[ears_to_hear]

One has to be careful how they use numbers. Is the Catholic church really “growing” ?

Catholics traditionally baptize their infants (that brings them into the number count of Catholics), and they usually make sure the kids make their first communion, but very few are actually observant Catholics.Less than 50 % of Catholics in this country and 25% in Europe attend service on Sundays .

There are very few 3rd world conversions, in fact the Evangelical Protestants and Mormons seem to have the edge in getting Catholics there to convert to their faith.

The drop in priests might be tied to the societal acceptance of gays, they no longer have to hide out in the “celibate” priesthood to explain being without a wife to family and friends

[ARAD]

Ears,

How is having a wife going to make you a better priest? Of the married who are accepted to the priesthood from other confessions, I’ve never heard/read one say that having a wife makes it easier. Each calling has it’s own blessing. Paul explained it well.

Thanks,
ARAD

[Andrew Byler]

There are very few 3rd world conversions, in fact the Evangelical Protestants and Mormons seem to have the edge in getting Catholics there to convert to their faith.

Well, most of the 3rd world in Latin America is already Catholic. Conversions are huge in the African part of the 3rd world, where the Church is growing rapidly.

The most difficult places for the Church in the 3rd World are India and the Muslim world. You say the Protestants and Mormons are making things happen in those places?

[Titanites]

Is the Catholic church really “growing” ?

Catholics traditionally baptize their infants (that brings them into the number count of Catholics), and they usually make sure the kids make their first communion, but very few are actually observant Catholics.Less than 50 % of Catholics in this country and 25% in Europe attend service on Sundays .

There are very few 3rd world conversions, in fact the Evangelical Protestants and Mormons seem to have the edge in getting Catholics there to convert to their faith.

Please refer to the recently posted articles Global South as Growing Force in Catholic Church and The "Fastest-Growing" Fallacy .

[Biggirl]

The truth is that the top 3 Christian faiths that are growing in the global south are Evangelicals, Catholics, and Anglicans. The Mormons really have not made a dent.