Catholicism drops 13% in Latin America

[FollowChrist34]

I, for one, would love more of that intuitive Protestant knack for kindness, personal support and good fellowship in the North American Church!

 

[CatholicWhovian]

St. John Paul said years ago to North Americans, “You are all [South and North Americans] one America.” Our North American culture could use the joy & warmth so characteristic of much of the Latin American Catholics; the Latino Catholics need the catechetical and apologetic passions that come from the years of exposure to Protestant culture in North America and anglo-culture in general.

I didn’t know that Pope John Paul II said that.

Because we Filipinos have both cultural elements, since our culture is a mixture of Hispanic, American, as well as indigenous elements. This is of course a result of the Spanish and American colonial regimes. Although to be honest we Filipino Catholic badly need the latter because we are well-known for the former.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Some of this is certainly due to the Evangelicals prowling for converts.

They are especially active in the developing world and solid Catholic populations.

Yeah, funny how they aren’t as brave with Islam.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I think we need to be careful here.

It’s not clear to me from reading a translation of that article what the percentage means.

I would guess it’s relative to the overall population. There may in fact be stable or even increasing actual numbers of Catholics in Latin America, and considering lower TFR rates, that would be something.

Also note the trend goes back almost 20 years. In a lot of places, conversions are leveling off.

I won’t say we don’t have a problem here, but it’s important not to get too hysterical.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I, for one, would love more of that intuitive Protestant knack for kindness, personal support and good fellowship in the North American Church!

I hear that a lot, but I think not having enough priests (because Catholicism is so dominant there) is an even bigger factor.

The thing about Protestants is that most anyone can be a minister, too.

 

[Lost_Soul1]

Calm down everyone, I don’t think that this is as bad as people are making out.

If I remember correctly they said this is a poll. And polls are notoriously inaccurate a lot of the times.

Nothing is as bad as it seems