I believe in the Eucharist

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ATexasCatholic

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A friend of mine told me that 70% of Catholics do not believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. I find it hard to believe that number of Catholics do not believe in the Eucharist. I personally would see no point in going to mass or to adoration if I did not believe in the Eucharist I feel that I could fly to the moon every time I receive it. Tell me what you think about the 70% and the Eucharist.
 
And I’d venture to say that many of that 70% pick and choose whatever else they believe regarding the Catholic Church (pro-abortion, use contraceptives, temporary marriage). Sometimes I think there’d be no priest shortage if those who don’t completely accept the Church’s teaching would just stop taking up pew space. If you don’t believe the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, then you can’t possibly call yourself Catholic.

Don’t say I’m uncharitable with the above statements. It’s just that I can’t figure out how people can follow their own “doctrine” and call themselves Catholics, setting a bad example for children and giving the non-Catholics more ammunition.

JELane
 
JElane:
And I’d venture to say that many of that 70% pick and choose whatever else they believe regarding the Catholic Church (pro-abortion, use contraceptives, temporary marriage). Sometimes I think there’d be no priest shortage if those who don’t completely accept the Church’s teaching would just stop taking up pew space. If you don’t believe the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, then you can’t possibly call yourself Catholic.

Don’t say I’m uncharitable with the above statements. It’s just that I can’t figure out how people can follow their own “doctrine” and call themselves Catholics, setting a bad example for children and giving the non-Catholics more ammunition.

JELane
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How could I call you uncharitable, you hit the nail on the head or a home run
 
I’ve also heard the 70% figure. I fear it may be true, but I imagine it comes not simply from Catholics who conciously reject Church teaching (there are certainly “cafeteria Catholics”), but from those who have never heard it. Really, when was the last time you heard a clear, passionate homily on Transubstantiation. If you have heard one recently, God forgive the envy I have for you;).
 
If you don’t believe in the Eucharist, you might as well belong to one of the other 33,000 or so denominations in this country. I think some of these polls are slanted to put the church in a poor light to the public. Don’t believe everything you read, especially in the secular press. God bless.
 
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Newvert:
Really, when was the last time you heard a clear, passionate homily on Transubstantiation. If you have heard one recently, God forgive the envy I have for you;).
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Listen to the Mass on EWTN (shortwave or TV) on any day that has readings concerning the Eucharist, such as the Feast of Christ the King, Holy Thursday, and so on. Solid homilies on the true presence. Many aspects of it well covered.

Thank you God for EWTN. :clapping:
 
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davy39:
… I think some of these polls are slanted to put the church in a poor light to the public. Don’t believe everything you read, especially in the secular press. God bless.
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Can anyone point to the actual source of the 70% figure or a similar one? Is it for U.S. or worldwide? When was it done, by whom, and where were the results published?

I live in a fantastic diocese, so I am naive when it comes to some of these things, but sometimes I wonder if that 70% is just an “urban legend” or if there is something wrong with the poll or something.

If it is a true figure for the U.S., then the need for evangelization is much greater and even more urgent than I thought.
 
Is there a way to edit your poll questions to add a question?

I think it would be good to have asked…“if you voted no, are you Catholic”? There are non-Catholics here and most of them would vote no.

SV
 
The figure comes from a 1992 Gallup Poll
1992 the Gallup organization released a poll called A Gallup Survey of Catholics regarding Holy Communion. The poll results were as follows:
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  • 30% of Catholics believe that they are really and truly receiving the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of Bread and Wine (this has always been the Church’s teaching regarding the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist).
  • 29% of Catholics believe that when receiving Holy Communion, they are receiving bread and wine, which symbolize the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ, and in so doing are expressing their attachment to His Person and words.
  • 24% of Catholics believe that when receiving Holy Communion, they are receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, which has become that because of their personal belief.
  • 10% of Catholics believe that when receiving Holy Communion, they are receiving bread and wine, in which Jesus Christ is really and truly present, but in a spiritual way.
  • 8% of Catholics hold some other non-Catholic belief.
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This poll found that an alarming 71% of American Catholics held incorrect beliefs about the Eucharist. Especially alarming where the 29% who believed that the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist only “symbolized” the Body and Blood of Christ.
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tee_eff_em:
The figure comes from a 1992 Gallup Poll
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I’d like to think that the situation has improved since 1992, But I doubt it. 😦

It’s probably worse today but I believe there is hope for the future.

