Is Your Neighborhood/Area "Catholic"

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Continuing the discussion from I like this forum because it is what I learned in 4th grade:

Another poster drove me to look up really interesting data regarding the percentage of Catholics in America with claims that it’s ‘easy’ to find a place to live a majority Catholic area and that ‘good’ Catholics have churches in their towns.

I found this posturing a bit crazy, given that in my state (and my parents) churches are closing, faithful are driving 30+ minutes and I haven’t had a Catholic neighbor since heaven knows when.

And suddenly, it makes sense as she’s part of the Hispanic minority in which 55-60% of people are Catholic, whereas I’m in a state where the Catholic population is atrophying by the second–about 17% as of last year…

…So for me, being Catholic means a heck of a lot of time in my car for me and my children. It means 30+ minutes for Mass or 45 minutes to a Catholic Mom’s group with young children…it means that my kids will have “friends” that are local and “catholic friends” they go see.

What does Catholic life look like where you are/in your culture? Please, do not name your state as that’s against Forum Rules. (or way too close to my comfort) You may name your general area (ie Pacific Northwest, Westcoast, Eastern Seaboard) or country if you live outside the US.

 

[Usige]

I live in the Rocky Mountain region and I’d my state is between 15-18% Catholic, but my actual county is around 7.5% Catholic. We have several Catholic friends within say a 10 - 15 minute drive, but in our immediate neighborhood I only know of maybe 6 or 7 other Catholic families. Of those, I know at least 2 are non-practicing and another that goes to mass occasionally (i.e. maybe 4 to 6 times a year). I suspect there are more Catholics around, but those are the ones I specifically know are Catholic. Then again, maybe not since my county is reportedly something like 60 - 65% “Nones”.

In my area Hispanics tend to be Catholic also, but generally only for the first one or two generations of immigrants. Most of the 3rd and 4th generation immigrants that I know in my area are just as religiously diverse as any other subgroup. This might be the impact of 2/3 of people in the area not being religious. Even though we have a growing Hispanic population, the parish membership does not show the same growth curve. Given we have the only Spanish Mass in 30+ miles but have not seen large changes in attendance says that all the Hispanics are either comfortable in English or are simply not attending Mass.

The fact that we have to drive to meet up with Catholic friends isn’t a big deal to us because we have to drive 10-15 minutes to do just about anything. Driving 10 minutes to Mass every morning is actually about one of my shortest drives each day. Other than that I don’t really know what you mean about what Catholicism looks like in my area.

 

[De_Maria]

Continuing the discussion from I like this forum because it is what I learned in 4th grade:

Another poster drove me to look up really interesting data regarding the percentage of Catholics in America with claims that it’s ‘easy’ to find a place to live a majority Catholic area and that ‘good’ Catholics have churches in their towns…

You’d do better if you quote me. I don’t recall using the phrase, “majority Catholic area”. I said that I hadn’t been in any big city of the United States where I couldn’t get to a Catholic Church within 15 minutes. Nor any rural area where I couldn’t get to a Catholic Church within 30 minutes.

In addition, I said that I chose my home because of its proximity to a Catholic Church and Catholic neighbors.

So, there you go.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

But you DID say that ‘good Catholics’ don’t choose to live in towns without churches and that you DID say that it is one’s “personal responsibility” to find a neighborhood that is Catholic.

Obviously, not as easy as you insinuate.

 

[De_Maria]

Would you say that you were a devout Catholic when you purchased your home?

Did you make proximity to a Catholic Church one of your criteria for purchasing your home?

Do you think that if you asked a realtor to find you a home near a Catholic Church, that the realtor would laugh you to scorn?

 

[petra22]

I drive 20 minutes to church. There aren’t many Catholics around here… in my little town we have Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and some other Christian Churches. My nearest Catholic neighbor is 10-15 minutes away. Also, none of my family lives close…

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I think this is closer to reality for many of us. That doesn’t sound too far off of where I live. While the state figures say 17% the CARA study had that more like you propose at around 5%.

 

[De_Maria]

But you DID say that ‘good Catholics’ don’t choose to live in towns without churches

I asked, “why would a good Catholic choose to live in an area without a Catholic Church?”

I’d still like an answer to that question.

and that you DID say that it is one’s “personal responsibility” to find a neighborhood that is Catholic.

