Into great silence

Holy Saturday often seems like an undefined "tweener" day in the middle of Good Friday and Easter. We fast and obstain on Good Friday and celebrate joyously on Easter. But what about today -- how should we observe Holy Saturday? Pope Benedict has some suggestions:

This hope is nourished in the great silence of Holy Saturday, awaiting the resurrection of Jesus. On this day the Churches are stripped and no particular liturgical rites are provided. The Church watches in prayer like Mary, and together with Mary, sharing the same feelings of sorrow and trust in God. [1] Justly recommended is to preserve throughout the day a prayerful climate, favorable to meditation and reconciliation; [2] the faithful are encouraged to approach the sacrament of penance, to be able to participate truly renewed in the Easter celebrations [emphasis mine].

We intend to pray evening prayer tonight. Can anyone suggest online resources? I'm aware of Universalis, but perhaps there are others, e.g., versions that are "kid friendly."

"an exorbitantly flamboyant male dancing around the altar"

One of Gene's readers provides an account of last Tuesday's Chrism Mass at Rochester's Sacred Heard Cathedral (which was discussed earlier here):

Unfortunately, most of the Mass was rather disappointing. After the brief moment of prayer preceding Mass, there was a musical call to prayer, which featured an exorbitantly flamboyant male dancing around [the] altar. Since Mass had not yet begun, I simply tried to ignore the behavior in hopes that once the Mass was underway, such absurdity would cease. Sadly, he continued to prance about throughout every song, hymn, psalm, or otherwise musical part of the Mass except the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion Hymn. It was truly a disgraceful liturgical abuse, the Gospel Acclamation in particular. This rather oddly dressed fellow danced about carrying the Evangeliary around the altar, in what would be the Cathedral’s version of a sanctuary, and to the ambo. This entire behavior, from start to finish, did more to detract from the Mass than add to it. In short, it was distracting, strange, and otherwise unpleasant.

Update, 11 April 2009. The dancer, Thomas Warfield, pictured above in a stock photo, is a homosexual "marriage" activist.

Easter people

Our Christian president will finally get around to showing up at a Christian church this weekend:

Come Easter Sunday, President Barack Obama will attend a local church for the first time since taking office, but aides say that won’t necessarily be the church he and his family join.

The White House wouldn’t say where Obama will be on Sunday – but did say that the Obamas search for a more lasting spiritual home in the capital has been going on for some time.

Friends have been quietly checking out churches in the Washington, D.C., area to see which might be a good fit for the family, one aide familiar with the process said.

That reflects in part the difficulty and politically charged nature of Obama’s choice nearly a year after he broke from his controversial Chicago church over statements by his former pastor.

But the White House rejected the notion that the churches underwent some kind of formal scrutiny, with the aide saying, “It’s not an all-out vetting of every church in DC.”

And yes, I know that protestants don't have the same sense of Sunday obligation as Catholics, but you'd think he would have engaged in some form of corporate worship by now.

Bells ring again

This morning's USA Today features a brief story of Holy Cross-Immaculata's newly restored bell and steps:

CINCINNATI (AP) — Restored bells are ringing again at a Cincinnati hilltop church in time for its annual day in the limelight.

In a Good Friday tradition going back at least 150 years, worshippers pray the rosary while making the long climb up 94 steps to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church, overlooking the Ohio River.

The bells at the Roman Catholic church had been quiet since last fall, when the restoration work began. Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk (puh-LAHR'-chuk) rang them again on Thursday, a job that's done electronically now. He also blessed the bells and the steps, recently rebuilt by the city.

The faithful began showing up in the very early hours on Friday to "pray the steps," as the rosary tradition is known.

In a related story, the front page of the print edition of this morning's Cincinnati Enquirer displays a picture of Archbishop Pilarczkyk blessing the stairs; further in, religion reporter Karen Vance includes mention of this weekend's 1125 converts in her weekly column.

O Crux, ave, spes unica

Pope Benedict urges us to consider Good Friday "a day to reawaken our faith, to strengthen our hope and courage so that each one of us will carry his cross with humility, trust and abandonment in God." In addition to taking advantage of the liturgy and penitential practices suitable to this day, you could reawaken your faith by spending time in lectio divina with the Passion narrative from St. John's Gospel in the Lectionary for today. The Navarre Bible and commentary provided free by the Daily Word service is a great way to do just that. Listen to this while you pray through the passages.

