This quote from the eminently quotable C.S. Lewis, from his book Mere Christianity, is so appropriate for our Church today and our diocese in particular. In our case, the sense of Bishop Galante, Msgr. McGrath and others is that we must move "forward" and be "progressive." We must close up those stodgy old churches that are too "Catholicy" in favor of the new-fangled non-denominational megachurch model, with their big screens, fancy sound systems, new spiritual techniques, and hip new "ministries." Here's what Mr. Lewis has to say about those reluctant to look back on "old" ways that were not broken in the first place, and bullheaded insistence on false progress.

You may have felt you were ready to listen to me as long as you thought I had anything new to say; but if it turns out to be only religion, well, the world has tried that and you cannot put the clock back. If anyone is feeling that way I should like to say three things to him.

First, as to putting the clock back. Would you think I was joking if I said that you can put a clock back, and that if the clock is wrong it is often a very sensible thing to do? But I would rather get away from that whole idea of clocks. We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. We have all seen this when doing arithmetic. When I have started a sum the wrong way, the sooner I admit this and go back and start over again, the faster I shall get on. There is nothing progressive about being pigheaded and refusing to admit a mistake. And I think that if you look at the present state of the world, it is pretty plain that humanity has been making some big mistakes. We are on the wrong road. And if that is so, we must go back. Going back is the quickest way on.