By Steve Weatherbe

EVANGELICAL church planters weren’t the only ones contemplating Victoria’s demographics lately.

The Catholic Diocese of Victoria (which covers all of Vancouver Island) released a five-year plan titled ‘Claiming the Past with Gratitude, Living the Present with Enthusiasm, Looking to the Future with Hope.’

It considered rising atheism and falling interest in religion among youth. It also recommended a program which Bishop Richard Gagnon frankly admitted “is neither new nor original. It is based on the scriptures, and on our long and rich Catholic tradition.”

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Based in part on opinion surveys of diocesan members, it reflects why 18 percent of Vancouver Island Catholics attend church once a month, rather than why 80 percent do not. It calls for an emphasis on worship and the sacraments, married life and the sanctity of life, social justice and charity, religious education and encouragement of vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood, finances, and youth and young adults.

In terms of specifics, it recommended more pro-life sermons (reflecting a widespread dissatisfaction with the lack of support shown by many of the diocese’s older clergy); a return to devotions de-emphasized after the Second Vatican Council, such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; parish efforts to assist unwed mothers; and the creation of youth and young adult ministries.

Nothing in the report specifically addresses the need or opportunity posed by the large proportion of Vancouver Islanders who call themselves Catholics, who belong to no church at all.

December 2010