They're back

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reports that the Passion mimes of St. Ambrose Church, my motherhood's childhood parish, returned for another performance yesterday. And just like last year, the altar is used as a stage prop:

After acting in a mime presentation of the Passion last year, some of the girls who portrayed the Roman soldiers started crying. Director Alison LeChase walked over and asked why.

Because they had just killed Jesus, the girls replied.

"They really got to experience the pain of the story," said LeChase.

Showing the kids exactly what Jesus underwent is a major goal of the Passion Mime, a retelling of Jesus' trial and crucifixion told through mime.

The presentation — its organizers say it shouldn't be called a play or performance — will be given again tonight at St. Ambrose Church in Irondequoit.

The presentation features 28 eighth-grade students from Siena Catholic Academy in Brighton, most of whom will be wearing black clothing and white makeup.

LeChase said the Passion Mime is a highlight of many students' eighth-grade year.

"Every year, we get more and more kids," she said, noting that only 15 students volunteered to act when she first directed in 2006.

The presentation begins with Jesus' arrival in the city of Jerusalem and ends with his burial.

The students use the entire church for the presentation, marching before the altar and back toward the church doors. Their acting is accompanied by music from Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.

The purpose is not to entertain, LeChase said. The audience is told not to applaud, even after the presentation.

"I think it deepens their understanding of the Passion story," said Robin Levy of Henrietta, an assistant in the production. "Our hope is that it deepens their relationship with Jesus."

For the student-actors, the purpose of the mime is to strengthen their connection to the Good Friday story.

Michael Centanni, 13, who plays Jesus in the presentation, said the mime makes the story a little clearer to him.

"It gives you a better understanding of what really happened," he said.

The sense of self-importance -- it's a "presentation" not a performance, the audience is "told not to applaud" -- is palpable and galling.

Down in adoration falling

Thank you to the three priest-celebrants, two deacons, and handful of altar servers at Cincinnati's St. Rose of Lima parish, who led a beautiful celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper tonight. The ending procession to the altar of repose was accompanied by the singing of St. Thomas Aquinas's Pange Lingua in the vernacular ("Praise We Christ's Immortal Body"):

Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory,
of His flesh the mystery sing;
of the Blood, all price exceeding,
shed by our immortal King,
destined, for the world's redemption,
from a noble womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin
born for us on earth below,
He, as Man, with man conversing,
stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;
then He closed in solemn order
wondrously His life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,
seated with His chosen band,
He the Pascal victim eating,
first fulfills the Law's command;
then as Food to His Apostles
gives Himself with His own hand.

Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature
by His word to Flesh He turns;
wine into His Blood He changes;
what though sense no change discerns?
Only be the heart in earnest,
faith her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,
newer rites of grace prevail;
faith for all defects supplying,
where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
and the Son who reigns on high,
with the Holy Ghost proceeding
forth from Each eternally,
be salvation, honor, blessing,
might and endless majesty. Amen.

At least they admit it's a performance

Today's Catholic Courier of Rochester features an article describing the April 7 Chrism Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. As in past years, liturgical dance is featured prominently.

As the liturgy began Thomas Warfield, director of the Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical Institute for the Deaf Dance Company, performed a liturgical dance as the Diocesan Festival Choir provided instrumental music. ...

(Not Thomas Warfield)

The life, mission, and death

Mary's Dowry Productions announces the release of a new film on St. Edmund Campion, S.J., this site's patron (teaser trailer here):

In other Jesuit-related news, the print edition of the new Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati reports that St. Xavier Church downtown has a pretty new logo.

