Church-Speak

I noticed the program from the recent installation of an Archbishop here in town.  The program of the mass was mostly in Latin.  I am sure it was a very beautiful mass appreciated by those Catholics who attended.  They did not understand much of it, but I am sure they appreciated it and found it moving and beautiful.  Latin is church-speak.  It is for the inner circle of people ordained or not.  I mean, who would go to the mass of installation of an Archbishop except his clergy and very committed laity?

The church hierarchy is comfortable in church-speak language.  It is the language of the catechisms.  It speaks to the already committed.  It makes little sense to those on the outside or the periphery of the church.  Yet, the church says we must evangelize, that is, reach out to those outside the inner circle.  Church-speak won't do it.  Talking "at" people won't do it.  I believe that evangelization needs two things that are often missing.  One, listen to the other.  Take the outsider's or seeker's position seriously.  Two, dialogue.  Talk in language that they will understand.  Talk in their language. Walk in their world.  The church may learn something too, by doing this.  Too often, when the church hears of a position outside of its own thinking, it simply circles the wagons.  Do you think that any Native-Americans ever got converted by circled wagons firing out at them?