This is the Diocese that is my area.. RC churches have been closing and merging now for about 5 years.. This is just one more merger.
This area is probably one of the most solid Rc areas in the country.. self identifying RCs being 85 to 90% .
We have a heavy Irish, Italian. Polish population. There USED to be a Catholic Church and a bar on every corner ..now it is only the bars that are doing business.
Recently there was an article posted that showed that only 15% of those that identify as Rc actually are “practicing “.
My area seems to give those numbers credibility.. baptism, first communion, marriage, and funerals.. and maybe Christmas and Easter are the times most of these folks see the inside of their parishes
Also some attend a protestant church on Sundays and never withdrew their membership from Rome..
What always strikes me about this process is that people that never go to church love their PHYSICAL church building and do not want it closed.. and will make a lot of noise over it.
Duh. I forgot the Irish population. I knew there was one I was missing.
Ever been to the Broadway market the day before Easter?
Thanks for the 1st hand report.
Very different from what the Roman Catholics claimed above.