The heart of the entire liturgical year

Join Brian Patrick and me tomorrow morning, Good Friday, at 7:15 am on the Son Rise Morning Show as we discuss Pope Benedict's recent catechesis on the Holy Triduum:

Tomorrow we begin the Holy Triduum, the heart of the entire liturgical year: a time when we immerse ourselves in the central events of our Redemption. The Chrism Mass serves as a prelude to these three days, as priests renew their promises to the Bishop, who then blesses the holy oils and consecrates the chrism signifying the gift of the Holy Spirit. At the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we recall the institution of the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ's love for us. As we venerate his Cross on Good Friday, we contemplate the full meaning of his words: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many" (Mk 14:24). Holy Saturday finds us waiting in silent hope for the Easter Vigil, when every church will break forth in a song of joy at the Lord's Resurrection. The celebration of the Paschal mystery recalls the depth of Christ's love: he did not wish to exercise his divinity as an exclusive possession, a means of domination, or a sign of distance between him and us. Rather, "he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant" (Phil 2:7) by sharing fully in our human condition, even to the point of death: not a death imposed by blind chance or fate, but one freely chosen in obedience to the Father's will for the salvation for all. May our fervent celebration of the Triduum draw us ever more deeply into Christ's Paschal mystery!

"These principles are not truths of faith"

LifeNews.com reports that Fr. Jenkins is attempting to defend his decision to provide President Obama with an honorary degree and commencement address by stating that both the USCCB guidelines and Church teaching apply only to Catholics. In other words, since Obama isn't Catholic, he isn't bound to respect "Church teaching" and Notre Dame isn't bound to deprive him of honors, awards, and platforms. Here is the response I posted on Fr. Z's site:

... only Catholics who implicitly recognize the authority of Church teaching can act in ‘defiance’ of it.”

This is alarming. The pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI have gone to great lengths to explain that the right to life is a tenet of natural law and not a "sectarian" doctrine. Here is Pope Benedict in his March 2006 address to the European People’s Party:

These principles are not truths of faith, even though they receive further light and confirmation from faith; they are inscribed in human nature itself and therefore they are common to all humanity. The Church’s action in promoting them is therefore not confessional in character, but is addressed to all people, prescinding from any religious affiliation they may have. On the contrary, such action is all the more necessary the more these principles are denied or misunderstood, because this constitutes an offence against the truth of the human person, a grave wound inflicted onto justice itself.

Surely Fr. Jenkins is familiar with the manner in which the Church addresses these issues(?). Moreover, the USCCB guidelines are addressed to Catholics but the proscription is not limited to them; the pertinent paragraph reads “those,” not “those Catholics.”

A friend informs me that a sensible editorial appeared in last weekend's Catholic Telegraph of Cincinnati. (I somehow missed it.) It is unsigned, but presumably reflects the views of the editors.

To the curiously attired gentleman at my health club pool:

A pair of white underwear briefs is *not* a swimsuit.

My goodness.

Facebook follies

Our Sunday Visitor features an article on avoiding the pitfalls of Facebook.

One pitfall is hitting "Rich + Friends" with a wall posting; unbenownst to me it sends a note to everyone on my friends list. The last such posting concerned a story about a jockey's teeth and the BBC. (Don't ask.)

So my apologies for spamming some of you.

"Facebook is a tool," said Christopher Chapman, director of adult faith formation for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. "Which means it admits of both virtuous use or abuse."

To use that tool wisely, and prevent it from becoming your one-way ticket to the dark side, you first need to cultivate a little humility.

"One of the dangers of Facebook is that it makes everyone into a mini-celebrity," Chapman said. "My tastes and thoughts are broadcast to the world in a way that makes them seem more important than they truly are."

So, think before you post your next "status update." Ask yourself whether anyone truly cares that you're "making coffee and staring into space." Then answer the question with a definitive "no," and walk away from the computer.

While you're working on humility, work equally hard at honesty.

"The most important week of the year"

Our Holy Father, always the consummate catechist, dedicated today's General audience to the Holy Triduum. Share this one with your family.

The Holy Father explained how Jesus "did not wish to use the fact of His being God, His glorious dignity and His power, as an instrument of triumph and a sign of distance" between Him and us.

"For love", the Pope continued, "He wished to 'empty Himself' and become our brother. For love He shared our condition, the condition of all men and women".

Benedict XVI then went on to explain that the Chrism Mass is "a prelude to the Easter Triduum which begins tomorrow". At that Mass "priestly vows pronounced on the day of Ordination are renewed". The ceremony "has particular significance this year because it comes as a kind of preparation for the Year for Priests, which I have called to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly 'Cure of Ars' and which will begin on 19 June. Also in the Chrism Mass the oil used for the sick and for catechumens will be blessed and the Chrism consecrated", he said.

