Following a lively debate on the
first day of their spring general assembly near Seattle, the U.S.
bishops voted overwhelmingly to authorize preparation of a 50-page
document on preaching for consideration in November 2012.
St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson presented the proposal on behalf
of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, which he
chairs, but said the document would be drawn up in consultation with
various committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Archbishop Carlson said the document would be "at once inspirational and
practical, ... grounded in the tradition of the church" and would aim
to "adequately convey the purpose of the homily at Mass: the personal
encounter with the Incarnate Word."
The topic seemed to light a spark in the bishops, more than a dozen of whom spoke in favor of the proposed document.
Describing himself as a member of "the first lost generation of poor
catechesis," Bishop Alexander K. Sample of Marquette, Mich., said his
generation of post-Vatican II Catholics had "raised up another
generation that is equally uncatechized."
Although some have expressed the sentiment that "the homily should not
be a time for catechesis," Bishop Sample said "we cannot lose that
opportunity to truly catechize and form our people" when they are
gathered for Sunday Mass.
Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, said
that even at bishops' meetings 35 years ago, "some would rise to say
that we need to have something on sermons."
"People are looking for it and desperately need it," he said. "It is such an important part of our responsibility of bishops."
But he said the topic of preaching was "so complicated and there are so
many things we hope" to include in such a document that it is "sort of
impossible" to get everything into a 50-page document. But, he added,
"nothing is impossible with God."
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., expressed hope that the
document would "identify the major obstacles to good preaching,"
including time constraints, communication issues and cultural conflicts.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Peter A. Rosazza of Hartford, Conn., said he
hoped the document would include information about "different preaching
styles," such as those used by African-American or Hispanic preachers,
while Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., said he thought
the document should focus not only on Sunday homilies but on sermons at
funerals and weddings.
"I've heard very few funeral homilies, and I've been to a lot of
funerals," Bishop Cordileone said. "I've heard eulogies and I've heard
some canonization nominations, but I have heard very few homilies."