T
trolololo
Guest
Interested in others opinions as to why there are so little men in attendance of religious events, obviously this may differ from country to country, I am just curious.
- Status
M
Michael_Mayo
Guest
Could it be because it is such a passive role for the guy in the pew?
I like t better whenI am Lector or Minister of the Eucharist or even bringing up gifts or ushering.
I like t better whenI am Lector or Minister of the Eucharist or even bringing up gifts or ushering.
W
WoundedIcon
Guest
Churchiness, basically. We don’t like being in a sentimental atmosphere where there’s the impression given that what’s expected of us is to be soft and squeaky clean. We don’t like nonsensical legalism and taboos, and easy preaching. We (well, I) want solemnity and deep, rich, challenging teaching. Something worth getting yourself killed for! 
J
Jessie5000
Guest
Men are creatures of action. We have no real role in the church as these are reserved for the clergy. The laity are allowed silly roles like folding alter clothes and the like, When men are inspired and empowered to act, they do.
Our church needs to find new ways of engaging all laity, both men and women with meaningful tasks and roles that utilize their gifts.
Our church needs to find new ways of engaging all laity, both men and women with meaningful tasks and roles that utilize their gifts.
O
Ontheway
Guest
Yeah!Churchiness, basically. We don’t like being in a sentimental atmosphere where there’s the impression given that what’s expected of us is to be soft and squeaky clean. We don’t like nonsensical legalism and taboos, and easy preaching. We (well, I) want solemnity and deep, rich, challenging teaching. Something worth getting yourself killed for!
O
Ontheway
Guest
Exactly!
P
PennyinCanada
Guest
I don’t see what role a man plays when he goes to a football game and takes his seat in the stands. Yet, they are crazy about the game, will pay big bucks for a seat, round up his buddies, drive a good distance in congested traffic. No one has to do any of these things to sit in a pew, yet if a man does, he spends time looking at his watch.
I think young Catholic women are marrying men who don’t believe in God. The wife comes to church alone. Boys that reach 14 have been evangelized by the world and many Catholic families find their sons announcing they don’t believe in all that stupid God stuff. We don’t know what it is to be quiet and pray, we don’t know what piety is. We don’t understand that a righteous man on his knees can change the world. The most powerful thing is for a man, in the state of grace, to offer God the Father the infinite merits of Christ for his family, his church, and the whole world. If only men and women both could plug into that, we would be living in a very different world.
There’s a dislike for the Catholic teaching of chastity. The pill has made sex a recreational pastime without any commitments. Pornography is very available and even the shopping malls put out scantily clad women that young boys see from their early years. These things are incompatible with Catholic teaching.
The short answer is that the world evangelizes better than Christians do.
F
FaithChem
Guest
I can’t think of a greater action than spreading the faith. Afterall, isn’t that what each man is called to do in his own home?
The problem is our church rarely if ever celebrates a man that is a common guy. We wax great poetry about women as a means (I think) to “apologize” for our male-only priesthood. When I was at church for the Easter Vigil all the awards given out went to women despite some men being involved in the day to day church stuff. Really, not one man earned a award?
B
Bonnie
Guest
There are some women who want that too!We (well, I) want solemnity and deep, rich, challenging teaching. Something worth getting yourself killed for!
J
jmcrae
Guest
Our parish has a very strong Knights of Columbus, and our men are very active in the parish. We also see a lot of boys actively involved.
There must be something about parading around with swords while dressed in feathers and finery that appeals to men.
Any man over the age of 16 can be a Knight.
W
WoundedIcon
Guest
Of course! We all should!There are some women who want that too!
F
FaithChem
Guest
Thank you! This is basically what I posted above about JPII’s “Feminine Genius.” The bottom line is if you are a man no one demonstrates any care about or has any value for you. You are pretty much a piece of dirt (no pun intended) and have to earn your way. Women on the other hand are given value simply because they are women. Someone needs to remind the hierarchy that Earth has already seen its one and ONLY immaculate conception. Women’s gift to nurture new life would be unfulfilled without the male half. The “Catholic treatment” of men is not really Catholic at all when you get down to it.
O
Ontheway
Guest
JPII’s comments should be read within the context of the struggle taking place in Poland and Eastern Europe at the time. The prevailing atheist-materialist ideology was hard at work to destroy the church and the traditional family. This has now been transplanted to the west and now we are facing the same problem. In promoting women, JPII was trying to persuade young women to retain traditional values, say no to abortion which was rampant at that time, and opt for traditional family values.
F
FaithChem
Guest
And how exactly did ascribing every good aspect of humanity to femininity help that? How exactly did subjugating men’s fatherhood to women’s motherhood save the “traditional family?” Can’t women be atheists and materialists too? Why weren’t they scolded as such? Maybe the reason these belief systems persist and we are having trouble countering them is because we are turning a political battle into a gender battle. Men and women are equally capable of evil without the others help.
One can speak against the evil of abortion without vilifying and outright ignoring men. If anything he should have focused on the joy of fatherhood so dad would step up with strength and hold the family together. Relegating men to a small blurb and waxing great poetry about how everything that is good is feminine certainly didn’t help matters. Maybe it even made them worse. One can hope we will learn from history though…
M
migueltojose
Guest
Loss of family connectedness due to the nuclear family and our mobility. In other words families used to live near each other and attend Mass together. Peer pressure to an extent. Conformity isn’t all bad. There need to be upper and lower limits of “normal” behavior.
Sports especially Sunday football has been elevated to near religion. In other words, displacement.
Education. Catholic teaching is not required. Catholic school enrollment, per capita, has declined precipitously. Catholic schools aren’t as Catholic as they used to be. Catholic Universities seem to do as much harm as good, spiritually.
Apparent lack of concern for being good examples for children, family and friends. In other words lack of understanding as to how hurtful and damaging it is.
M
Michael_Mayo
Guest
That is the one thing I dislike about it and will never do.There must be something about parading around with swords while dressed in feathers and finery that appeals to men.
.
M
Michael_Mayo
Guest
I am so glad Christ incarnated in such a fallen creature in need of redemption.
O
Ontheway
Guest
But, what should be the role of men in the church, parish community, etc.
We organize church festivals, serve hotdogs and move chairs.
What would you like to do in church? How do you see your role?
Please make some suggestions.
We organize church festivals, serve hotdogs and move chairs.
What would you like to do in church? How do you see your role?
Please make some suggestions.
A
asia53
Guest
I think, this is the main problem. When did it become about our wants? Why does it have to be about what you prefer? The church has a need for volunteers, shouldn’t we attempt to fill the need?
- Status