During Holy Thursday Mass "in Coena Domini", the Church "commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, the priestly ministry and the new commandment ('mandatum novum') of charity which Jesus left to His disciples", the Pope explained. Holy Thursday, then, "is a renewed invitation to give thanks unto God for the supreme gift of the Eucharist, which must be welcomed with devotion and adored with living faith".

Good Friday, the Pope proceeded, is "the day of the passion and crucifixion of the Lord. ... Christ's death recalls the mass of pain and evil weighing upon humanity in every epoch: the crushing weight of our own mortality, the hatred and violence which still bloody the earth today. The Lord's passion continues in the suffering of mankind".

Yet, "if Good Friday is a day full of sadness, it is at the same time the best day on which to reawaken our faith, to strengthen our hope and the courage to carry our cross with humility and trust, abandoning ourselves to God in the certainty of His support and His victory".

Benedict XVI then highlighted how "this hope is nourished in the great silence of Easter Saturday as we await the resurrection of Jesus". On that day "the Church keeps prayerful vigil, like Mary and with Mary, sharing her feelings of pain and of trust in God. Rightly we are advised to spend the whole day in an atmosphere of prayer, one favourable to meditation and reconciliation. The faithful are encouraged to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Penance so that, thus renewed, they can participate in the Easter celebrations".

Full text provided by Zenit here.

"The RCIA is supposed to be for the unbaptized convert"

A commenter at Fr. Z's site reminds us that the RCIA was never intended to be a catchall program for both baptized and unbaptized converts alike:

The RCIA is supposed to be for the unbaptized convert. Baptized converts from other Christian denominations may be given private instruction in Catholic teaching and received at any time. If a baptized but totally uncatechized convert from another Christian denomination needs basic instruction in the Christian faith (rather than Catholic distinctives), the RCIA might make sense. But the idea that all converts must go through RCIA and be received at Easter only shows how the RCIA has been turned into a general purpose instruction program rather than a recovery of the catechumenate of the early Church as it was sold to Catholics after Vatican II. In the early Church all adult converts were unbaptized. Since the 16th century, that’s not been true. The people who got the grand idea of restoring something from the early Church failed to take stock of how the 20th century differs from the 2nd century. Some things happened in between.

Good works

One of Obama's new "faith-based advisors" recognizes the impact of Catholic social teaching when it is shared in the public square:

According to CNSNews.com, Knox has described Pope Benedict XVI and certain Catholic bishops as “discredited leaders” because of their opposition to same-sex marriage. Though granting the Knights of Columbus’ “good works," Knox also called the organization’s members “foot soldiers of a discredited army of oppression” because of the Catholic group’s support for the successful California ballot measure Proposition 8. Proposition 8 restored the definition of marriage to being between a man and a woman.

Knox’s remarks, reportedly made to the Bay Area Reporter, also criticized the Pope’s comments on condoms and AIDS.

He also told CNSNews.com that he “absolutely” stands by his criticism of the Pope.

Christ, the narrator, and the people

A friend asked me whether during the dialogue Passion narrative for Palm Sunday, the part of Christ is reserved to the priest. It seems that at his parish this past Sunday, each reader took turns reading a few paragraphs without any regard for who read what. Fr. McNamara took up the question in his weekly column on the liturgy:

Q: In the reading of the Passion with several readers -- where there is a deacon, should he, as normal minister of the Gospel, take the part of Christ? If so, what part should the priest take? -- C.M., Drogheda, Ireland

A: In 1988 the Holy See published a circular letter on the Easter celebrations. No. 33 deals with the readings of the Passion:

"The passion narrative occupies a special place. It should be sung or read in the traditional way, that is, by three persons who take the part of Christ, the narrator, and the people. The passion is proclaimed by deacons or priests, or by lay readers. In the latter case, the part of the Christ should be reserved to the priest. ...

