Insight Scoop gives a preview of an interesting, but misguided editorial in this month's Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Why are Catholics hemorrhaging in such numbers over the past two generations or so. Father Joseph Sirba echoes a theme I found on Inside Catholic today. Blame the liberals for a declining Church and send them off to follow the homosexuals in the dark of night to wail and gnash their teeth.

Sorry, but I’m not buying it. The theocons, reform2 crew, and the other sulking Republicans still have me in the Church and there’s nothing they can do about it. Can't get me fired. Can’t shut down my blog. I’m pretty sure other progressives aren't shaking in their boots either.

That immediate pre-conciliar generation must have been really strong on Church issues to bail so quickly after Humanae Vitae, a reformed liturgy, television, the suburbs, the sexual revolution, and all. Maybe the seeming decline in Catholicism has something more behind it than the usual liberal/conservative politics. But if some of them are still steamed over the Republicans getting it handed to them this past year, I can empathize.

Now let's get serious with Father Sirba's proposals.

All remaining dissenters must be expunged from their positions within diocesan offices, major parishes and influential positions in the Church.

Fr Sirba preaches every leader in the Church needs to be presenting a clear message. I'm assuming that's one simple, single message. Problem is that most challenging obstacles need more than one perspective. I think we've seen the results of a purged episcopacy over the JPII years: bishops and their cronies appointed to the episcopacy sheltered sex offenders and then didn't even have the guts to admit they were wrong–they blamed select psychologists, stonewalled the victims and their families, and by the way … how many Catholic losses in Boston? Lots of Catholics are upset and concerned about the criminal and immoral behavior of some bishops, but I suspect Cardinal Law and others won't be part of Fr Sirba's purge.

Aggressive steps to retain Hispanic Catholics? No problem there.

The overt and covert feminization of the Church must end. Men and boys need strong male role models to look up to and to emulate. Masculine approaches to the faith must be developed and affirmed if we are to erase the significant gender gap that now exists and retain more of our male members.

Another aggrieved man whining about too many women. One of the reasons why women are more involved than men in every major religion and practically every minor one is that there are "psychological and emotional differences" between the sexes. I suppose that cassocks, surplices, frilly vestments, magnae cappae, and the like will inspire manliness in young boys.

I will say that boys and young men do indeed need better role models. So do girls and young women. The fragmentation of the extended family in our mobile society has done significant harm to every generation since suburbia, the car, and the mobile career have arrived on the scene.

If you want a masculine approach to Catholicism, join one of Richard Rohr's drumming groups or something. Liberals have had their manly groups for a long time. Maybe the theocons are just fraidy cats about joining them.