Being called the "Byzantine Catholic Church of America" and de-emphazing a Rusyn or any other Austro-Hungarian indigenous Greek Catholic ethinicity and being a "Sui Juris" Eastern Catholic entity means nothing in terms of survival. The "Ruthenian" Byzantine Catholic Church in the US is in rapid decline due to several causes. I clearly see these loses caused by the following:

a.) Lack of hierarchical leadership.

b.) Economic displacement of her faithful away from the originally-established Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic communities.

c.) Apathy of the faithful who do not make a strong commitment to remain Byzantine Catholic and instead assimilate into the Roman Church out of convience.

d.) A lack of proper adult ECF education during the "Americanization" period of the '60's and '70's and '80's. Once the young adults move out of their home parishes, they are not remaining part of their Byzantine Catholic parishes because they were never taught to foster a love for their Byzantine Catholic Church.


These are the four main reasons why I believe the "Ruthenian" Byzantine Catholic Church in America is in decline.

I do not believe now or at anytime in the past that remnants of an ethnic culture is to blame.
By discontinuing the "Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church " moniker isn't going to instantly stop this decline. The Byzantine Catholic Church in America will only survive if the real reasons of decline are reversed (as mentioned above). Stating that the decline is somehow related to a ethno-centric church culture or ethnic jurisdictional name are not valid reasons, IMHO!

Ungcsertezs