It has been said that Rhode Island is served by the three “Fs.” The three Fs, of course, are Fenner Street, Fountain Street and Francis Street. Fenner Street is the home of the cathedral rectory where the bishops of Providence have lived for over 150 years. Fountain Street was the longtime home of the Providence Journal, the local paper of record for an even longer time. And Francis Street is the thoroughfare that leads from downtown Providence to the state capitol building. Indeed, prelates, press and politicians have been powerful influences during Rhode Island’s long history.
Yet, the times they are a-changing. Rhode Island could recently cite that 41% of its population is Roman Catholic. But that figure might not be holding. This past spring, in the whole city of Woonsocket, only 22 young people received the sacrament of Confirmation. And this from a town that once registered over 2,500 students in its parochial schools!
The Providence Journal’s recent history is equally distressing. According to the Alliance for Audited Media, the print circulation of the Providence Journal has now fallen below 20,000 a day. In 2005, circulation was 164,000 on weekdays. Just 1.8% of Rhode Islanders subscribe to the print version of the paper.
Now, the numbers at the statehouse appear to be holding steady. The chairs in the Senate and in the House of Representatives are still fully occupied. But, on many issues, Rhode Island’s elected officials sink to ever new lows. Rhode Island has long allowed stores to be open on Sunday, greatly fracturing that family day, let alone the Lord’s Day. The easing of restrictions on contraceptives, divorces and abortions has proceeded apace. The nature of marriage has been radically re-constructed. Assorted manifestations of sexual preference are legally protected. Gender issues are regularly reviewed. Broadening the scope of books in public libraries is proposed. Traditional family life and sexual conduct are regularly challenged.
A diminished religious influence over daily life, a weakened local source of information, and a political scene dominated by fashionable trends is hardly the nurturing milieu that thoughtful Rhode Islanders want for themselves and for the generations to come. Some will blame the fewer priests and fewer religious sisters for religion’s current woes. Others will understandably cite cable news and podcasts for a diminished print industry. And many will rightfully point to the one party dominance in this state for much reckless legislation. But how can religious communities, news agencies and government bureaus effectively protect and promote sane, sage and saving values in today’s society? Moses, in this Sunday’s first reading, has the clear answer.
Moses’ chosen elders complain when the Spirit of the Lord descends on some men who were not in their immediate company when the gift of God was poured forth. (Nm.11:13)The elders want to limit the manifestation of the Spirit to a select few. “My Lord, stop them,” insists the young Joshua. To which Moses wisely and prophetically responds, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the people of the LORD were prophets! If only the LORD would bestow his spirit on them!” Yes! Would that all the people of the Lord would daily exercise their God-given gift of prophecy, their God-given charism of bearing daily witness to the Lord’s eternal truths! The world needs more prophets!
The need for prophets is exactly the message of Vatican Council II, of Pope St. Paul VI’s follow-up decrees and certainly of Pope Francis’ frequent remarks on the role of the laity in the Church. Pope St. Paul VI wrote: “The apostolate in the social milieu, that is, the effort to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws, and structures of the community in which one lives, is so much the duty and responsibility of the laity that it can never be performed properly by others. In this area the laity can exercise the apostolate of like toward like. It is here that they complement the testimony of life with the testimony of the word. It is here where they work or practice their profession or study or reside or spend their leisure time or have their companionship that they are more capable of helping their brethren.” (Apos.Actu. 13)
God indeed brings good out of evil. And the present crisis in the Christian world will be solved when the laity actuate their integral and long overdue role in advancing the Gospel message. “If only all the people of the LORD were prophets!” The populace, the press and the political world all need strong Christian witness which the laity uniquely can provide.
