A Personal Observation: Filipinos Leaving Catholic Faith

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JoshuaKatoliko

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Hi all!!! I just want to share my observations on why some of my countrymen are leaving their Catholic Faith and decided to convert to a Non-Denominational Born Again church.

As you all now, that the Philippines (the country that I came from) is one of the largest Catholic Nations on the planet with 89% of the population being Catholic. But, based from what I have observed during my 4 years of attending a Secular Government Owned High School (Yes I am only 16) this huge number might dwindle for the following years.

Some of my schoolmates left their Catholic Faith when we were in our 2nd year. Some of them turned into Atheism, Agnosticism, or had joined a Heretic Church. What’s disturbing is that as of my 4th year here in High School… almost more than 50% of the school’s total population are now Non-Catholic.

Its not only at my school but also in my family and my community. 3 of my sisters and an aunt had been brainwashed by a Non-Denominational church and most of my neighbors also turned into heretics this passed 4 years.

I have some theories on why they are doing this:
  1. People are being ignorant on what the Bible really says.
  2. Sick on hearing news about the CBCP’s (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines) involvement on political issues.
  3. Bored of the traditional mass. (This applies to teenagers)
  4. Convinced that Catholicism practices idol worship.
  5. Thinks the Church is only using them.
  6. Brainwashed by anti-Catholic Propaganda.
  7. Influenced by famous celebrities that have also converted.
  8. Catholicism is not practiced in the family.
I ask all of you to pray for all of this to stop. I don’t want to see the day that the faith that was introduced in these islands more than 300 years ago fall and be left in the dark. MAY GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!!!
 
I also think as you do.

Philipinos are generally very family oriented… I would also add to your list that they are moving to the more "entertaining " churches because families want to keep the youth going to church and those kind of churches are more appealing to many of them.

Also, they are very hard workers and since I think there is a hiearcheal structure to their society…they want to be financially powerful…those "entertaining " churches also preach that God blesses households that are faithful with money and such.
 
You forgot #9.
9. Converts away from Catholicism because they see it as being counter-cultural.
 
Well, if it’s any comfort to you, I thank God for the many Filippino immigrants who have enriched the churches of New Zealand in recent years. My own parish is about 50% Filippino, whereas some years ago the church was only half full - of grey heads (like mine!).
New Zealand is a pretty secular country, and of course I can’t know how many get sucked into that mindset away from their faith, because there is no social pressure here whatever to attend church - any church.
For me, the devotion of our Filippino parishioners, their youth and vitality, is a source of blessing and joy for me. We also have some Filippino priests, mostly just “on loan” for a few years each to help out our clergy shortage, but also vocations arising from those who have lived in NZ for some years.
I doubt very much that any of them here would get drawn to non-Catholic churches because they are such a strong community within the community, and their Catholic faith helps unify them. I hope it also safeguards them against the secular influences they will meet up with…
 
Another possibility: Being in invalid marriages (having been divorced and remarried) and feeling hurt that they cannot receive communion.

I do not know if this happens among Filipinos, but this is how many people began leaving the church in other national groups which have traditionally been heavily Catholic.
 
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ack:
Another possibility: Being in invalid marriages (having been divorced and remarried) and feeling hurt that they cannot receive communion.

I do not know if this happens among Filipinos, but this is how many people began leaving the church in other national groups which have traditionally been heavily Catholic.
Click to expand...
There is no divorce in the Philippines unless you married a Musim man under Sharia law.

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4Squarebaby:
Quote:

Originally Posted by ack

Another possibility: Being in invalid marriages (having been divorced and remarried) and feeling hurt that they cannot receive communion.

I do not know if this happens among Filipinos, but this is how many people began leaving the church in other national groups which have traditionally been heavily Catholic.

There is no divorce in the Philippines unless you married a Musim man under Sharia law.

The normal strategy is to claim that one was not mature enough to marry as the grounds for an annulment.

