Future of the Church – Church of the Future

In 1970, in an essay on “Faith and the Future”, you spoke of a Church that would also have new forms of office. That the Church would, for example, ordain as priests Christians in professions who have proven themselves.

I had foreseen then, if one may put it that way, that the Church would become small, that one day she would become a Church comprising a minority of society and that she could then no longer continue with the large institutions and organizations that she has but would have to organize herself on a more modest scale. In that connection I had thought that when that happened, then, next to those priests who are ordained as young men, proven men from the professions could also advance, that, in any case, diverse forms of office would take shape. I think that this was correct insofar as the Church as to adjust herself gradually to a minority position, to another position in society. Also correct was the prediction that in particular unsalaried ministries would probably be on the rise. To what extent, then, there will be viri probati (“proven men” who come from another profession) is another question. I mean, the whole ancient church lived on the vir probatus. Since there were not yet seminaries, she generally called men to the priesthood who had had another profession. However, from about the second or third century on they subsequently renounced marriage. Let’s leave open what forms will develop in this area. But the irreplaceability of the priesthood and of the deep inner connection between celibacy and priesthood are constants.

Salt of the Earth, the Church at the End of the Millennium, An Interview with Peter Seewald, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 1995

Has Christianity really brought salvation, has it brought redemption, or hasn't it actually remained fruitless? Hasn't Christianity perhaps by now lost its power?

This is an understandably older post, but I couldn't help but comment! I actually got done reading Adrian Walker's interview "Salt of the Earth" and I found it to be enriching and intriguing! Upon looking for articles and discussions, I found this thread. I'm actually rather shocked that no one else has added more to this discussion! The interview with Peter Seewald is extremely interesting!

If I may add my own tidbit, there was one singular question that stuck out in my mind by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger :



The reason I find this statement/question so intriguing is because we can ALL ask ourselves this question and obtain a different answer each time. Christianity holds different meaning to different people. In fact, how would one really ANALYZE this question? What does this question even mean? Is salvation is a continuous process? Definitely something to think about!