Quote by Andrew Greeley
The leadership lost its nerve. Instead of taking the lead in the reform movement... they pulled the plug on it. They tried and are still trying to return the church to the dry ice of the previous century and a half.
Summary
This quote highlights a criticism of a specific leadership, suggesting that they lacked the courage and initiative to lead a reform movement. Instead of embracing change and progress, they halted the reform and attempted to revert back to more conservative practices. The quote hints at a desire to bring the organization or institution, in this case, the church, back to an outdated and stagnant state that characterized the previous century and a half.