Absolutely! I believe it is every Catholics responsibility to make sure he finds a home near a Catholic Church. That usually solves the problem of having Catholic neighbors. But I had the additional task of finding other homeschoolers. So I found a home next door to a Catholic homeschooling family and near other Catholic homeschoolers.

Obviously, not as easy as you insinuate.

I haven’t seen anything to change my mind. Besides, you’ve only got a few answers. Let’s see if anyone else answers.

Lol! Just thought of something. Did you pray when you were looking for a house? Did you pray that you could find a house near a Catholic Church and near to other faithful Catholics?

We did.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I asked, “why would a good Catholic choose to live in an area without a Catholic Church?”

Because it’s NOT AS EASY as you seem to think it is, especially in a tight housing market. And with the % of Catholics, it wouldn’t really matter if I lived next door.

The priest doesn’t even live at the church.

I haven’t seen anything to change my mind. Besides, you’ve only got a few answers. Let’s see if anyone else answers.

No, because you’re dead set on your fantasy of magical, affordable and appropriatly sized houses near churches and Catholic neighborhoods (in areas without neighborhoods to begin with).

 

[LittleWay16]

There could be lots of reasons. Job availability, proximity to family, cost of living, to name a few.

Let’s say someone has aging family that they need to be in very close proximity to in order to help take care of them. I know some elderly who will not even entertain the idea of moving from their home to live with their children or in a nursing home. If they have family in the same town to help with errands and be available for emergencies, they may be able to live comfortably in their homes for a long time.

Other people may find themselves unable to live in a city due to the higher cost of living. They may have to live in a small town to live within their means. I have seen A LOT of faithful Catholics who live in small towns be faced with their home parishes closing in their tiny towns because there is a priest shortage and they need to decrease the number of parishes in the diocese.

My overall point is, do not judge another person’s faithfulness by their proximity to a church. How judgmental and un-Christian for us to do so to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be supportive, not divisive.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I asked, “why would a good Catholic choose to live in an area without a Catholic Church?”

I’d still like an answer to that question.

Because “Good Catholics” exist in states where the Catholic population is less than 17% with CINO’s and 5% faithful.

Absolutely! I believe it is every Catholics responsibility to make sure he finds a home near a Catholic Church. That usually solves the problem of having Catholic neighbors. But I had the additional task of finding other homeschoolers. So I found a home next door to a Catholic homeschooling family and near other Catholic homeschoolers.

Guess what? I’m a Catholic homeschooler mom. We have to travel to see our homeschool Catholic friends. That’s our reality. Again, we’re in a rural area. We have to drive for EVERYTHING. We see other faithful familes who also live no where near other Catholics. Somehow, us terrible Catholics manage to have a rich faith life–despite us living in areas where there are few Catholics and fewer parishes.

Oh and proximity to a church? These days it doesn’t matter as the priests don’t even live near the church–their recory is about 30 minutes away, too.

Lol! Just thought of something. Did you pray when you were looking for a house? Did you pray that you could find a house near a Catholic Church and near to other faithful Catholics?

We did.

Given that we don’t live in a Catholic area, and we do live in an area with few Catholics, we prayed for the house God intended for us. We did not impose a list of wishes on God. And we have been wonderfully blessed.

As a note—I’ve been south–Georgia, Arizona, even Virgina that having a Catholic community was probably possible, and NYC. Their PEW and CARA have them at around 36-50% Catholic. However, those are not feasible places for my family to live.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I drive 20 minutes to church. There aren’t many Catholics around here… in my little town we have Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and some other Christian Churches. My nearest Catholic neighbor is 10-15 minutes away. Also, none of my family lives close…

Sounds very close to my reality! Glad to hear I’m not the only one who’s not being a “good” Catholic!

 

[Melodeonist]

I guess I live in a mostly Protestant area, but I think there are a good amount of Catholics too. The thing is, most of the Catholics are either middle aged or elderly. Not too many young Catholics in these parts. Or maybe they just don’t go to the early morning Mass.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Lynchburg runs 4% Catholic, two churches, one regional school. Mostly Christian though.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

Southern Ca. There are 2 Catholic churches relatively near. One 10 or 15 minutes away (depending on lights), the other 10 to 20 minutes away, in a different direction. I go to the one slightly further away just due to the people.

