New Data on Trends within the Catholic Church in the U.S.

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reggieM

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Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) has published a new report on Frequently Requested Catholic Church Statistics

Here’s one of the many fascinating questions they researched:



Hello dear Bishops and Pastors – do you think we have a problem when 39% of Mass-going Catholics do not go to Confession as much as once a year? What do you think – a possible topic for a sermon somewhere there? 🙂
 
The issue is a lack of proper catechesis and poor sermons from the pulpit. Rarely do priests give a good, convincing and moving sermons on apologetics and they also have trouble telling people how to practically follow the concepts of the faith. This is very much doable but in the seminaries these sorts of things are not properly communicated to new priests. When you have priests that are not schooled properly in how to give proper sermons and to run a vibrant parish with teaching offices it is no wonder that we have a problem. If the priests cannot do this than it is the job of the pastor to find someone in the parish or diocese that can.
 
We also play a part. We are all called to be holy and joyful. Do so would draw others to us and allow us to share our faith with the people we meet. We all need to recall we too are part of the body of Christ here on the earth.
 
It could also help if we let people know that we went to confession recently – that gets them thinking.

Our pastors need to give stronger teaching. Plus they should probably give confession times more publicity and maybe offer some evening hours for confession during the week.
 
I go to confession at least once per month. I know many of my peers, who openly admit they have not been for years, if ever. Reasons can vary of course, but that wasn’t my point.

Even going once a month at times is difficult. In my area, most parishes offer confession once per week. Usually, such as my own, on a Saturday afternoon, before the 4:30pm mass. I’m not saying it is an excuse at all, but this is an incredibly difficult time, especially during the summer months, to make it, as we are usually off at a park, day trip, whatever. It would be so nice if evening confessions during the week were offered.

With that said, I have found a local parish that offers Saturday confessions at 8am. This is good, and I have now, at times, found myself going even more than once per month, as it’s a pretty handy time slot. I know appts. for confession can be made, but it would be really annoying if you had to do that every single time you needed to confess.

Basically, I think all parishes need to offer at least two time slots, preferably more, to start seeing a few more people show up.
 
As noted by others, much of this almost seems be design. When your ONLY scehduled confession time is smack dab in the middle of the only totally free day most people have in their lives, you are sending a message: buzz off.

By contrast, the parish where my kids go to school has daily morning mass at 8:00am. Confession is available beforehand starting at 7:30 (and since they have 3 priests in the parish, the confessional stays open until the line is gone). It’s not uncommon for there still to be a line after mass is done. This is EVERY weekday, mind you!

Want to increase the confession participation of catholics? OFFER it at a time people can make it.
 
This topic really bothers me. I received my First Holy Communion in 1969. We had no instruction whatsoever in regard to Confession. My parents pressured me to go to confession (since they’re very good Catholics), but I didn’t know how. As a second grader, It scared me to death. I had no idea what went on inside those little rooms. I remember on time when a priest took pity on me and fed me every line. I wasn’t even taught an Act of Contrition and I went to Catholic school!

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of good that came out of Vatican II, but the free form attitude made it easy for me to avoid Mass and Confession in my twenties. Only now as an adult, and after doing a lot of reading, have I been able to go to confession with any confidence. It still causes me physical stress.

I think the newer priests are doing a great job instructing people, it’s just that there’s years of bad instruction that has to be overcome. I can tell you that I have friends who think that they fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending any church service (like a non-denominational service). So they feel perfectly fine receiving Communion whenever they decide to hit an occasional Catholic Mass.
 
manualman said:
By contrast, the parish where my kids go to school has daily morning mass at 8:00am. Confession is available beforehand starting at 7:30 (and since they have 3 priests in the parish, the confessional stays open until the line is gone). It’s not uncommon for there still to be a line after mass is done. This is EVERY weekday, mind you!
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That is the answer, in my opinion. The positive results are amazing. We have a parish like that in my diocese where the priest hears confessions every day before daily Mass and the line is always long. There is some kind of mental-block with many other priests, though. Maybe they forgot that the faithful need to keep working against their sins and flaws (confession is not just for mortal sins also).
Want to increase the confession participation of catholics? OFFER it at a time people can make it.
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I totally agree. What we can do is “talk it up” perhaps when we get a chance in the parish – or, while thanking our pastor for the time spent on Saturdays, suggest another confession day also. I would think this survey would wake up our bishops and pastors.

