The dysfunctional family that is the Catholic Church

By Tom Quiner

Cardinal Dolan with MCs, Jon Leonetti and Joe Howard, at the Christ Our Life Conference.

The Catholic Church is a big, messy family.

I’m blogging live at the Christ Our Life Catholic Conference at Wells Fargo Arena. The arena is packed with the Catholic faithful from around the Midwest. I’m guessing there are about 7500 Catholics in attendance.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan from the Diocese of New York just delivered an entertaining, yet impassioned speech on the beauty of the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Dolan is in the hot seat with some Catholics.

Some would like to see him take a stronger stance about the inclusion of homosexual activist groups in the St. Patrick Day’s parade.

Some would like to see him take a stronger stand on gay marriage.

Some would like to see him crack down on American politicians who claim to be Catholics while advancing policies that defend human abortion.

This audience is dominated by traditional Catholics who are conservative on social issues. Nonetheless, Cardinal Dolan charmed the audience with his distinctive blend of wit and wisdom.

He invoked the Church’s past three Popes for their distinctive gifts.

John Paul II brought back the soul of the Church.

Benedict XVI is the mind of the Church.

Francis is the heart of the Church.

He said the Church is a dysfunctional family comprised of sinners. These last three Popes, he said, have been a gift to the Church and to the world.

For conservatives who wonder what’s wrong with the Church, I would say, look at what’s right with the Church. This place is packed with men, women, and youth who proclaim that Christ IS our life. There is fire in the belly of the Catholic laity. Just look at the photo above at the size of the crowd.

I echo the words of Saint John Paul the Great who invoked the very words of Christ: “Be not afraid.”

Christ is with us.