Posted from Catholic.com App for Android
Click to expand...
Posted from Catholic.com App for Android
 
As well as the anti Catholic propaganda and slurs against the priests, there is a mindset in the Philippines that allegations are taken as truth. Couple that with poor or no catechesis, along with little opportunity for economic advancement due to the rigid economic system where a few have so much in the midst of so much poverty, it is a ticking time bomb for nominal Catholics to look for more immediate promises.

What these people are vulnerable to is the prosperity gospel, of using bible quotes and emotions to affirm God’s care for them. Certainly this theme is repeated continually throughout the year at Mass.

I will pray more for the Philippines and that the people come to the fullness of truth of Jesus Christ…and His Bride the Roman Catholic Church who has retained the seat of the Successor of Peter, who does not promote the prosperity gospel but of carrying the cross and following Jesus, and trusting in His providence.
 
You also forget #10
10. People are convinced that anti-Catholicism is patriotic.
 
Yes…that is what I personally experienced as a child growing up in NW USA.

I just posted that the USA is the center of fragmenting Christianity in the world. All the prejudice, etc., now seems to come out of American Christian sects rather than secular cults.
 
I am a first generation British born Filipino, I can understand where you are coming from. I agree to some extent, but I agree with another poster that Filipinos are very well family orientated and migrant workers tend to instil the virtues of their faith to their children as my parents have done so with me.

Catholicism is alive and well in the Filipino community here in the UK. I’d suspect if you were to attend a church service there would be at least one Filipino migrant worker present. Although saying that, other Christian denominations have made in roads into the Catholic population. This goes for most Catholic countries; Brazil is no exception.
It is interesting to note that Manny Pacquiao the famous boxer has switched denomination recently while his mother has expressed concerns for him to return to his childhood faith. I am not to judge his decision for abandoning his Catholic faith, but has he become a ‘better person’ and closer to Christ because of it? Apparently so. I believe the Catholic church expresses the fulness of God’s revelations to man with the aid of the Holy Spirit and the true development of christian doctrine where some churches have erred. But I also agree with the greater ecumenism within the christian tradition, as is often remarked: It is better meeting us half way than going the wrong way entirely.

My two cents. 🙂
 
Thanks, Timshel.

I was born in a city with strong Filipino presence among Asians. We have always had great appreciation for all the support the Filipinos gave American servicemen in WWII, as well as their witness of Catholic faith and devotion.

And yes, the traditions of strong family life is wonderful. My sister lost her work and wanted to move here. I am married to a native Filipino and he had no qualms when my aging father moved in with us before passing on, as well as my sister who has moved in for awhile.

One thing I noticed, however, with the newcomers is that they were nominally catechized, and were drawn more into the materialistic lifestyle in town. Many working 3 jobs per household with the children left alone and susceptible to gangs. The lack of solid catechesis is actually a world wide problem in the Catholic Church.

And the Catholic Church is based on penance and the Cross for new life. We don’t promise the Prosperity Gospel. My impression of those who recently came, they are not so much drawn to Protestantism although there is a smaller number of Protestant Filipinos, but became so from their origins – Methodist.

Cardinal Wuerl said the world’s materialism has overcome the Church like a tsunami and we are really struggling with our young in America to keep their faith. My youngest wanted a faith based education in Catholic school, and he finished up to grade 12. But in his middle school years, he would come home and see the headlines about our local clergy abuse. It greatly affected him as it did many other kids.

The Cardinal says we must work first on Liturgy, to make it conform to the true intent of Vatican II, secondly, the need for re-catechesis for all our people, and how to deal with the influx of Islam. I think Islam draws people because it has alot of disciplines.

Pope Benedict said prior that the Church seems unable to define all the problems. When Pope Francis was elected and chose that name…what it revealed to me…is that the inability to fully define the problems was that the spirit of the world had indeed become a tsunami flooding our faith with materialism, the good life, and leaving the reality of not allowing God Himself to be our daily Provider, as well as the means that unites all people.

It is so critical we pray for our Holy Father and bishops and priests, and that the Lord guide us into new means of evangelization. I now ordered about 4 books on St. Francis, a newly published one that has the quote, ‘Veritatis Splendor’…the Splendor of Truth reflecting the author’s intent to get the objective true words of St. Francis without interpreting them into divisive politics and class struggles.
 
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