Matt Lauer took the “Today” show to the Vatican this week. Archbishop Dolan went with him, and it was good to see the archbishop get even more publicity in the mainstream media. He’s such a gift to the Church and a powerful spokesperson for the Church in America during these challenging times.
In particular, Archbishop Dolan understands that, even for the Church, marketing matters—not just the message. In fact, the marketing and the message are all wrapped up together. How the Church presents herself and how we engage the culture matters as much as the message we bring ... at least when it comes to how effectively that message is received.
There are still many in the Church that think all they have to do to evangelize is to shout the truth loudly or shine the “Light” directly into everyone’s eyes and then let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest. At the other end of the spectrum, many people think that the truth literally speaks for itself, even if it goes unspoken. But the truth is that the truth speaks through our words and actions. And the Holy Spirit works through the very use of our own human creativity and thoughtfulness.
We have to realize that it’s okay to be creative in how we share (i.e. “market”) the Faith. That’s just good evangelization. It’s also okay to be funny or entertaining ... provided we don’t compromise our authenticity. What all of that means though is that we are honest. It means being our authentic selves. If we are real people (instead of stuffy, fake ones who have to pretend we have all the answers) who are really in love with God and His Church, we will be effective. Real people are creative and appreciate creativity. Real people are funny ... in one way or another. Real people are honest about their flaws. And their love for God shines through their flawed humanity much better than a contrived facade.
Too many in the Church have hidden in fear behind this contrived facade for too long. And it’s a freeing feeling to have leaders like Archbishop Dolan who are willing to be honest about who the Church is and what we’re all about. It’s effective. And I’m excited and inspired by it. I think a lot of other people will be, too.
Here’re some video clips from his appearance on the “Today” show:
(Hat tip to Brandon Vogt)
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Nice job, “Today Show”! Give us more of these types of features.
His Excellency, Archbishop Dolan is a wonderful spokesman for Our beloved Holy Mother Church!
and…as the Church is truly in the midst of much persecution, at times things seem dark, but God provides the brightest “stars” to speak for His Church. You are one of those stars, Your Excellency! Thank you Archbishop Dolan, and thank you Matt and Al and the Today Show for allowing this forum for our beautiful Catholic Church! I hope that many people were touched by this…touched enough to return, if they have strayed, or to come and join us, if they’ve never experienced the richness of the faith.
God bless you all!
I enjoyed watching the TODAY show and seeing some of Vatican City and hearing Matt, Al and Archbishop Dolan. They were all so comfortable together; and if marketing IS important, I think Archbishop Dolan will accomplish a great deal of good. His honesty is so refreshing.
It is good to read an article by a fellow Texan, especially an Aggie (Iam married to one and mother of one.), so thank you, Matthew, for a good article. And don’t ever think anything you do is more important than the diapers and Lego empires.
That second clip/interview was wonderful!!!
I believe strongly that if the Church wants people to return… to change that percentage of ex-Catholics… the Church is going to have to reach out to adult singles. (I’m talking 30 and up…. 20-somethings have plenty of resources to meet other singles) Currently, church is all about marriage and family… which is great… unless you are not married and don’t have a family. It is very exclusionary to those of us who can’t find a suitable Catholic partner.
Forget about trying to convert someone! Much of secular society can’t wrap their heads around the church’s position on birth control, premarital sex, transubstantiation, etc. In fact, I was quite dejected on my birthday when my guests started talking about how silly it is that the Catholic Church doesn’t “get with the times” on the concepts of birth control and premarital sex. One guest talked about a priest that he and his friends were impressed with, when during pre-canna instruction, the priest asked the couple how were things in the bedroom. Isn’t that great, they thought, that the priest was ‘realistic’. How could I offer my defense - one against four in that discussion?
It would help if priests would go back to teaching the why behind NFP, why contraception is wrong… and so forth. It would give the rest of us confidence to speak up for the Church and our beliefs - armed with the right information and the right argument.
Speaking of marketing.. the Church has a gold mine with the Divorce rate for NFP couples. Milk it would you?!?!? If we can explain it to society that birth control destroys relationships… and NFP encourages you both to be involved in the miracle of reproduction, that short periods of abstinence can result in HOT sexual reunions that stimulate a marriage!!!
But also speak to everyone in the congregation… not just the married people.
Once, a seminarian student came to speak during Mass to appeal for donations to the seminary fund (or some such) he concluded with, “Go home and discuss it with your spouse….” my immediate thought was… “Yeah, because EVERYBODY has a spouse!!” Go home and pray about your ability to contribute…” would have been perfectly adequate. Granted, he’s a student and probably thinks that everyone who isn’t a Priest or Religious is married… but that is the mistake of his educators. There are SO MANY SINGLES… if the Church was even thinking about it… they would train that kind of thinking out of their seminarians!!
Think too, of the many divorced Catholics who simply do not return to the church because they think they are not welcome there!!! The Church should be pursuing those people, instructing them in their annulment process so that there are more marriageable people for us faithful singles to choose from!!! Let them know that they are forgiven. Give them instruction on what failed in their marriages so that they can choose wisely, and act better, the second time around.
If you want the Church to grow… you are going to have to get us singles married. That is the bottom line! And clearly, I can’t do it alone! Everyone tells me I should look for a man at church. I confidently tell them… “There are no single men at church. They only come back when they are engaged - and then I have missed my shot at them!!!” Believe me, I never miss Sunday Mass - I serve as both a lector and a Eucharistic Minister—I can check each man there for a ring… and I have!!!
Sometimes I envy my Mormon friends - whose church encourages Singles Wards. Granted, I hear much about how their singles’ programs are a bit misguided, and outdated… but at least their entire church knows that singles deserve ministry!!!!
Someone, please tell the bishops and the Pope that Catholic Adult Singles NEED ministry!!!!
Adding to my own comment… The Catholic church must do something to get men to go to church. That should be the start of any marketing campaign.
I have thought perhaps that billboards stating, “Looking for the ONE? Go to Mass.” might work. Seek salvation find a wife, or visa versa!!
They could probably start with more manly music. Don’t ask me what that means… other than much of what we have now is very sweet and feminine and somehow a turnoff to men.
I think the WOMEN of the Catholic church need to get their sons and husbands to church, and that will be a beginning, particularly the sons.
TRS, what wonderful posts. I will bring this up in my diocese and hope many will do in theirs.
I agree—the ‘girly’ music. I avoid the music masses at all costs. I hate happy-clappy, as a musician, and when I look around at the grown manly men NOT participating, I feel their pain. THis is not limited to the Catholic churches, by the way—we were Protestants and non-denoms for many years, and it is rampant there.
Singles of all ages might want to check ou Ave Maria Singles match akin online service. I have heard good things about them for serious Catholics.
I’m surprised the Today Show feature a segment on Archbishop Dolan and the Catholic Church. Much of the Today show’s content is based on promoting secular filth such as Lady Gaga, a women who allows her son to wear dresses in public, parents that are raising a “non-gendered” child. The Kadashians, Having Mackenzie Phillips discuss her sexual relationship with her own father and so on—all at 8am in the morning!
Since Archbishop does have great charisma, hopefully more networks will feature him on their programming and people will start to wake up in America.
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