Holy Week in HD

Monday 4/6, 10:00 - 11:00 pm
National Geo HD
Who Really Killed Jesus?
Archaeological and historical evidence reveal what may have happened at the famous trial. HD, 1 hr

Monday 4/6, 10:00 - 11:00 pm
Discovery HD
Lost Gospels
The secrets of the banned gospels of Mary Magdalene, Peter the Apostle and Judas Iscariot (Inspirational) HD, 1 hr

Sneering then and jeering now

In the pages of the generally useless and occasionally harmful St. Anthony Messenger magazine, a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, ordained in the magical year of 1970, decides to use his review of Thomas Woods' book on the Extraordinary Form to take aim at Pope Benedict:

Neither Pope Benedict in his motu proprio nor Woods in his book addresses the basic norms which the bishops at Vatican II voted to accept in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: 1) the rites should be distinguished by a noble simplicity [#34]; 2) they should be short, clear and free from useless repetitions [#34]; 3) parts which suffered loss through accidents of history are to be restored [#50]; 4) the treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly [#51]; 5) the “common prayer” or “prayer of the faithful” is to be restored [#53].

Pope Benedict had been warned that his decision to promote the old Mass, even if he called it “the extraordinary form,” would detract from the authority of the Second Vatican Council and would lead to greater disarray or divisions in parishes. In his letter to bishops, the pope said he believed both fears were unfounded. The very publication of Woods’s book underscores that both fears were not unfounded.

It is possible that the publication of Pope Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum and the decision to promote the Tridentine Mass may be the most remembered act of his pontificate. It is more than possible that Thomas Woods’s publication of Sacred Then and Sacred Now will be among the least memorable events of his publishing career.

Translation: You know what you can do with your so-called 'hermeneutic of continuity,' Your Holiness.

Took down the Good Friday confessions post

It's Holy Week and not a time for what I'll delicately call a "contest of wills."

Issues

At the end of this month, the Worship office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will sponsor a panel to consider "Advanced Issues in RCIA." Most of the topics address common pastoral matters, e.g., annulments and convalidations, children of divorced parents. Yet two are a bit more eye-catching: "How do we present a balanced understanding of Eucharist and Real Presence?" and "How do we avoid (Biblical) literalism in our dismissal and catechetical sessions?" Around these parts, "balanced" generally means ensuring that all "four presences" are given ample treatment, notwithstanding Christ's "unique," "incomparable," and substantial presence in the Eucharist. And let it suffice to say that whatever problems we are having with exegesis in RCIA, literalism isn't one of them.

The peals of 'Big Joe'

Rick Barr of the Catholic Telegraph Photography Project has a couple of posts (here and here) about the history of St. Francis De Sales Church in nearby Walnut Hills. I've only heard its famous bell once, while driving my oldest to school, and it was impressive, sounding like Westminster's Big Ben. Evidently that's a mere whisper of what "Big Joe" is capable of producing:

“[The church's] main steeple, which was completed in 1896, houses what is considered to be the largest swinging bell in the world. The bell, weighing 35,000 pounds and with a diameter of nine feet at its base, could be heard 15 miles away if it were allowed to swing. This happened only once, in January 1896, when the peals of ‘Big Joe,’ as the bell is called, were so thunderous that nearby buildings trembled and windows were shattered. The bell has not been rung since that time.

"Good morning," be it gone

The Telegraph of London describes the fruits of a recent ICEL conference on the forthcoming new translation of the missal: priests will cease introducing distractions to the Mass like "Good morning" from the sanctuary. The chatty, informal celebrant is an archetype hereabouts, so I thought the story was worth a mention.

Clergy attended a meeting last month to hear about the work of The International Commission of English in the Liturgy, which is producing a new English translation of the Latin mass which will be used in churches next year.

Priests at the meeting, held in the Diocese of Leeds, were told to question whether it was appropriate to say "good morning" once the priest was on the altar and had made the sign of the cross.

Following the meeting, some priests in the diocese told their congregations that they would no longer greet them in an informal manner at the start of services.

A spokesman for the diocese said: "The review of the liturgy is looking at whether there are elements of the service that have become a bit too distracting.

"People might argue that if you go in to a house, you say 'hi', but the priest is not going in to a house. He is going in to a sacred service. We need to emphasise that the priest is president of the community and is presiding at the service.

