USCCB Twitter Team — Today’s ‘Real Catholics of Genius’
Ordinary lay and clergy Catholics gave an avalanche of responses to the U.S. bishops’ Twitter team, which asked people why they were Catholic, and brought their voices into a meeting where they ordinarily are not present.
If Budweiser were ever to launch a “Real Catholics of Genius” campaign — a variation on the “Real Men of Genius” campaign that honored with humor the ordinary people we may take for granted — the clear winner from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ June 2019 meeting would have been the person (or team) behind the USCCB’s Twitter handle.
The U.S. bishops’ meetings are restricted environments where the bishops mainly engage each other, and direct engagement with the laity comes in the form of either lay experts or the media. Since the laity have no direct representation at these national meetings, bishops do not face the prospect of ordinary lay persons going up to the podium to speak their mind.
But the @USCCB Twitter handle broke through this wall, and gave ordinary lay and clergy Catholics a real opportunity to speak their voice directly and be heard on the activities of a conference dominated almost exclusively by bishops. Starting with this one startling question on June 11, the @USCCB Twitter engaged people with much needed candor and humility, and received an avalanche of responses:
If you are a young Catholic who is still Catholic, what has made you stay?#USCCB19 pic.twitter.com/WLwRgDmT9d
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 11, 2019
Many gave varying responses, although the most important by far and away for why people stayed Catholic was Jesus Christ and his presence in the Holy Eucharist. Others cited the importance of the Virgin Mary and the saints; the witness of mentors, family members, and faithful clergy; the Church’s clear teaching and truth of its doctrines; the beauty of the Church’s traditions; the Latin Mass (extraordinary form); Catholic colleges, and others as factors in their decision to stay Catholic.
The one group that did fairly poorly in terms of positive feedback was the U.S. bishops, with some exceptions. Many people cited a decision to embrace their Catholic faith despite their leaders.
Many Catholics expressed a great deal of pain, and thankfulness that at least the person behind the USCCB twitter-handle was personally acknowledging and listening to them, without trying to argue the bishops were doing a tremendous job.
By the last day of the conference, June 13, the @USCCB Twitter question had racked up more than 1,300 responses, 202 retweets, and 628 likes. No other @USCCB Twitter post came close in terms of bringing ordinary Catholic voices into the room of the bishops’ conference meeting.
So, we salute you, @USCCB Twitter team. For all you do, this Bud’s for you.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 11, 2019
Amen.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 11, 2019
I'm sorry that you have had a hard time. Keep up the fight, Christ is indeed present and wants you with him.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 11, 2019
Thank you. Please encourage the Bishops and priests to be as charitable with us as you are with me.
— Kristan (@TXProverbs3130) June 11, 2019
Amen to the Eucharist. #sourceandsummit. Deo gratias. Thanks for being honest.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
That's awesome!
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
If I'd stayed, I'd be dead.
— Magdalene Visaggio (@MagsVisaggs) June 11, 2019
I mean that with absolute honesty and conviction.
Because i didn't leave happily. I left because I had to. The church is still something dear to my heart, but I'm glad I got out before it killed me.
— Magdalene Visaggio (@MagsVisaggs) June 11, 2019
Amen! Much good has been done by FOCUS for sure. Thank you for your story.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Amen! Thank you for your witness, Miguel.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Amen! It's like what Jesus says in the Gospel today: https://t.co/fWzqqewjbD
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Thanks Ben. I'm glad you've had a Church home that has been meaningful to you.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Thanks for your honesty, Tom.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
God bless this priest. And thank you for responding to grace and returning to the sacraments!
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
All of this so important. Accompaniment, community, the Eucharist. Thank you for sharing this.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Thank you for taking us seriously!
— Joseph Nufable (@YoungestJN) June 12, 2019
I didn't stay. I left shortly after confirmation, then came back over a decade later thanks to God and @BishopBarron explaining doctrine like an adult. I've stayed thanks to people like Bishop Sheen @Patrick_Coffin @Trent_Horn @EMichaelJones1 and @Card_R_Sarah to name a few.
— B Rios (@RiversRios14) June 11, 2019
Amen! It's like what Jesus says in the Gospel today: https://t.co/fWzqqewjbD
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Thank you for your thoughts. We certainly need to hear the Kerygma these days.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
Cory, thank you for being honest about your struggles. We're concerned about racism too.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
You've probably seen it already, but by chance have your read Open Wide Our Hearts?
I'm sorry for what you have been through. Thank you for an honest reply.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019
This is beautiful. Thank you, Jane.
— US Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) June 12, 2019