Hey, How Come Young Men Are Getting Religion All Of A Sudden? Oh, I Think We Know! -- Wonkette

[keep_left]

34. There was actually a recent article about this--in the NYT, I think.

It described a developing schism in the Catholic Church: a divide between the clergy and laity that threatens to become an unbridgeable chasm. Although there has always been division over dogma and doctrine, it has been largely silent outside of church walls; it was generally kept "in the family", so to speak. However, in recent times, the influence of Church media has become much greater; the EWTN network in particular has taken on Hollywood production values (and budgets), now catering almost exclusively to radtrad Catholics. Even the numerous "problem priest" scandals at EWTN have hardly taken any wind from its sails.

The NYT article illustrates the problem: the most recent Catholic seminarians are increasingly out of step with the laity. The pernicious influence of radtrad media (EWTN, Relevant Radio, etc.) makes things even worse. And of crucial importance is that many of these seminarians are academic mediocrities. No longer are they "the princes of the Church"; many in the laity have long surpassed them in the educational and professional meritocracy, and they know it. (Many of them were educated in seminaries by the laity, who often are more accomplished theologians than the clergy).