By Chris Starr

The old adage “big things come in small packages” could not be truer for the Netherlands. Ever since Vatican II, and indeed before that, the Dutch Church has been in the forefront of controversy over the major issues of church life today. Its size, which is about equal to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, has not been an inhibitor to the dimensions of its ideas.

In Atlanta for a visit with his brother, Peter, Kees Bardoul and his wife Marianne shared some of their thoughts from life and the Church in Holland.

The Bardouls are from Bockholtz, Netherlands, where at one time Bardoul’s father was mayor. He recalled that one of his father’s decisions was to stop granting subsidies to parish priests who refused to teach catechism and religion classes.

“The priests had stopped teaching when they felt they were more needed in socially-oriented apostolic work, such as working with the poor and involvement in the youth and peace movement,” Bardoul recounts.

Among the major changes cited by the Bardouls was the switch from an active parish with apostolic organizations and women’s clubs to the more intellectually oriented discussion groups that now characterize parish life. This was described as a very small percentage of the actual Church members and their purpose was discussion of current events in politics and theology. Their scope however is not limited to any particular subject.

Alongside the reduction in church activity, Bardoul cited the elimination of daily Mass and weekly confession as another major shift in the Church. Also, sermons that carry a spiritual message are delivered at most very rarely. This is coupled with the increasingly zealous political commitment of the younger clergy.

Asked whether or not he felt the Church in Holland was bringing forth the message of truth and salvation that it is entrusted with, Bardoul commented, “The priest, in comparison to years past, can hardly be recognized as a messenger of God’s word. By this I mean to say he has, by his own volition chosen not to be looked upon as a priest of the Church.

An example of this is the lack of confidence members of his own family will place in a priest for counseling and spiritual direction. He stated that it creates problems when a priest will question and argue almost any point to the extent of not offering any guidance in decision-making.

Bardoul’s brother, Peter, aside from being a very competent interpreter, engaged himself by drawing comparisons with earlier Catholic life. Peter studied in a minor seminary in Holland and notes the many changes today in atmosphere and regulation. He recognizes these very same changes in American schools and seminaries.

Most interesting was the change he saw in his parents and grandparents. For example, the custom in Holland was to attend two Masses on Sunday and an evening Benediction.

“Now, when the children are being especially cantankerous, or one of them can’t find his shoes, they (my parents and grandparents) will say not to worry about going to Mass, or to make it up next week. This is the exact opposite of what we experienced as children.”

The final question was directed to both Kees and Marianne Bardoul and it concerned the future of the Church in Holland and their own hopes in it. There was much said about the needs and concerns they felt for their children. Both said they saw and felt changing attitudes leading toward a more settled atmosphere, but there are also the many unsettled questions that writers and theologians still discuss in today’s media.

For both Kees and Marianne Bardoul it seemed the future of their homeland Church was up in the air.