My mother has had the experience of being the "Mother of the Groom" three times. Traditionally it's the bride's side that plans, coordinates and pays for the wedding, and by extension the mother of the bride tends to have a lot to say. I know that customs change, and I also know in the case of my three brothers' weddings there was a great deal of cooperation across familial lines. But no matter how cordial the relations, the groom's side still plays second fiddle. As my Mom likes to say, "the job of the mother of the groom is to wear beige and shut up." And as any one who knows my mother can testify, while she's OK with beige, keeping quiet does not come naturally to her. But through three weddings she bravely wore beige and kept quiet (for the most part).
Beige is referred to as a "neutral" color. It's not flashy. It never offends, it never upstages. It doesn't draw attention to itself. Beige blends into the scenery rather nicely. It can safely be called bland. In the context of a wedding, having the groom's mother and the bride's maids wear muted tones makes sense; for better or worse, it's the "brides" day, and no one should outshine her. But in the life of the Faith, Catholics have acted like the "Mother of the Groom" for too long, to our great detriment.
For a while now Fr. Robert Barron, whose videos are featured here often, has bemoaned what he calls "Beige Catholicism." Its a kind of a watered down approach to the Faith that some took after the Council. He argues, and I agree with him, that Vatican II's call for dialogue with the world became confused with accommodation with it. We became more concerned with being accepted by the secular society, and so let our "Catholic colors" bleed into beige, as Fr. Barron puts it. We have put Catholic art, architecture, literature and philosophy; in other words the entire intellectual and cultural tradition, on a shelf. We are also so worried of offending others, especially our Protestant brothers and sisters, that we don't talk about the Eucharist, Mary, and the Pope. I have been to too many ecumenical services where a Methodist or Episcopalian minister boasts of how much the Reformers helped enlighten the Church of Rome while the Catholic representative either says nothing or sheepishly thanks them for their kind words. Enough is enough. As long as we are afraid to be Catholic we will give people no compelling reason to stay in the fold or for outsiders to come in. Will some be tuned off? Maybe, but no more than are being turned off already, and I have a feeling more will want to come and see more.
Am I suggesting that we be confrontational? Not at all. Just that we be honest and unafraid about who we are and what we believe. Catholics Come Home is putting on a series of ads scheduled to appear on network television between mid December and the first week of January appealing to "fallen away" Catholics. They are well produced, beautifully shot and uncompromisingly Catholic. I felt inspired myself watching them. They are bright, vivid and colorful, without a touch of beige. They are not bombastic or preachy, but simply tell the truth about what the Catholic faith is.
There will be things in there that will rankle both Evangelical Christians and the New Atheists alike. But I say good. Not because I want to irritate anyone, but I cherish the opportunity to explain how the Catholic Church compiled the Bible, as the ad says, or how the Catholic Church started the modern university system and pioneered scientific inquary. I love the opportunity to explain how Catholics are not just Christian, but how the Church we belong to holds to the fullness of Faith in Jesus Christ. In the main two minute spot I can see an entire agenda for posts following well into the New Year.
So, Thank you Catholics Come Home; keep speaking the truth, and let your colors shine bright.
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