Douthat on "Christian penumbra" | National Catholic Reporter

Douthat on "Christian penumbra" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The whole Catholic identity thing has always been more about group dynamics than the Gospel.  We but be good to be rid of it - along with the Infallible Magisterium that goes along.  Many in the Christian penumbra have harder lifes, working on weekends - day or night.  Some nice blue laws would do the trick - not for identity but to let the people people who need it most rest.  Of course, many others stay home to watch Sunday TV - which had been quite good when Brinkley and Russert were alive.  Of course there are those who are in the penumbra because they go with family to Church on Easter and Christmas.  Without the family connection, they stay home then too.  It is the hypocracy of the Church that keeps them away - at least until they have children - when some go back.  Getting married is a trigger too, as are funerals and baptisms.  If we can restrain Trads from the denial of Communion to gay couples, perhaps we can get them to come more often.