Major new survey finds decline in US Catholic population, as adults leave Church [CWN]

[Mark121359]

A couple of years ago, in primary age students during catechism class, the miracle of the loaves was being discussed. While I and my aide were trying to explore the meaning of “miracle” with the children and get them to imagine the wonder, power and awesomeness of God, a visiting priest walked into the room and said this very thing. The real miracle was the fact that “everyone shared what they had with others.” I felt as though a balloon had been pricked and suddenly deflated. We felt the lesson of that day was all for naught.

If children are being taught by the likes of people such as yourself…then there’s still much hope. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from reading you’re many fine posts here on CAF, it’s that you are absolutely steadfast in stating the truths of our Catholic Faith! Those children are in very good hands!

Peace, Mark

 

[gam197]

For the last 50 years, they have been saying that the church is declining. If that was the case, it would be empty by now can closed.

Take this survey with a grain of salt…

 

[ProVobis]

For the last 50 years, they have been saying that the church is declining.

That doesn’t mean nominal Catholics are on the decline.

 

[Sy_Noe]

Mark - So appreciate this article as it affirms a certain view which was the topic of discussion on another thread. Here is an amazingly accurate point:

Someone coined it “busy-ness” and another pointed out the disproportionate “social justice” activities which pass as being paramount to spiritual concerns.

A couple of years ago, in primary age students during catechism class, the miracle of the loaves was being discussed. While I and my aide were trying to explore the meaning of “miracle” with the children and get them to imagine the wonder, power and awesomeness of God, a visiting priest walked into the room and said this very thing. The real miracle was the fact that “everyone shared what they had with others.” I felt as though a balloon had been pricked and suddenly deflated. We felt the lesson of that day was all for naught.

Social justice was actually paramount, a major theme of Christ’s as related to spiritual concerns. It sounds like the priest was merely stating the obvious. In a time when the discrepancy between the haves and have nots and income disparity grows, and with the deadly sin of greed still in our midsts, it is somewhat a miracle. Scripture is chuck full of Christ’s words about social justice and what it means for obtaining favor and eternal life with God. There’s even one passage where the Lord says that for his followers to be perfect to sell what they have and give it to the poor.

 

[Sy_Noe]

That doesn’t mean nominal Catholics are on the decline.

Exactly

 

[Sy_Noe]

As part of the younger generation, the numbers do not surprise me at all. In fact, it saddens me to say that my husband and I, who have both been raised in the Church, have recently made the decision to leave the Church and pull our two young children from the Catholic School they attend. They will be attending an Episcopal elementary school in the fall. It truly saddens us to leave the Church, but we can’t in good conscience stay any longer.

I’m no longer of the younger generation but way back in the day when I was, I too realized in good conscience I could not remain a practicing Catholic. And even to this day, long past my youth, nothing yet has brought me back to the fullness of the faith. I’ve read and listened to the reasoning and informed my conscience about why the Church believes what it does about certain things. But as hard as I try I simply can’t force my conscience into being something it is not and accepting everything the Church teaches. So the numbers don’t surprise me either. Peace.

 

[Book_Worm]

I’m actually surprised that the numbers aren’t higher.

I know that the plural of anecdote is not data, but my experience would lead me to that belief. I saved the weekly bulletin from my DD’s Baptism. Mass attendance was about 2500. Ten years later, when we pulled it out for a school project, it had dropped to 1800. When I attend Mass there now, I see it’s under 1,000. When we joined our current parish, probably about 15 years ago, Mass was SRO; today the church is less than half full. Some weeks, the Mass we attend has fewer than 100 people. I began teaching CCD five years ago; there were four first-grade classes, each with about ten children. This year there were two classes, each with twelve students.

Both these parishes are traditional; there is very little in the way of social justice preached, although we do have a relationship with a parish in a very poor Caribbean country. Populations are stable in both towns; there is not a lot of new building, but movement in and out is brisk. One is fairly wealthy; the median family income is $181,000; the other is more middle class, with a median income of about $122,000.

My friends report these same trends in the neighboring towns.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I’m actually surprised that the numbers aren’t higher.

I know that the plural of anecdote is not data, but my experience would lead me to that belief. I saved the weekly bulletin from my DD’s Baptism. Mass attendance was about 2500. Ten years later, when we pulled it out for a school project, it had dropped to 1800. When I attend Mass there now, I see it’s under 1,000. When we joined our current parish, probably about 15 years ago, Mass was SRO; today the church is less than half full. Some weeks, the Mass we attend has fewer than 100 people. I began teaching CCD five years ago; there were four first-grade classes, each with about ten children. This year there were two classes, each with twelve students.

Both these parishes are traditional; there is very little in the way of social justice preached, although we do have a relationship with a parish in a very poor Caribbean country. Populations are stable in both towns; there is not a lot of new building, but movement in and out is brisk. One is fairly wealthy; the median family income is $181,000; the other is more middle class, with a median income of about $122,000.

My friends report these same trends in the neighboring towns.

Even if it were preached, I will never understand why Catholics would run away from a parish where social justice is preached.

 

[Book_Worm]

Even if it were preached, I will never understand why Catholics would run away from a parish where social justice is preached.

Nor would I, but a PP said that traditional parishes that do not preach the social justice are not experiencing a decline in attendance and membership.

 

[Tigg]

Social justice was actually paramount, a major theme of Christ’s as related to spiritual concerns. It sounds like the priest was merely stating the obvious. In a time when the discrepancy between the haves and have nots and income disparity grows, and with the deadly sin of greed still in our midsts, it is somewhat a miracle. Scripture is chuck full of Christ’s words about social justice and what it means for obtaining favor and eternal life with God. There’s even one passage where the Lord says that for his followers to be perfect to sell what they have and give it to the poor.

No one is saying we should not help the poor or practice the corporal works of mercy. The big fat elephant in the room is that the spiritual works of mercy seem to have been misplaced - maybe forgotten…you know, like admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful…

 

[josie_L]

No one is saying we should not help the poor or practice the corporal works of mercy. The big fat elephant in the room is that the spiritual works of mercy seem to have been misplaced - maybe forgotten…you know, like admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful…

Absolutely agree!