Mr. Cumbie commented on how much he enjoys meeting cradle catholics with deep seated devotion to the liturgy.
Like so many other converts - Michael Cumbie is driven to 'wake up' the sleeping catholics and set their hearts on fire with understanding and love for the Mass. It was a wonderful interview and I hope you have the opportunity to watch it.
Yep. He said as much on the pulpit that day.
I don't disagree that there are many, many sleeping Catholics born into the faith. Urban parishes, like the one I grew up in, have been hit very hard by this despite the influx of Hispanic Catholics who attend mass at about the same percentage rate as other Catholics.
The working class Irish built the Churches they worshiped in and sent their kids to the parish schools that they also built. As well as supplied the labor of priests and nuns. Of course, that was when my own grandparents emmigrated in the early 1900's. Today's immigrant Catholics (except maybe the Polish) don't have the same fervor and sadly, neither do many of the native born Catholics.
I blame the government welfare mentality for this as well as the cynicism of the age. A powerful Church is a competitor to an ever power hungry government.
I don't know that Mr. Cumbie's charismatic evangelism will turn it around but I don't begrudge him for trying so hard.