we don't live in that world thankfully. everyone of course is entitled to off fer advice but those who are no longer practicing catholics or who never were cannot expect a serious hearing. this has to be said now because over the next several monthser with like try to witness an explosion in voyeurism. catholics feel besieged, feeling misunderstood or they are taunting or, you know, bias from the media. my father thinks the church gets a raw deal. in some way this relates to the question how the church is outward facing and how it relates to the fact its membership is declining and i wonder if someone who is involved in the life of the church on a very daily basis like how do you understand that decline? >> well i'm not sure that actually in absolute terms it's