The Orthodox Churches, stalwart in their retention of Tradition, are also leaking membership. The problem is, as Cardinal Ratzinger pointed out, the "isms" prevalent in contemporary society.
The problem is that churches will always be affected by these isms, and always have been, and all too often they are used as an easy excuse. We do not want to see our own failings, and far too many of us are deeply vested in the modernisation of the Church. Did Vatican II lead to a hemorrhaging of the faithful from the Church? No, we are told, that is just a coincidence. It was the free love movement that did it. Sorry, but I just don't buy that. It is all too convenient and simply absolves the hierarchy and the Church from all mistakes. There have always been movements and societal changes, but the Church was able to resist them by being true to its own message, and offering real spiritual food to Catholics. But, today, that is different. We have utterly abandoned all sense of Catholic identity and thrown out any traditional forms of faith. The people who are drawn to a Catholic message are therefore left with nothing, and look instead to more comfortable choices. It is human nature. Do social movements and developments affect the Church? Yes, but we can do little about that as things stand now. What the Church can do is protect the treasures of the faith, including the ancient traditions it has been heir to, and that will help retain the core true believers that should be the major concern of any church.
As for the Orthodox I think they have some rather different issues at play, many arising from some semi-caesaropapism in their approach. However, as I said above, in this period of history I would expect some loss of members. What is important is giving substantive care and guidance to those who are your bread and butter, so to speak. Here in the USA we seem obsessed with numbers; how much money is being collected, how many are in the pews, and how much money is being collected. What should be of greater concern is the quality of the pew sitter. Most of our local Catholic churches are filled with indifferent barely interested people who come because of some social reason more than worship. Those who really cared, and felt the faith in their soul, have found it harder and harder to continue going. It is painful to see the Mass mocked by silly antics and sacrilege every day. They drift away, and it is their loss which is most felt. If the Orthodox can hold onto the real believers then it really is not such a bad thing that the indifferent and lukewarm fade away. They will do as they feel, and that is neither good nor bad in itself. And that is just what is wrong with the Catholic approach of today, which is entirely driven by drawing in the indifferent, and simply trusting that the orthodox believers will persist in the face of constant heresy and heteropraxis. That is the strategy of Anglicanism, and we all know how that works out.
Really? When I was still attending the local, packed tot he gills, Latin Church, the majority of those in attendance were there to worship and run. The more seasoned members came to fulfill their Sunday obligation. The younger congregants came with children. Missing were the unmarried and/or younger professionals. The "social" activities were rather limited.
I left in search of a reverent liturgy and a community where my God-given abilities might be of use. That journey led me to a Maronite Catholic Church. We are a very small community (less than 100 families) but everyone is asked to participate in one way or another. Since there is only one Divine Liturgy, we come together each week as a "Catholic community", in the truest sense. We know each and every family; when someone is ill or in need, we reach out to assist. After Sunday mass, we gather for refreshments and conversation; each family takes turns supplying the coffee, juice and treats.
Prior to Christmas, a group of us accompanied our pastor as he visited the homebound, those in assisted living and shut ins. At each home, we spent time with the family, sang Christmas carols. prayed and the priest distributed communion. One of the parents brought along her children for the explicit purpose of helping them understand that the parish family extends beyond the boarders of the church. The kids not only enjoyed visiting these families, they also entertained them.
Within this small parish are several ministries, including a women's and men's sodality, a sanctity of life committee, a parish council and other groups, as well. Imagine that, with less than 100 families! There are annual fundraisers, parish picnics, retreats and processions. One member of our congregation, also Latin Rite, was called to religious life and recently professed his temporary vows with the Maronite Monks of Adoration who are all Latin Rite, as well.
Like the Orthodox Church, many of the Eastern Catholic Churches retain their ancient liturgies. The Maronite Catholic Church predates the Latin Church and traces its origin to Antioch, where St. Peter served as bishop before proceeding to Rome.
The point I am trying to make here is that a parish reflects the vision of the pastor. Small parishes, such as mine, pull the community together as a whole but also pose other problems as a result of limited membership. Our pastor is a monastic priest who is also a missionary. He treats the small community as if it were a much larger one, encouraging participation at all levels. He projects outward, as well, into the surrounding community. He also volunteers his services to the Latin Rite community (the bishop has given him Latin faculties). Hence, not only does he serve his parish, he also serves the priestless parishes in the surrounding RC Diocese of Albany .. AND .. reaches out to serve the local community through programs to feed and assist the more disenfranchised. As a result, he draws people home to the Catholic Church.