Its bad enough about the people who don’t go to Mass, but those who do go every Sunday should get more solid instruction and encouragment to be a part of all the sacraments they’re entitled to – not just Communion.
 
paperbackwinter said:
This topic really bothers me. I received my First Holy Communion in 1969. We had no instruction whatsoever in regard to Confession. My parents pressured me to go to confession (since they’re very good Catholics), but I didn’t know how. As a second grader, It scared me to death. I had no idea what went on inside those little rooms. I remember on time when a priest took pity on me and fed me every line. I wasn’t even taught an Act of Contrition and I went to Catholic school!

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of good that came out of Vatican II, but the free form attitude made it easy for me to avoid Mass and Confession in my twenties. Only now as an adult, and after doing a lot of reading, have I been able to go to confession with any confidence. It still causes me physical stress.

I think the newer priests are doing a great job instructing people, it’s just that there’s years of bad instruction that has to be overcome. I can tell you that I have friends who think that they fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending any church service (like a non-denominational service). So they feel perfectly fine receiving Communion whenever they decide to hit an occasional Catholic Mass.
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You were raised in a crazy time when all the teaching fell apart. I’m with you there – I received my Communion in '64 so I know what you’re talking about. There is definitely still a major need to fix all of that bad instruction. Some of our priests still want to make the faith a totally “guilt free” experience – but that can’t happen without confession and absolution. That’s the sure way to be totally free of guilt and negativity.

Also, as far as stress in going to confession – after a while that will go away and you will find more joy in doing it. At the same time, of us likes to think about our sins – but that’s part of “take up your Cross and follow me” … it’s definitely worth the effort.
 
I do not think that this study is completely accurate. There is no way (I am stating my opinion). While there may be a possibility that 61% of weekly mass attendees at least go once a year, I seriously doubt that.

I have lived in four separate dioceses in the past five years. In each diocese I frequented confession at multiple churches. With the exception of the Latin Mass and two parishes which had almost 20,000 registered parishioners each, I can say that on the set time for confessions at each parish I attended there were less than 10 people and more often less than 5. Many times I would be the only one.

Even if these numbers are true, that is not the issue. The survey should have asked how many go to confession after they have committed mortal sins. Once a year is the minimum if not in the state of mortal sin and the bare minimum is not to be encouraged or fostered by a lack of promotion on behalf of those in a position to do so.

Lastly, the moderating of the forums has become a bit ridiculous. You are there to keep things from becoming indecent, not to erase post that you don’t like. When I ask somebody to present evidence of why he or she insulted the pope and why he or she thinks he made a mistake in elevating Pius xii, I don’t expect it to be erased. Nothing I wrote was inappropriate and it was nothing other than calm. A just question it was. There is nothing worse than when somebody with perhaps a bit too much time on his or her hands decides to micromanage a chat forum. Calling someone to task for making reckless comments about the pope is not censorable, when done in a respectful manner. Especially when that person’s comments are reckless and present nothing to support their accusations.

I firmly believe in the right of each individual to express an opinion. At the same time we have a right to ask them why they hold it.
 
bobbyva2001 said:
I do not think that this study is completely accurate. There is no way (I am stating my opinion). While there may be a possibility that 61% of weekly mass attendees at least go once a year, I seriously doubt that.
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I suspect that they consider “General Absolution” (an abusive practice) their “going to Confession”. We have parishes that offer those once a year and they’re packed. The rest of the year, confessionals are empty with maybe 2 or 3 per week (in parishes of over 1500 families).
Even if these numbers are true, that is not the issue. The survey should have asked how many go to confession after they have committed mortal sins. Once a year is the minimum if not in the state of mortal sin and the bare minimum is not to be encouraged or fostered by a lack of promotion on behalf of those in a position to do so.
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That is true also. We can consider that many Catholics ignore the teaching of the Church also – do they confess that as the sin which it is? How could pro-abortion Catholics go to confession, etc.?

