The Catholic Church in America: Persevering Through Uncertainty with Hope

A continued call to love. Many young people find hope in Pope Francis, because he constantly reminds us of what Christ reminded us: Love one another. When people worry about the future of the church, so often those worries are related to the tangible things, the buildings, the schools, the smells and bells of the liturgy. And the church does, in fact, include those things. But it's all too easy to forget that the church also exists in each of us. It exists in the parents bundling up their children to go to Mass. It exists in the young person doubting God. It exists in the man kneeling before the Eucharist. It exists in the Catholic Workers who know the guests at their soup kitchen by name. It exists in the anti-death penalty advocates, in the people in orange jumpsuits outside the White House protesting the prison at Guantánamo Bay. It exists in the grandmothers praying rosaries for their grandchildren, and in the grandchildren running circles around their grandparents. The church exists in those who have left it, in those who are angry or sorrowful because of the church's own sins. It exists in the forgiveness in the genocide survivors I have met in Rwanda, and in the men I know serving time at San Quentin State Prison. It exists in people of all classes, races, and sexual identities. It does not know political or pastoral boundaries. The church goes out to the margins. It is at the margins. And it is at the center of all we do.

The church is imperfect. I am in love with the church, so it will always have the ability to break my heart. And it has done so with some frequency. But my vulnerability, that brokenness, often allows an entry point for the Holy Spirit. Although survey after survey tells me that many young people are opting out of the whole religion thing, I've found that the best way for me to deal with my frustrations with the church is to delve more deeply into my faith. And then, more often than not, I find a sign of hope, of the Spirit at work, out of sight, even when the church or the world seem stagnant and immutable. For many young people, in fact, the lessons we have learned through the Catholic Church have informed our desire to work against the injustices within it. I care about this beautiful, controversial, hierarchical, historic, flawed, inspired, blessed, excruciatingly slow-moving institution. I don't know what lies in store for the church. But persevering through uncertainty with hope is exactly what it means to have faith.

The church is Spirit led. So wherever the church goes, I am staying with it. And I am here by choice. I am here because I believe, and because every day I must confront my unbelief. I don't always agree with everything my church leaders say. But I trust that God will either transform their hearts or mine. Likely both. Hopefully soon. In the meantime, all we can do is keep working with others to try to build up the kingdom of God, even if we can't quite tell what it will look like, because we believe that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the church toward what is true and good and beautiful. We never know what the Holy Spirit will do next. And that's exactly what is so exciting.

Originally published at Huffington Post.