Posted on 01/28/2011 9:32:34 AM PST by marshmallow
Shery Weddell at the St Catherine of Siena Institute reports that 32% of Americans raised Catholic abandon the identity altogether by their mid twenties. An additional 38% retain the identity but rarely practice their faith. 30% of those who call themselves Catholic attend Mass only once a month. On a given Sunday only about 15.6% of American Catholics attend Mass.
What is the reason for these disastrous statistics? Basically because for the last forty years Catholics themselves have not taught Catholicism to their children. They've taught 'American Catholicism' which is a watered down blend of sentimentalism, political correctness, community activism and utilitarianism. In other words, "Catholicism is about feeling good about yourself, being just to others and trying to change the world." The next generation have drawn the obvious conclusion that you don't need to go to Mass to do all that. You can feel good about yourself much more effectively with a good book from the self help shelf, or by attending a personal development seminar. You can be involved in making the world a better place without going to church.
If only 15% of Catholics go to Mass on a given Sunday, look around and see how many of them are old. Even the 15% who are there won't be there for very long.
The solution is simple: we must return to the supernatural realities of the historic faith and evangelize like the Apostles of old. The big difference is that the Apostles knew their targets were pagans and the pagans knew they weren't Christians. We're dealing with a huge population of Americans (Catholics and Protestants alike) who are pagan but who think they're 'good Christians.' It is very difficult to evangelize people who already think they're fine just as they are. We don't know what we don't know, and the vast majority of poorly catechized, lazy and worldly Catholics aren't aware that there's anything wrong.
What will it take for us to wake up?
Painful to behold, I know, but believe it or not, ultimately beneficial to Catholicism, I believe.
Negativity and sneering are ultimately counterproductive in the long run.
See post #19.
marshmallow:
I agree, there has been an overall trend towards secularism in the U.S. period. and the article does speak to that tangentially. However, the specifics of the Article are dealing with the collapse of an overall Catholic Culture and not the overall trending in the U.S. towards a larger group of americans holding more relativistic views.
Just my 2 cents.
There's no better place to preach the word of God than on threads like these where Scripture is being twisted to produce error and "vain jangling."
He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." -- Isaiah 50:7-11 "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Why don’t you stay off our threads and well gladly staff off yours. You’re nor going to convince us nor we you so what’s the point. Even Christ told his apostles to shake the dust off their sandals and depart...yet you guys just keep on coming back and coming back and coming back. With all due respect you need to just get over yourselves and leave us alone.
What are the standards necessary to be a Christian?
A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.” John Calvin
We’re just here to brighten up the RC ghetto. :-) If you add the “caucus” label we know to stay out. Although even Jesus worked among the lepers.
Yes otherwise it will turn into a Catholic bashing. I think it qualifies since the article does not mention any other faith or sect.
Nope. They are like dogs with a one flea itch.
Edit out that last part. The article still stands on its own merits.
And we have learned the folly of casting pearls before swine.
Why ask a Catholic? As you have posted, you are a former Catholic. Why don't you go ask your present church leaders?
What in the article specifically attacked "God's Truth, to cause you to "bark"?
Happily, if Rome, like the LDS, would simply give up the name of "Christian."
As long as Rome purports to be a Christian faith, and yet so mangles the truth of Scripture and the knowledge of Christ that it follows "another Christ" and prays to a "co-redeemer," we will be here to set the record straight, according to the word of God alone.
You’re nor going to convince us nor we you so what’s the point.
Only God gives new eyes and new ears to know the things of God. It's 100% up to Him who is "convinced" and who isn't.
Our responsibility is simply to preach the Gospel in truth. Amazingly, that task gets easier the more we do it because as we study the Scriptures we continue to learn and grow in faith. As God wills.
Even Christ told his apostles to shake the dust off their sandals and depart...yet you guys just keep on coming back and coming back and coming back.
Thank you. If God does not weary, why should we?
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." -- Isaiah 40:28-31"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
With all due respect you need to just get over yourselves and leave us alone.
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." -- 2 Thess. 3:13-15."But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
Lucky you.
You go first.
Have any of you seen this post, it’s HILARIOUS!!!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2662931/posts?page=23#23
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