There are two other families I am aware of who attend the same church in my local neighborhood.

I had one next door neighbor purported to be Catholic, but, well, actions speak louder than words…

Blessings,
Stephie

 

[De_Maria]

My overall point is, do not judge another person’s faithfulness by their proximity to a church.

I understand. But the context of this conversation begins in the previous discussion. In that discussion, he begins by blaming the Church for his lack of knowledge of the Catholic Faith.

My point, its his responsibility to educate himself. What has stopped him from picking up a book and learning the faith, himself. Anyway, if you’re interested, read that discussion.

I happened to mention that I was raised in a Catholic neighborhood. And he claimed that it was too difficult to find a Catholic neighborhood. He mentioned that he lived in a town without a Catholic Church. Which surprised me. My question and I have yet to receive an answer, is why would a Catholic choose to live in a town without a Catholic Church.

My wife and I made that our biggest criteria. The proximity of a Catholic Church.

How judgmental and un-Christian for us to do so to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be supportive, not divisive.

I’ve got to tell you, anytime someone blames the Church for their lack of catechesis, it draws my ire. In my opinion, the Catholic Church has never put up any obstacles to anyone who wants to learn the faith.

Anyway, do you think it is foolish for a faithful Catholic to make proximity to a Catholic Church his top priority when buying a house? Yes or no.

 

[De_Maria]

Given that we don’t live in a Catholic area, and we do live in an area with few Catholics, we prayed for the house God intended for us. We did not impose a list of wishes on God. And we have been wonderfully blessed.

Its good that you prayed. Too bad you didn’t pray for a house near a Catholic Church.

Anyway, I’m still interested in what the rest of the community says.

 

[Usige]

Would you say that you were a devout Catholic when you purchased your home?

Hmmm… 3 to 4 hours in adoration each week (generally between 1 and 3 am twice a week), we were expecting our second child after I converted and had a vasectomy reversal, and I was contemplating a call to the diaconate… so do you think I meet your criteria as devout?

Did you make proximity to a Catholic Church one of your criteria for purchasing your home?

Describe proximity… Most parishes in my area are 20 - 30 miles apart. Even when I lived on the outskirts of the largest city in the region most parishes were about a 15 - 20 minute drive apart. I live in the same region where I was born and raised so it’s not like I picked up and said “let’s move somewhere there are no Catholics”. When we were looking at buying the house we said which parish is it in and which churches are nearby, but no we did not set a minimum distance criteria. We also didn’t set a minimum Catholic density criteria for the neighborhood. We talked with other Catholic homeschooling families in the area, but remembering that “the area” is probably 400+ square miles.

Do you think that if you asked a realtor to find you a home near a Catholic Church, that the realtor would laugh you to scorn?

Given that she said she’d beat me black and blue if we moved our Marian statue or removed any of the crucifixes I’d doubt it. But she would tell us that we would be severely limiting our choices if we insisted on being in walking distance to the parish or having a minimum number of Catholics in the neighborhood.

Given that I serve at mass everyday and my Bishop just instituted me as a lector, it doesn’t seem to have been an issue that I don’t live on the parish doorsteps or that I can only point to a half dozen Catholics from my back deck.

 

[De_Maria]

Given that she said she’d beat me black and blue if we moved our Marian statue or removed any of the crucifixes I’d doubt it. But she would tell us that we would be severely limiting our choices if we insisted on being in walking distance to the parish or having a minimum number of Catholics in the neighborhood.

Thanks. That’s the answer I was looking for.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

FWIW, I stated my personal experiance of not being taught about the rosary, church tradition, saints, transubstantiation, etc because of poor catechetics. Also, that despite a spot for it on my baptismal certificate I was not given a patron saint. All my fault

But it was all my fault despite the fact that I found information through Lifeteen and went from there. Somehow my ignorance was my fault and not the fault of the parish that gave me a coloring book until 3rd grade.

And despite my work in today’s church to help reverse their terrible Catechetics, despite my personally taking on the responsibility of a friend’s child and homeschooling her (with Seton)…I’m still just a woeful person who blames others for my issues.

I’m not going to win with her…but hopefully others will provide some enlightenment as to the reality of Catholic life today.