Very good and interesting post.
Thanks. I just find it funny...and HIGHLY hypocritical to read an article entitled "Evangelical Exodus" by a Catholic.
When 10%+ more people are leaving your denomination than are coming from another denomination does it really make sense to talk about the exodus of a group that has a 5% gain? Especially when that gain is at your expense?
Does it make sense to write an article entitled evangelical exodus when that group is growing in 28 states...and yours is shrinking in 46? Does it make sense to write it when the only thing that is keeping your membership numbers steady are illegals?
Oh...and a point to that (since I work with several inner city "white flight...2nd/3rd generation Hispanic churches)...Hispanics don't stay catholic forever...at least their children don't. The numbers or 2nd/3rd/4th generation Hispanics in the US that leave the Catholic church is large. They, by and large, stay more loyal than whites...but you can't count on them to remain Catholic.
So...the Catholic church needs to write more articles about "How can we fix this" instead of handpicking a few bad examples.
And this is understood by the Clergy in the RCC. I was active in the Emmaeus community and the priests understand the depths of despair they are in. Some of the people on this board need to have their sense of urgency....'cause THEY are worried about the future. I think Voris might ought to go behind closed doors and talk to a few of them.
And for the records...I am Southern Baptist...and we are worried too...at least those I work with in ministry. We realize we could lose an entire generation if we don't get it together quick.