New book examines 'vibrant' revival of US Catholicism

cna ^ | January 10, 2014 | Carl Bunderson

[Daffy]

Kenneth Jones authored/published “Index of Leading Catholic Indicators; The Church Since Vatican II” in 2003. He gathered statistics showing the decline of priests and religious, schools, and other numbers, principally in the US. Remarkably, the number of young men entering the priesthood declined by over 90%. Here's a quote: “In 1965 there were 6.30 diocesan seminarians for every 10,000 Catholics, in 2002 there were 0.51 - a decline of 92%.” In actual numbers, it declined (1965-2002) from 28,762 to 3,359. I've not heard of anyone who disputes his findings.

There is of course enthusiasm for the increased number of vocations, and faithful participation, in recent years. Yet sadly, it is still a long way from the Church before Vatican II.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

principally in the US.

A key point. US Catholics represent about 9% of all Catholics. Worldwide, the Church and vocations are growing, mainly in Africa and China.

[annalex]

it is still a long way from the Church before Vatican II.

Indeed. We praise God for what He is willing to give. Maybe in the next 40 years He will give us wisdom, too.

[annalex]

I should have pinged you to the above, sorry.

[Alex Murphy]

Kenneth Jones authored/published “Index of Leading Catholic Indicators; The Church Since Vatican II” in 2003. He gathered statistics showing the decline of priests and religious, schools, and other numbers, principally in the US.

Free Republic thread on his study: The Incredible Shrinking Catholic Church [Kenneth C. Jones, 2003]

Remarkably, the number of young men entering the priesthood declined by over 90%. Here's a quote: “In 1965 there were 6.30 diocesan seminarians for every 10,000 Catholics, in 2002 there were 0.51 - a decline of 92%.” In actual numbers, it declined (1965-2002) from 28,762 to 3,359. I've not heard of anyone who disputes his findings. There is of course enthusiasm for the increased number of vocations, and faithful participation, in recent years. Yet sadly, it is still a long way from the Church before Vatican II.

A drop of 90% means that a seminary could enthusiastically brag of a 300% increase in enrollment in later years, putting a positive spin on the fact that enrollments are still down by 70%.

[Biggirl]

Your opinion and your opinion alone.

[Biggirl]

AMEN to that!

[Biggirl]

“It’s nice to see the Usual Suspects whistling past the graveyard full of failed non-Catholic groups, though.
As usual, propagandists eventually fall for their own propaganda, in this case the “it’s Mesikans an’ imgrants” canard, and are stunned when reality finally hits them upside the head with a 2x4.

RCIA classes aren’t packed with already faithful Catholics new to this country, they’re packed with former Evangelicals and Independents who have realized that Self and Self Alone is now and always has been just a deceptive packaging of the secular humanist dogmas of “do your own thing” and “man answers to Self, not to God”.

The RCIA group and I co-instruct have 5 YOUNG adults involved. This confirms what you have said. People hunger and search for what is TRUE.

[ansel12]

No it isn’t, it is just the actual fact, as Americans leave Catholicism, mass immigration importing 10s of millions of them and their families, and future families, still result in Catholic shrinkage.

It isn’t like no one ever looks at these numbers, or collects the data.