I remember a time when I would travel down to my grandparents’ for a brief visit. Talk about a generation shock, especially when I set the clock on the VCR, and they thought it was a crowning achievement of my technological prowess.

Since then, my grandparents have bought a computer and are now Internet poker champions of iconic prestige. Adaptation is a beautiful thing.

It doesn’t take bifocals to tell you that the Catholic Church has been knocked prone as of late.

The glory of Rome has faded in light of scandal, a loss of worldliness and a general inability to keep up with the spinning world. So

I extend my hand as a fellow kid on the playground and offer a few suggestions for the pope to get back up and dust himself off.

The Vatican Councils were a great move, and I applaud the efforts, but perhaps it is a better idea to think of them more as continually building reforms than another history unit to be learned in theology class. While meeting in a dark old catacomb every hundred years keeps Dan Brown writing, I think that a more open and regular meeting of the superiors could turn some heads.

The Church needs to go back to the idea of that guy – I don’t know if you remember him – Jesus.

I would suggest sticking to what he taught, because at the end of the day, Christians answer to only one true God from true God; and his name doesn’t have a suffix of Padre. It is simple magis and we are asking for more on the magistrate’s end of the deal

The first of Jesus’ principles is compassion. In today’s globalized world, we need to open our eyes. We can’t just look at war, death and persecution going on out there like we are flipping through a newspaper. More needs to be done. We don’t need to conjure up an army to free the world, but through exposition, aid and a knowledged welcoming hand, the Church can work along side the poor and suffering to improve their lot and encourage nations to take a stand.

In fact, the Church itself needs to take a few stances. In an ever more liberal society, are we going to continue to denounce the behaviors of God’s children or try to love them?

The Church needs to be direct and either admit that it hates non-believers and ‘sinners’ or show compassion toward them without the under-the-breath scalding. I would suggest the latter.

There was also the Jesus of justice, and it is paramount that a little housekeeping is taken care of.

First, the Church needs to either don the robes of justice and hold trials in Rome, possibly excommunicate, or swiftly punish the perpetrators of recent sex scandals.

On the domestic front and abroad, a greater communication must stand above all. Use the constituent elements (Jesuits, missions, universities, etc.) of your church to get the word out.

Harshly criticize the world presented, but do it like our professors teach us: with valid evidence. Start fires and open dialogue so it may ring loudly across this world.

Perhaps, for Pope Benedict XVI, a Facebook account or Twitter. I think a status update or tweet, “Working hard to uphold the love, protection and grace of God for every individual everywhere!” would warrant my friend request acceptance.