is no longer acceptable in the light of cultural developments. Marriage is no longer obligatory for romantic relationships; nor is children. People consider it their right to make decisions of this nature without interference from the church. On the same level, the third reason is that the church is seen as a system that imposes moral control rather than in its evangelizing function of bringing good, happy news through Christ to its visitors. Instead, its function is one of condemnation and judgment. The central message of Christianity is therefore lost in a quagmire of moral rigidity. Finally, Hodgens mentions that the articulation of this Christian message itself is no longer perceived as relevant. The author holds that this is tragic, as the Christian message is highly relevant. However, it needs to be articulated correctly to make in impact on the many who are turning away fro the church to seek their religious solace elsewhere.
             Wilson's (1983, p. 42) comments appear to substantiate this relevance in the mind of the average Australian. According to this authors, the lack of Australian commitment to religious institutions does not indicate a lack of faith. Indeed, the author notes that most Australians still believe in God. The problem then does not seem to lie in whether to believe in God himself or not, but rather where to find institutions that meet the spiritual needs of the modern individual.
             Tinsey (1997, p.1) addresses the duality not only in the minds of modern Australians, but also in schools of thought surrounding the church and what it should mean for the society it serves. In the Catholic church specifically, the historical tendency has been to provide stability in a world filled with turmoil. In order to achieve such stability, there has been an emphasis on promoting "truths" that transcend all others offered by the world. This emphasis has taken a favorable position above the opinio...