NCR's prayer

In the editorial , "Finished playing by the rules" (an interesting, suggestive headline), to which Michael linked earlier today, the editors at NCR write:

Whither women priests? Perhaps they will become yet another breakaway movement, as many church officials must drearily hope. Or, depending on the faithful’s response, these women could conceivably drag the church into the 21st century. We’ll pray for that.

Why, exactly -- and putting aside, for now, the merits of the specific question presented, re: the ordination of women -- should we pray for the Church (or, as the editors put it, the "church") to be "drag[ged] into the 21st century."  I'm (kind of) kidding, but . . . what's the answer?  It's a tricky balance, isn't it:  Should the "21st century" not only set the agenda for (i.e., provide the relevant "signs of the times" for) the Church, but also define and transform the Church (e.g., "finished playing by the rules")?  Or, should we think more in terms of the Church's vocation to transform, and challenge, the 21st century?  Or both . . . .