portion (42%) of Catholic m
en attend Mass “a few
times per year” or “seldom
or never.”27
• 75%
of Catholics go to Confession “less than once a year” (30%) or “never” (45%
). 28 While data is
not available for men’s participation, is likely w
orse given that men are significantly less likely to
believe that Confession is very important. 29
• A
lmost half of Catholic m
en do not engage in a routine of prayer; praying only “occasionally or som
etimes” or “seldom
or never.”30
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""12"“G
allup Survey of Chicago C
atholics, 2007”, Question 126,
http://ww
w.thearda.com
/Archive/Files/C
odebooks/CH
ICA
TH_C
B.asp."
13""Gallup, 2007, Q
uestion 130."14" G
allup 2007, Question 61.
15""Gallup 2007, Q
uestion 62."16""C
AR
A 2008, 47."
17""CA
RA
2008, 66."18""C
AR
A 2008, 108."
19""CA
RA
2008, 108."20""G
allup 2007, Question 63."
21""Gallup 2007, Q
uestion 137."22" G
allup 2005, Question 23."
23 “Gallup Poll of C
atholics (1987),” Question 48, http://w
ww
.thearda.com/A
rchive/Files/Descriptions/G
ALLU
P87.asp. 24 G
allup 2005, Question 75.
25 Gallup 2005, Q
uestion 59. 26 G
allup 2005, Question 5.
27 Gallup 2005, Q
uestion 94. 28"""CARA"2008,"57."29"""CARA"2008,"38."30 G
allup 2005, Question 60.
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!3"
• 83%
of Catholic men rarely or never participate in a parish activity outside of the M
ass. 31 For com
parison, Catholic men are less passionate about faith than other Christian m
en. •
Less than half of Catholic men (48%
) feel that “religion is very important in their lives; this
compares to 74%
for Evangelical men.”
32 •
Only about 4 in 10 Catholic m
en (43%) have an absolutely certain belief in a personal G
od; this com
pares to 69% of evangelical m
en. 33 •
Less than half of Catholic men (48%
) pray outside of worship services, w
hich compares to 71%
of Evangelical m
en. 34 Clearly, there is a “passion problem” am
ong Catholic men.
The prevalence of so many Casual Catholic M
en matters, for it will further weaken the Church in future
years. •
Catholic parents are doing a poor job at passing along the faith to their children, 35 especially fathers. 36 •
Indeed, less than 50% of m
en (47.5%) strongly agree that it is im
portant for their children to be Catholic. 37
• This is troubling since younger people are becom
ing increasingly vulnerable to leaving the Catholic Church, particularly young m
en. In 1987, 41.6% of 18-29 year olds agreed w
ith the statement “I
would never leave the Church”; 38 by 2005, only 17.8%
of those 18-30 years said they’d “never leave the Church.”
39 This means that an astounding 82.2%
of young people would consider leaving the
Church. •
42% of em
erging adults have “very or somew
hat different” religious beliefs as their Catholic fathers. 40
• M
ales are particularly vulnerable to leaving the Church; 15% of the U
.S. population have left religion and are now
“unaffiliated”; the largest portion of this growing group are m
ales who w
ere formerly
Catholic. 41
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""31" G
allup 2007, Question 157."
32 “U.S. R
eligious Landscape Survey (2008),” 24. 33 “U
.S. Religious Landscape Survey (2008),” 29.
34 “U.S. R
eligious Landscape Survey (2008),” 46. 35 Christopher Sm
ith and Patricia Snell, Souls in Transition (New
York: O
xford University Press, 2009), 114.
36 “Souls in Transition,” 129. 37 G
allup 2005, Question 22.
38 Gallup 1987, Q
uestion 48. 39 G
allup 2005, Question 75.
40"Smith"and"Snell,"128P129."41 Barry A
. Kosm
in, et al., “Am
erican Nones: The Profile of the N
o Religion Population,” American Religious Identification
Survey (2008): 5,7.
-
!4"
The loss of Catholic men and the growing num
bers of Casual Catholic men have other negative effects on
parishes and the Church. •
Fewer m
en reduce the pool for priestly and religious male vocations.
• Low
er levels of active adult men also influences young m
en to become disengaged from
the Church.
The “face” of the Church is fem
inine; men are underrepresented in the pew
s (only 37% of regular
mass attendees are m
en). 42 •
Further, a Notre D
ame study show
s that 70-90% of catechesis, service, bible study activities are led
by wom
en, causing the authors to suggest that “young males…
assume that serious religious studies
are a wom
en’s business,” resulting in greater numbers of younger m
en being disengaged. 43 •
Men are needed for healthy and grow
ing parishes; research shows that congregations w
ith greater portions of m
en are more likely to be grow
ing. 44 •
Men are m
uch more influential in the conversion of their fam
ilies than wom
en. Research show
s that w
hen a wom
an converts to Christianity, 17%
of the time the w
hole family converts. W
hen a man
converts, 93% of the tim
e the whole fam
ily converts. 45 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""42 G
allup 2005, Question 75.
43 David C
. Leege and Thomas A
. Trozzolo, “Participation in Catholic Parish Life: R
eligious Rites and Parish A
ctivities in the 1980s,” N
otre Dam
e Study of Catholic Parish Life, Issue 3 (1985): 14.
44 C. K
irk Hadaw
ay, “Facts on Grow
th,” Hartford Institute for Religion Research (2006): 4.
45 Attributed to evangelist, Sid W
oodruff: ww
w.e-n.org/2790-A
-man%
27s-influence.htm.