These are questions that don’t get asked – it’s an uncomfortable topic, but a very necessary one, in my opinion.
Lastly, the moderating of the forums has become a bit ridiculous. You are there to keep things from becoming indecent, not to erase post that you don’t like. When I ask somebody to present evidence of why he or she insulted the pope and why he or she thinks he made a mistake in elevating Pius xii, I don’t expect it to be erased. Nothing I wrote was inappropriate and it was nothing other than calm. A just question it was. There is nothing worse than when somebody with perhaps a bit too much time on his or her hands decides to micromanage a chat forum. Calling someone to task for making reckless comments about the pope is not censorable, when done in a respectful manner. Especially when that person’s comments are reckless and present nothing to support their accusations.
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I think this is very much off-topic on this thread. We’re not supposed to complain about the moderators or other CAF members in the midst of a discussion on other matters. It’s cross-posting an issue from another thread and nobody will be able to follow it that way also.
 
I think that the figure for regular Massgoers is high too. In our parish we have Confession available for 30 minutes before the Saturday Mass. Often our pastor is wondering around at the front of the church fidddling with something and not in the box.

Many people may not feel that they have anything serious enoough to need confessing. This, I think, is because of the emphasis on sins of commission and not sins of omission.
A reading of Matt 25: 31-46 makes it appear that the latter may be more to worry about.
 
If I knew of another place to address it, I would have done so. It was not written for all. Nor did I wish to have it replied to.

I wish to remain on the topic posted, it is an important one. I think most people who read the reply can affirm they have seen the same thing in their parishes or others. The more orthodox the parish, generally (I am sure this is not the rule) the more people I have seen practicing the sacrament.

Most of us have also noticed how catholic teaching is often ignored in homilies and not related to the scriptures. It is no wonder many Catholics are indifferent and feel they can hold certain positions contrary to the faith, when they are never told otherwise.

Luckily for us these things have not gone undetected and there are measures being taken to improve the situation.
 
I think we need a combination of emphasis by the clergy and increased availability of confession. Increasing the availability helps, but is not sufficient.

We are fortunate to have a Dominican priory within 30 minutes drive that offers confession daily, in addition to Saturday. When I lived in CA, we had a shrine nearby that offered confession before every Mass (thrice daily!). The lines are consistently long enough to merit the abundance of times. Clearly, in both of these situations, it is because they have more priests than many parishes with diocesan priests, but that is not always the case. I attended a parish in CA with three priests on staff that still only offered confession during one time slot on Saturday. That one time had a very short, sometimes nonexistent, line. Hmm…wonder what the difference was? :hmmm:

If I only had Saturday available, I would have to schedule special times with our priest. We do have two Saturday time slots though - 10-11AM (after morning Mass) and 3:30-4:30PM (before the Vigil Mass). That leaves people with normal weekend scheduling the option of an early confession before enjoying the rest of their day off.
 
reggieM said:
I suspect that they consider “General Absolution” (an abusive practice) their “going to Confession”. We have parishes that offer those once a year and they’re packed. The rest of the year, confessionals are empty with maybe 2 or 3 per week (in parishes of over 1500 families).
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Are you really still seeing “general absolution” services!?! I must give credit where it is due, I haven’t seen one of those in the Chicago, Joliet or Rockford dioceses in MANY years. Some abuses DO get addressed and curbed. Don’t mistake communal confession services for “general absolution” either. Twice a year (Advent and Lent) parishes in my area hold these which consist of a Liturgy of the Word, an examination of conscience aid/homily, some meditative music and about 12 area priests scattered about to hear individual confessions and give absolution.

