I recently saw an interesting news story on WCAX that discussed the dwindling attendance at Catholic churches across Vermont. Church officials hoped that the upcoming Easter holiday would bring Vermonters back to church and that they would recognize the importance of church in their lives. Bishop Salvatore Matano also stated that, while he did not want to gloat, the recent defeat of the Death with Dignity bill (H.44) is a reminder of how pertinent religion is in modern times.
    I’ve learned that the church was very active in opposition to the bill, and Vermonters heard homilies opposed to patient-directed dying from pulpits around the state. These homilies included a charge by an Addison County priest that lawmakers were trying to destroy the church, that they were doing so by destroying the family: first they permitted abortion, then loosened divorce laws and now they want to kill the elderly and disabled. The parishioners were then directed to call their legislators to register their opposition to House Bill 44.
    Considering the church’s recent tactics, and juxtaposed against the shrinking congregations, church leaders may need to ask themselves another question: Could it be that their agenda and tactics are out-of-step with Vermonters and driving parishioners out the doors instead of into the pews?
William H. Kelly

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