When we lead people to Jesus, we often don't calculate the outlay necessary to disciple them. Eventually they may fall away from the Lord if poorly discipled. When we prepare for marriage, we don't calculate what it takes to make a marriage work in an anti-Christian, anti-marriage society. Then many marriages break up. When we educate our young people, we fail to calculate the outlay of discipling them. Then after years of Catholic education, they don't have a deep relationship with the Lord, and therefore live like pagans.

We are unrealistic if we keep hoping that somehow we'll get away with watering down the gospel. We compromise with the world and try not to get burnt. We think a mediocre, minimal counterfeit of Christianity will not always bear bad fruit. After millions of abortions, hundreds of thousands of divorces, the decimation of priesthood and religious life, the alienation of our young people, and the deterioration of decency in our society, don't you think we ought to face reality? We must repent of lukewarm Christianity, totally give our lives to the Lord, and live for Him alone.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007

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