It bothers me a little that no privacy option is offered (no screen), but it sure beats the usual 2 hour a week Saturday offerings!
 
manualman said:
Are you really still seeing “general absolution” services!?! I must give credit where it is due, I haven’t seen one of those in the Chicago, Joliet or Rockford dioceses in MANY years. Some abuses DO get addressed and curbed. Don’t mistake communal confession services for “general absolution” either. Twice a year (Advent and Lent) parishes in my area hold these which consist of a Liturgy of the Word, an examination of conscience aid/homily, some meditative music and about 12 area priests scattered about to hear individual confessions and give absolution.
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No, we still have the full-scale general absolution in many parishes. We just had them this last Christmas. Last year I asked the pastor the day before if he would be available for individual confession. “No”, he said, “I will be doing the Reconciliation Service”. This is not the communal penitential services which are authorized – those are good, especially getting all the priests together and some people may want a different confessor for a good reason so they can do this.
Our diocese is totally stuck in the 1970s “Renew” mentality.

Rockford has been solid for many years.
 
manualman said:
When your ONLY scehduled confession time is smack dab in the middle of the only totally free day most people have in their lives, you are sending a message: buzz off.

Want to increase the confession participation of catholics? OFFER it at a time people can make it.
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Amen brother. Like another poster’s parish, mine offers it before Mass and during the first part of Mass, daily. Some days of the week have confessions several times a day, corresponding to the Masses. Sure, some people still go on Saturday afternoon because for them it is more convenient, but there are at least short lines at all the other times as well. And you should see the lines all throughout Advent and Lent.

Our priests unquestionably have their priorities straight: They’re not trying to change the entire world, just their own parish. And we parishioners are wild about them because of it.
 
they need to mention confession at least once a month during the mass just to remind people the importants of a confess. but it no good if a churxch has a mass at 6:00 on a sat night and 5:30 onwards confession and nobody really goes,

also they really need to teach the young ppl about confession always me under the age of 30 and the rest over 50.
 
The last time we heard anything about confession in my parish it was from a visiting priest who was apoplectic that he had only had one person confess before Mass when he’d sat in the Reconciliation Room for 30 minutes. He lambasted us at the end of Mass!

Our only scheduled confession is supposed to be for 30 minutes before the anticipated & Sunday morning Masses, starting 45 minutes before. Our last pastor said to me “I’m not wasting my time sitting there for 30 minutes when nobody ever comes in. If they want to confess they know I’m available and can ask me to join them in the Reconciliation Room.” I had to bite my tongue not to reply “If you stopped telling us that God loves us no matter what we do without ever mentioning our need to repent and confess, you might have more customers. As for going to get you, you show up 10 minutes before Mass and are chatting with those arriving, that’s not exactly ‘being available’.”

Confession has not become more available with the latest pastor. He is at church before Mass a little longer than his predecessor was but he doesn’t even don his alb until a minute before the entrance procession.

Since general absolution was discontinued back in 2002, even the Lenten and Advent Penitential Services are poorly attended. The last one had an attendance of about 20 and only 2 received the sacrament.
 
As far as data, I’d like to point that according to Catholic publications I’ve read, the more people go to Mass, the more in line they are with Church teaching. Part of the problem is that people forget we are in a relationship – with God – and all relationships take work. I pick up the Michigan Catholic so I can see the world and its problems from a Catholic perspective. I pick up Our Sunday Visitor for the same reason.

And since each parish is supposed to be a community, walk up to your priest. Think about how you want to say it, but be polite. “Father? Why is Confession only once a week?” or whatever it is that is on your mind. I hear on Catholic Radio how busy priests are. I honestly cannot picture it. How many of us really know about the day to day things they need to do?

Perhaps we should see if we can help our priest out a bit.

Peace,
Ed
 
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