Boards like this are one example why. 👍
 
St Veronica:
Is there a way to edit your poll questions to add a question?

I think it would be good to have asked…“if you voted no, are you Catholic”? There are non-Catholics here and most of them would vote no.
SV
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Good point I wish I could change it now
 
T.A.Stobie:
Listen to the Mass on EWTN (shortwave or TV) on any day that has readings concerning the Eucharist, such as the Feast of Christ the King, Holy Thursday, and so on. Solid homilies on the true presence. Many aspects of it well covered.

Thank you God for EWTN. :clapping:
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True, but how many Catholics who don’t believe bother to watch (or listen to) Mass on EWTN?

Meanwhile, I agree whole heartedly with your sentiments concerning EWTN. 👍

John
 
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tee_eff_em:
The figure comes from a 1992 Gallup Poll
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the way I am reading the poll only we here are in the 10% what the church teaches
 
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ATexasCatholic:
the way I am reading the poll only we here are in the 10% what the church teaches
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You know I just can’t accept that (70 percent don’t believe) …there’s a whole board full of Catholics over on Ray’s forum (a few of them/us are here too)…and it’s rare to find one who would vote no to this type of poll.

SV
 
JElane:
And I’d venture to say that many of that 70% pick and choose whatever else they believe regarding the Catholic Church (pro-abortion, use contraceptives, temporary marriage). Sometimes I think there’d be no priest shortage if those who don’t completely accept the Church’s teaching would just stop taking up pew space. If you don’t believe the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, then you can’t possibly call yourself Catholic.

Don’t say I’m uncharitable with the above statements. It’s just that I can’t figure out how people can follow their own “doctrine” and call themselves Catholics, setting a bad example for children and giving the non-Catholics more ammunition.

JELane
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You’ve really nailed this one, JElaine !
I’ve a neighbor who claims she’s Catholic, but then has decided to be pro-choice on the abortion issue. When I showed her what the Church’s teachings are, she got rather upset with me. I hope to eventually get her to consider my side of the argument.

I also have to say that perhaps the reason so many people are not Catholic, is that they feel it’s too hard a religon to follow. As my neighbor stated" I’m sick of the Church telling me what I can and cannot do ".
This goes along with your statment of people making or choosing their own doctrine. . .

God Bless
 
I think the majority of average Catholics do not believe that Christ is the Eucharist, mostly because they haven’t been taught. I base my opinion on what I see (& hear!) at church, especially during Mass.
 
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Bonnie:
I think the majority of average Catholics do not believe that Christ is the Eucharist, mostly because they haven’t been taught. I base my opinion on what I see (& hear!) at church, especially during Mass.
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I think you have a point. I would add to that by saying that they might think they “believe” when in fact they don’t, but they don’t know it since they “haven’t been taught”.

I would venture that a large percentage of American Catholics would say that they believe that Christ is “present” in the Eucharist, but they wouldn’t mean it in the same way that the Church means in the Catechism. For many (poorly catechised?) Catholics that “presence” to them is probably similar to the “when two or more are gathered in My name, there am I” concept. They would say they believe Christ is present, but their belief is not the same as belief in the Real Presence as set out in the teachings of the Church.

That might explain why the percentage of disbelief could be so high, yet most Catholics that most of us know would profess to believe that Christ is “present” in the Eucharist.

Sorry for the rambling answer. I don’t know if I expressed that thought clearly, but I wanted to catch Bonnie’s wave…

Blessings.
 
St Veronica:
You know I just can’t accept that (70 percent don’t believe) …there’s a whole board full of Catholics over on Ray’s forum (a few of them/us are here too)…and it’s rare to find one who would vote no to this type of poll.

SV
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Catholicism has a large following. While at face value 30% seems like a small number, it depends on what it is 30% of. I think its safe to say that the number you would get to figure out what 30% of American Catholics is it would be enough to fill up an internet chat room, and then some.

Not trying to be mean just adding to the conversation.
 
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