This Time of the Church

Author Frank O'Loughlin argues that the decline in attendance and numbers of those entering religious life in the Western world can be attributed to a shift from Christianity to pluralism which originated in Western Europe. 'We are dealing with a changing situation which goes beyond the church while affecting it radically'. O'Loughlin, a senior priest from Melbourne, argues that the resultant social, cultural and political changes have enormous religious repercussions at a time when people are also troubled by the church's handling of numerous crises including the sexual abuse crisis, pastoral inadequacy and even pastoral failure. 98 pages.