By Mary Lackie

Atlanta and three other dioceses across the country have been selected for a nationwide television series because they reflect the ‘now look’ in Catholicism.

“If Cardinal Newman could write on the ‘Present Position of Catholics in England’ more than 100 years ago, why can’t we do a film on the present position of Catholicism in America?” asked Jerry Lackamp, executive producer of radio and television shows for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Lackamp, who visited Atlanta last week, is on a month’s leave of absence to research and produce the four-part series scheduled for May. The series is being produced by the National Council of Catholic Men for the NBC-TV network program, “The Catholic Hour.”

He said, “Our primary purpose in the series is the study of Catholic thinking and institutions in the past 10 years while recognizing that during this time we have had the Second Vatican Council.”

“We are interested in taking a positive and practical look at the most exciting developments in Catholicism today including the ecumenical situation,” Lackamp said.

Lackamp has produced radio and television shows for five years in Cleveland working in cooperation with the Jewish community and the Council of Churches of Christ of Greater Cleveland to present five radio and five television shows a week.

Short films promoting the ecumenical campaign are shown on all three TV stations. They are produced by the St. Francis and Catholic production center in California and the Presbyterian National Office of radio and TV and are co-sponsored by the diocese and the Council of Churches of Christ.

A recent program on the television show, “Scope” presented a dialogue between two Anglican sisters and two Catholic nuns, Lackamp said. Panel discussions between teen-agers and religious leaders of all faiths, and interviews with visitors which have included Bishop Pike and Malcolm Boyd are part of the joint effort.

Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Oklahoma City are separated geographically, but were selected for the study because they represent developments and changes in the laws, structures and attitudes of the American Catholic which will have long-range effect on the Church in America, Lackamp said.

During his travels Lackamp has exploited changes in parish structure, an awareness of the layman’s role, and the increasing involvement by priests and bishops in the political and moral concerns of the whole community, he said.

“There are a few isolated things taking place on the West Coast -- the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters are moving in a new direction and there is some very interesting experimental work in the liturgy in San Francisco,” Lackamp said.

He commented, “Several years ago people were saying that a more advanced liturgy will build community -- this has not happened. It is unlikely that it will happen.”

“The liturgy is the public worship of the community -- you can sing guitar Masses, recite the prayers of the faithful, and even exchange the kiss of peace -- but to the extent you are not experiencing community, the liturgy will be empathy,” Lackamp said.

As a result of conversations with Catholic leaders throughout the country, Lackamp observed, “It has been my experience that most important to revitalizing and restructuring the parish is better communication between priests, laymen and sisters. Only now are attempts being started toward the restructuring of the parish.”

The effort requires rethinking as well as cooperation, Lackamp said. “The pastor, parish council, the bishop and diocesan council and the national association of bishops must be willing to confront each other with openness, trust and love,” he said.

“The Church must take risks in an attempt to serve the whole people of God -- not just Catholics -- with the goal of not only renewing the Church itself, but of reforming it,” he added.

Lackamp said he does not believe at this time people are seriously considering ‘phasing out’ the parochial schools -- but it will come. He said, “It is still in the think stage. But it is a matter of simple economics and the fact that the layman is recognizing his responsibility in the area religious education.”

He said, “I don’t think that modern Catholicism justifies the parochial school system -- I don’t expect a change in the next ten years, but it will come. As the Catholic layman grows and assumes his responsibility as educator of his children both in the home and through good religious education programs the parish provide, the parochial schools will phase out.”

Today’s layman is often categorized in three groups, Lackamp observed. There are those who defend the traditional Church structure without necessarily examining the meaning or significance of the structures; those who couldn’t care less about developments in theology and the restructuring of institutions as long as they can continue to go to Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments; and those who are overly impatient with the slow pace of change in this country.

“There are layman on the fringes of all these groups and its probably the people on the fringe who are doing the serious thinking. They are the same ones who possess the insight and are moving in a new direction.. It is the fringe layman who is asking the questions and their fundamental question boils down to, “In view of the Council documents, who am I?” Lackamp commented.

He noted one result of the Council is that seminaries all over the country have shattered the ivory tower image by allowing and encouraging students to become a part of the local community -- politically, socially and culturally.

Priests all over the country are examining their specific role within a Church which is essentially a service organization -- an organization to serve the people of God, Lackamp said. “Many seminarians potential seminarians and priests are asking the question: “For what role does a bishop ordain a young man a priest?”

He said, “Few priests ask the question about the practicality of a married clergy as seriously as those who will be funding the married priest and his family. The fact that at present a priest may not marry and continue his service as a priest is not preventing him from asking: “Why not a married clergy?”

“I think the crisis in vocations to the sisterhood as well as to the priesthood might be remedied -- I don’t say it will be -- by a study into the nature of religious vocations in this particular time in history,” Lackamp said.

The problem many sisters face is that they are very often better informed about the real world and the Council than their superiors. But the sisters are often bound by rules which do not allow exploration in areas pointed out by the Council, Lackamp commented.

Communities which have changed their whole way of life and action have done so because their superiors are open and communicative, Lackamp said. “They have understood the challenge of Vatican II and answered it with, ’Let’s try it!’”

He added, “And if changing the traditional habit to a contemporary jumper is not matched by an equal willingness to develop a 20th century apostolate, then the change of habit is meaningless.”

What is the 20th century apostolate for the sisters? Lackamp answered, “It might be social work, inner city work, intensive adult education programs, Newman work -- but is it necessarily limited to parochial schools, Catholic hospitals and orphanages?”

“People talk a lot about the ‘identity crisis’, but I think it is only since the Council that bishops, priest, sisters and laymen have begun to recognize the seriousness of the crisis,” he said.