"It is a debate that has been going on in the Church for a long time – are we doing a cabaret or are we actually celebrating the Eucharist? ...

Which one of these (episcopal) things doesn't belong?

(1) Last Friday, April 3, Coadjutor Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati stood in front of Planned Parenthood and led the faithful in praying the rosary to conclude the local observance of Forty Days for Life.

(2) Next Thursday, April 9, Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati will bless the newly restored Good Friday Pilgrimage steps at Holy Cross-Immaculata Church in Mt Adams.

(3) Next Friday, April 10, Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester will be taking part in a 2-mile "Ecumenical Walk of the Cross" from the Episcopal Church of the Ascension to Sacred Heart Cathedral and once-more skip the annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross in Reparation for Abortion.

"When his father saw him coming"

We've been watching Franco Zeffirelli's classic 1977 mini-series Jesus of Nazareth this Lent. I recall it being quite an event when it premiered and was completely smitten by Olivia Hussey as Mary. Despite the 70s vibe -- the apostles look like unkempt hippies, and the rarely smiling Jesus sometimes comes off as a guru -- it holds up rather well. Two scenes stand out, then and now. The first is apocryphal and features the child Jesus mounting a tall ladder to reach a rooftop. He finishes His ascent and stares into the distance. Joseph sees Jesus as He reaches the top of the ladder. He initially panics and starts to run, and then catches himself and smiles contentedly as he looks upon Jesus. What is the purpose of this scene? To show Jesus the creator surveying His creation? To show how "far-seeing" He is? To demonstrate the full measure of Joseph's faith? The second scene comes later. Jesus arrives at Matthew's house for supper. The setting is one of raucous debauchery. Earlier, Peter is shown to be incensed that Jesus would accept such an invitation and fraternize with Matthew and other public sinners. As Matthew welcomes Him, Jesus takes a seat next to a woman dressed as a harlot. He tells the story of the Prodigal Son, and the camera alternates between closeups of Matthew and Peter while Jesus pointedly describes the prodigal son and his resentful brother. The assembly is spellbound and speechless. The scene ends with Jesus looking upon Peter and Matthew and the latter two reconciling. This setting is also apocryphal, but it drives home a key aspect of the parable: the indispensability of mercy. Powerful stuff. We hope to finish the final two hours during Holy Week.

The surge is working

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Archdiocese of Baltimore sees the largest group of converts entering the Church in more than a decade:

A police officer assigned to watch over a church nursery during Mass overhears the homily and becomes intrigued. A retail manager struggling with the loss of hours at work is inspired by the faith of his fiancee. A married mother of two looks for answers after two siblings are stricken with cancer.

All have found their way to the Roman Catholic Church as members of the largest class of converts the Archdiocese of Baltimore has seen this decade. Nine hundred and eighty-four local adults are preparing to become Catholics during Holy Week this year, a third more than joined the church locally in 2008.

The surge has caught archdiocesan officials by surprise - and left them at something of a loss for explanations.

"It's really hard to say," Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien said, before suggesting a variety of possible factors: uncertain economic times, the Washington visit last year of Pope Benedict XVI, the vibrancy of individual parishes.

"We've talked about evangelization an awful lot the last couple of years," O'Brien said. "How are we presenting our parish to our neighbors? Are we friendly? Is there an outreach? Are we sensitive to their questions and to their needs?

"And I think the more active that parish is, the more people are going to want to look inside the door and say, 'What are they offering here that gives so much life and energy?'"

The uptick comes as organized religion in the United States continues its long decline. A national survey released last month found that the proportion of Americans identifying themselves as Christians fell from 86.2 percent in 1990 to 76 percent in 2008. The fastest-growing group in the American Religious Identification Survey were those who said they had no religion. They now form the second-largest segment of the U.S. population, after Catholics.

Locally, the number of converts to the church has fluctuated widely this decade, from a low of 685 in 2002 to a previous high of 887 in 2003. The national count has varied similarly and was about 136,000 last year; a figure for this year was not available. ...

The figure for this year is 150,000, which represents year-over-year growth of more than 10%. We'll discuss the surge of converts tomorrow morning at 7:35 am EST on the Son Rise Morning Show.