Michael Leach is what most would call a die-hard Catholic, and he is one of the most upbeat people you’ll ever meet. So it’s surprising to learn that the “dean of Catholic book publishing,” as one magazine dubbed him, found himself weary of his church—weary of scandal, canned sermons, and lack of respect for women. This from someone who wrote a book titled I Like Being Catholic (with Therese Borchard; Doubleday, 2000). But 70-year-old Leach has his Catholic mojo back, and the publisher emeritus and editor-at-large for Orbis Books is sharing what he calls “the good stuff” of Catholicism in a new book, Why Stay Catholic? Unexpected Answers to a Life-Changing Question (Loyola Press, Mar.).
RBL: Why did you write this book?
Leach: A few years ago Loyola Press asked me to do a book on 101 reasons to be Catholic. I said no, because I could only think of about three. But after I learned that the fastest-growing religion in America is ex-Catholics, I thought, “People are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. And the baby is beautiful and good.” So I went deep into myself and fell in love with it all over again. In the book I focused on 25 great Catholic ideas nobody ever hears about, 15 people who embody those great ideas, and 10 organizations or places that manifest those ideas throughout the world.
RBL: Give an example of a great Catholic idea.
Leach: The Baltimore Catechism taught that God is everywhere. The new catechism has only one reference in its index to God’s omnipresence, but seven to God’s omnipotence. There’s something wrong with that picture. Or take the teaching that “nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Did you know that phrase from St. Paul is read in the liturgy a dozen times during the year? But when is the last time you heard a sermon on that?
RBL: Why isn’t anyone talking about this “good stuff”?
Leach: The institutional church has neglected these spiritual treasures in favor of talking about a few moral issues. There’s a wealth of spirituality here, and somehow the hierarchy would rather talk about church structure and authority, as opposed to God.
RBL: Is your new book at all like your previous bestseller I Like Being Catholic?
Leach: That book was a celebration of Catholicism that included my voice, [co-author] Therese Borchard’s, and a whole parade of other people who are Catholic. Now it’s 2011, and we’re being bombarded by the sex abuse and cover-up scandals. Why Stay Catholic is a very personal book and a celebration of the good stuff of Catholicism we must not forget.
