I actually think that "Churches are not meeting their needs" is right on the money. The needs are no longer Christian. This weekend there was an article in the Globe&Mail - Canadian national newspapers - about rates of parish closures in Canada (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...obeSportsGolf/). Over thye past decade 10-12% of Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbytarian parishes closed for the lack of support. Last bits of traditional liturgical practices (Anglicans) are being dispatched - "priests" rather engage in exploring spirituality with their flocks. (What this means I once heard on a radio talk-show and it nearly made me vomit). Those that hang on to some sense of tradition do so largely because of historical significance and/or large endowments. There was also a bit there about an Anglican priest in Toronto who to keep his parish afloat conducts "blessing-of-the-animal services" and said he would bless anything presented to him at the liturgy. Very sad. Yura