The verdict

It would appear that the change in nomenclature announced yesterday in Britain for it's national Pontifical Mission Society to that of Missio (written of yesterday) has more to do with bowing to pressure from society and the holders of major purse strings than anything related to major shakeups from within.

Britain is an increasingly secular society, not unlike Canada in many ways. There is an ever-growing diversity of cultural backgrounds and faith traditions represented in major cities throughout that part of the world, and the result is that while Catholics do enjoy a certain level of respect shown by some ranks of the aristocracy, for the most part, we must play the game if we want to live in peace with all folk.

As a result, any organizations that rely on the generosity of people at large to keep them going (as the Pontifical Mission Society and others do) are increasingly forced to find ways to blend into the mosaic and to be perceived as little as possible as having anything to do with a particular faith. Else they risk the possibility of being alienated from the major purses that otherwise are available to the likes of charities.

This phenomenon also exists on this side of the pond. We see it in the decisions more and more often made by major corporations and foundations who shy away from contributing funds to churches, apparently because of a fear of being perceived as favoring one over another. As a result, organizations who depend on the generosity of such organizations as sources of income must find creative ways to blend into the background, while (hopefully) continuing the valuable work they do.

Sadly, this means that at least on the surface, for the sake of appearances, all vestages of faith-based organizations, such as the Church, are being forced to downplay their existence, even though they may very well continue the apostolate they offer. The question is, for how long can such groups continue. Truthfully, faith is strengthened by persecution, so perhaps this is just another moment of testing for the Church, and for people of faith. What will result remains to be seen. One thing is sure, those who survive will be all the more enriched by the experience.