Faithful Ponder Future of the Catholic Church

Telegraph Herald
March 4, 2013

http://www.thonline.com/news/national_world/article_23f99a1d-8f0c-5ee2-9964-ba954076f4ec.html

Catholics take part in Sunday Mass at Mother of God sanctuary in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

SAO PAULO -- Faithful attending Sunday Mass on five continents for the first time since Pope Benedict XVI's retirement had different ideas about who should next lead the Roman Catholic Church, with people suggesting everything from a Latin American pope to one more like the conservative, Polish-born John Paul II. What most agreed on, however, was the church is in dire need of a comeback.

Clergy sex abuse scandals and falling numbers of faithful have taken their toll on the church, and many parishioners said the next pope should be open about the problems rather than ignore them.

Worshippers in the developing world prayed for a pope from a poorer, non-European nation, while churchgoers in Europe said what was more important was picking a powerful figure.

Some South African Catholics called for what they said was a more pragmatic approach to contraception given the AIDS epidemic devastating that continent. They also suggested ending the celibacy requirement for priests, insisting on the traditional importance of a family.

Catholics likely will find out this week whether such hopes become reality, as cardinals worldwide arrive in Rome for a conclave that could elect a new pontiff. Many expect the church to pick another European to replace the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who resigned on Thursday.

In Brazil, the Vatican has seen its numbers chipped away by neo-Pentecostal churches offering the faithful rollicking music-filled services and hands-on practical advice. It's an approach matched by the massive Mother of God sanctuary led by Brazil's Grammy-nominated "pop-star priest" Marcelo Rossi.

More traditional Catholics snub Rossi's "charismatic" masses, but many point to his style of aggressive evangelization as the way forward in the world's biggest Catholic nation, which has seen Catholics drop from 74 percent of the population in 2000 to 65 percent a decade later.

"I'm certain the most important step in surpassing the challenges facing the church is having a new pope who renews the believers," said Solange Lima, a 32-year-old new mother who spoke over the roar of a Christian rock band at Mother of God.