How would you stop the decline in faith?

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Proper homilies that actually teach the faith would be a huge improvement. Drawing the congregation into the beauty of the Scriptures while explaining the teachings of the Church would give people a reason to pay attention. People want to learn; Catholics especially want to learn why we believe what we believe.
 
Most priests aren’t asexual.

If you cannot understand how someone who is not asexual can make a vow of celibacy, I suggest you look up what priests and religious have to say about their vows of celibacy. I believe it can be a real eye-opener.
 
The fact that you went to a Catholic school and don’t know what catechesis means illustrates the problem we have with poor catechesis.
 
It shows that the schools management considered RS a secondary subject, I was in top set for all subjects and my RS classes were first period Monday and last period Friday for the five years of secondary school. If anything says that RS is considered an easy subject it’s putting it at those times.
 
And that is a problem. Religious studies should be not be considered a thowaway class.

Personally, I think dioceses should stop funding schools that are Catholic in name only.
 
Have the Church make more efforts aimed at evangelizing to college students. That’s a large percentage of people who leave the Church here in the US, given how liberal and atheistic college campuses are nowadays. So many college students are losing their faith due to the atheistic agenda pushed on them, and we’re not doing enough to defend ourselves against it and disprove falsehoods about the Church.
 
This is in the UK so the bulk of funding came from the state, I think about 10% came from the diocese and voluntary contributions. I think it was unique to the top set though so they could squeeze in English Literature as well as English Language into the timetable, sets two through to five had four hours a week not two.
 
Is that not referring to asexuals, impotent men and eunuchs? At least that’s how I’d interpret it at a glance.
 
If you’re looking for a quick fix bandaid, there is none.

People are free to accept or reject God. I can’t make Joe Schmoe down the street believe. I can only choose God, and His will, and make myself available for evangelization at the appropriate time.

Western Civilization is in its dotage. In other words, dying. The reason is we’ve become too well-fed and complacent and lazy. And one of the ear-marks of a dying civilization is increasing secularization.

I’m afraid the Church won’t bounce back until this dying cycle is complete, and something else arises to replace Western Civ.

There is some evidence to suggest that the African church may hold our hope, but there are too many variables to make an accurate prediction.
 
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
People are free to accept or reject God. I can’t make Joe Schmoe down the street believe. I can only choose God, and His will, and make myself available for evangelization at the appropriate time.
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This is very true. We cannot convert anyone, only the Holy Spirit can move someone to the truth. We cannot become like some Protestants, who think they can convert people by preaching rudely. We can only try to be examples and when people are ready they will come to us with questions.
 
Keep praying!!

Just a gentle reminder…which I’m sure those of you who are genuine about this will do anyway.
 
Inquisitor85 said:
Across the Western World Catholicism is falling back in terms of the percentage of population that claim to be part of the faith. What would you do to arrest the decline and ultimately to increase numbers?
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As Peter taught, we need to add these 7 elements to our faith and never stop adding/increasing them…or else.

2 Pet 1:
5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; 11 so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

That reads as a condition. Do this or else.

PLUS

Jesus already gave us a heads up. In spite of what He did for us, still, He knew, looking down the corridor of time answered the following

Lk 13:
23 And some one said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us.’ He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!’ 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. "

Note: Jesus didn’t deny the questioners point. Jesus validated few are saved. Meaning, few actually live the faith, and certainly don’t do what Peter taught. Therefore most fail / fall.
 
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AlNg said:
How do you know that it would not help? Further, with a married man, his wife is there to assist in many of the different things that come up from time to time.
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That may not be possible. The wife of the priest may have her own career.

And that of course can cause other problems. Will the bishops show flexibility in allowing transfers to help with the wife’s career? Of course military wives do follow their husbands, but by the time the man reaches 50 years old he’s ready to retire. In the priesthood, its a lifetime commitment.

What if the wife’s behavior is contrary to religious principles?

In some religious organizations, like the Salvation Army, they ordain the wives too, put them on the payroll. Would the Catholic Church do that? They couldn’t ordain them, but they could make them employees.
 
Inquisitor85 said:
Across the Western World Catholicism is falling back in terms of the percentage of population that claim to be part of the faith. What would you do to arrest the decline and ultimately to increase numbers?
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Pray and wait. Interest in religion and piety among the faithful has risen and fallen over the centuries- and varies from country to country and region to region.

There isn’t a magic bullet for this. Usually takes inspirational leadership to step forward.
 
Diamond93 said:
That’s a large percentage of people who leave the Church here in the US, given how liberal and atheistic college campuses are nowadays.
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Based on my experience, I’m not sure an “atheist agenda” is to blame. A lot of people in college are living on their own for the first time, and religion becomes something they have to actively pursue rather than passively let their parents drag them along for. Unfortunately, religion also is one of those easy things to dump to make time for school work, any part time jobs or internships, and/or student organizations. If a college ministry is not among those student organizations, it can be very easy to completely be cut off from the Church and, as a result, lose faith. In contrast, I had friends who were in some of the most stereotypically liberal majors (e.g. philosophy, women’s studies, etc.) and make it out just fine by staying connected to religious groups throughout college.

So while I do agree with the need for college outreach, I don’t think we should paint college as just some liberal bastion for New Atheists to shove anti-religion down good Catholics’ throats. Being there, making sure people know that you’re there, and making sure people know the importance of what you offer are more important. Apologetics won’t work at all until you do those three.
 
Come right out and support various near death experiencers such as Colton Burpo and former Atheist Howard Storm. Matthew chapter 4 has many similarities to a near death experience or out of the body experience. These accounts are in language that greatly appeal to people in our time period because they are so much easier to understand.
 
I agree there is no quick fix or simple solution but I would try to improve catechism by being more thorough and not assuming that kids are being taught the faith by the parents. The whole “parents are the primary educators and if they aren’t doing their job it’s not my problem” attitude really hasn’t helped.
 
Inquisitor85 said:
Across the Western World Catholicism is falling back in terms of the percentage of population that claim to be part of the faith. What would you do to arrest the decline and ultimately to increase numbers
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  1. Pray very much especially the ROSARY
  2. Actually and FULLY teach the Catholic Faith: What we believe and Why and HOW we are able to believe it
 
I would suggest celibacy be presented in a positive light, as a way of becoming more spiritual and closer to the Lord…instead of a deprivation that very few could possibly handle. (as in 'What…no sex?? omg!!)
Encourage less alcohol consumption, more physical fitness efforts.
 
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