More from Dr. Steinfels

One of Peter Steinfels most interesting points, I thought, was that in order for the church to survive, our children must embrace it. Yet methods for passing on the faith have proven difficult. Nothing concrete has really replaced the Baltimore Catechism of old. Nor the strong parochial schools, run by priests and nuns and supported by parishes.

After Vatican II, "The search for an effective approach to passing on the faith has lurched forward, stalled, swerved this way and that."

This is part of the current crisis. As adult Catholics debate with each other, and the heirarchy, about church teachings (such as birth control) our Catholic young people know less and less about the Catholic tradition. Many can't even name the seven sacraments, for instance.

"Both the heirarchy and Catholic theological scholars must rethink how doctrinal development can proceed with dignity in a radically different environment."