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Pope Francis' Popularity not Bringing More into Catholic Church
The Los Angeles Times ^ | 3/5/14 | Kurt Streeter

Posted on 03/06/2014 5:00:32 PM PST by marshmallow

Pew Research poll finds no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic or in the number sitting in church pews on Sundays.

Pope Francis is one of the best-known religious figures in the world, but a new Pew Research poll seeking to quantify his popularity raises questions about the so-called Francis effect.

The poll found an overwhelming embrace of Francis, who has been trying to steer the Catholic Church toward a greater emphasis on compassion for the poor and marginalized. Sixty percent of non-Catholics and 85% of Catholics surveyed said they viewed the pontiff favorably — numbers approaching those of Pope John Paul II, whose peak popularity ratings among Catholics hovered just above 90%.

However, the poll found no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic or in the number sitting in church pews on Sundays. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed described themselves as Catholic, the same figure as in the year preceding Francis' election. Forty percent said they attended Mass at least once a week, unchanged from just before the papal transition.

While the survey found a significant increase in the excitement Catholics are feeling about their faith, there wasn't evidence they are volunteering or attending confession more.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: popefrancis; romancatholicism
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To: marshmallow

I think this supposed popularilty is much more with the media and far left than with Catholic rank and file. I’m not suggesting he is unpopular but I see no reason to believe that he’s any more popular overall than the Pope who preceded him.


21 posted on 03/07/2014 4:47:37 AM PST by circlecity
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To: circlecity

What I see is that Pope Francis is simply preaching what his favorite saint, Francis of Assisi once said: “preach the Gospel always, but when possible, use words.” It all comes down to preaching the Gospel with your everyday living.


22 posted on 03/07/2014 5:45:07 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: rwilson99

As a layperson who is helping out one of my parish church’s deacons in the RCIA program, there are 3 canidates, 3 Catholics who have been baptized, but still need to get confirmed and to make their first euchurestic communion, the latter this coming Easter.

Even if it was just one person, I REJOICE because he or she is answering the call of Christ to holy conversion.


23 posted on 03/07/2014 5:51:25 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: circlecity

At least he comes from the new world which is a first.


24 posted on 03/07/2014 6:09:38 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Burkean

Yet you cannot deny that the Catholic Church GAVED to the world the Holy Bible. If that is NOT evangelical, I do not know what is.


25 posted on 03/07/2014 6:11:17 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Biggirl
Yet you cannot deny that the Catholic Church GAVED to the world the Holy Bible.

Did anyone give the Catholic church the Bible? Did the Catholic church create the Bible? Is the Bible the word of the Catholic church? From whence came the words in the Bible? Was the OT published, in place and available before the Lord was born?

26 posted on 03/07/2014 8:22:04 AM PST by xone
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To: xone

The Church not only preserved the OT, but made possible the NT. That is why the Church HAS to be thanked. Case closed.


27 posted on 03/07/2014 8:27:25 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: catfish1957

“I am a history buff, and find it fascinating that this faith has remained intact for almost 2000 years. I also see why all my ancestors left it 300-500 years ago too”

Because it’s the One, True, Church, whether some PROTESTant wants to believe it or not.

There is nothing more rewarding than living your life for God, and the blueprint for this is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Everything in the world you want to know on how to live your live for Christ and your fellow man (one in the same), is right there. It is no one’s fault but their own that they are ignorant of the own faith, or does not have the intestinal fortitude to abide by the teachings of Almighty God/the Catholic Church. They want to do it their way, instead of God’s way. No one gets to heaven living their live for themselves. Catholicism is not for sissies and God never promised us it would be easy to follow Him.


28 posted on 03/07/2014 8:29:55 AM PST by NKP_Vet ("I got a good Christin' raisin', an 8th grade education, ain't no need ya'll treatin' me this way")
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To: NKP_Vet

Plus the Holy Bible as well.


29 posted on 03/07/2014 8:31:51 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Biggirl
The Church not only preserved the OT, but made possible the NT.

The OT had been preserved in total 400 years despite the presence of the political structures that would have desired its extinction.

Made possible by the Catholic church? Christ Himself promised that it would be preserved. The thanks go to God. The Catholic church claims credit for the work of God. Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33 It also claims extra-scriptural dogma is necessary for salvation so that claiming credit for God's work shouldn't and doesn't surprise anyone.

30 posted on 03/07/2014 8:54:06 AM PST by xone
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To: NKP_Vet
Almighty God/the Catholic Church.

The curse of Rome, equating itself with God Almighty.

31 posted on 03/07/2014 8:55:55 AM PST by xone
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To: Biggirl
Plus the Holy Bible as well.

Make sure you get that in, despite the Catholic teachings that are in opposition to the very Word of God.

32 posted on 03/07/2014 8:57:12 AM PST by xone
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To: xone

Your opinion and your opinion only.


33 posted on 03/07/2014 8:58:29 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: marshmallow

We shall see. Send Off Sunday is coming, when bishops greet people who are planning to come into the Catholic Church via either baptism or by being fully recevied into the Church via RCIA/RCIC ministries of the parishes.


34 posted on 03/07/2014 9:18:33 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: marshmallow
However, the poll found no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic...

Maybe this has something to do with the fact that the Holy Father became the Pope on March 13, 2013, and the process of converting to Catholicism through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program usually starts in September and ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, which is April 20th this year.

35 posted on 03/07/2014 9:33:00 AM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: Labyrinthos

Yes, and more often then that, for those who are coming into the Church via baptism, can often begin up to one year prior with the period of inquiry in the months leading up to the start of RCIA gatherings starting in September.


36 posted on 03/07/2014 9:42:07 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Biggirl
Your opinion and your opinion only.

Really? Find me then, in scripture, in light of these passages (Luke 22:25, John 20:21, Matt. 28:19-20, Gal 1:8-9)that the following are required to be believed in order to attain salvation?

Mary gave the Redeemer, the Source of all graces, to the world, and in this way she is the channel of all graces

Mary, the Mother of God, is entitled to the Cult of Hyperdulia.

Christ gave His Church an hierarchical constitution.

The Pope possesses full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, not merely in matters of faith and morals, but also in Church discipline and in the government of the Church.

The Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra.

Membership of the (Catholic) Church is necessary for all men for salvation.

Christ becomes present in the Sacrament of the Altar by the transformation of the whole substance of the bread into His Body and the whole substance of the wine into His Blood.

The source of Indulgences is the Church's treasury of satisfaction which consists of superabundant satisfactions of Christ and of the Saints

Are they in the Gospel of John, which certifies in Chap 20 30-31 that which is necessary to have life in Jesus' name is contained in John's Gospel?

37 posted on 03/07/2014 9:42:26 AM PST by xone
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To: xone

Well why are you using the Bible as a basis of attack what is true?


38 posted on 03/07/2014 9:44:30 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Biggirl
I am using the Bible to show that the dogma listed is in opposition to the Bible.

attack what is true

These things aren't true, yet they bind the hearts and conscience of Catholics who would be Christian and obscure the scriptural prescription of salvation of grace through faith, both of which are gifts from God. The listed 'requirements' are all man-made, they require belief for salvation, a papal gospel, that isn't in consonance with but opposed to the Gospel revealed in scripture. Another gospel as Paul warned the Galatians.

39 posted on 03/07/2014 10:08:30 AM PST by xone
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To: xone

It is still using the Bible to attack the Church. I do not attack your church community, so why atttack mine? Please end it now. Thank-you.


40 posted on 03/07/2014 10:21:00 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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