New Pew Poll Claims 45% of Catholics Don't Know They Are Receiving The Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist

[Nameless_One]

you beat me to it, I woke up late
survey says Catholics are the worse, on 15% of those surveyed knew the basic tenets of their faith, but across the board all faiths failed miserably when asked about their own body. Atheists however scored the best. go figure. shows knowledge does not necessarily = faith

quite an indictment of my whole profession, RE but in the true tradition of my colleagues, blame the parents.

I doubt it’s solely down to the parents. Most of those interviewed would have been adults.

 

[Dale_M]

Our President gave a speech in which he identified the Golden Rule [do unto others as you would have them do unto you] as a central tenet of Christianity, whereas it has NOTHING to do with the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps he was confusing that with “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Hm?

How about Matthew 7:11-12

11
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
12
6 "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew7.htm

Or Luke 6:31-32

31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke6.htm

 

[Brooklyn]

As others have written here, I am not suprised by this poll but very saddened. How can it be a surprise to anyone when you see the way people come to Church when they do come, and how they go up and receive communion. They may just as well be going up to get a piece of bread the way they approach. I really think it would help if all churches would implement the Pope’s rule of kneeling and receiving on the tongue. I know I can get in trouble on this forum for saying that, but we need to do something to bring back the reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. We need to do something to make people realize that this is the great Creator God who came to earth as a man and died on a cross so that we can have salvation. 'Cause whatever we’re doing now, it ain’t working!

 

[CathFaith1]

it is really sad to see that Catholics either don’t know or don’t think they have to believe this central doctrine of the Church.

I tend to think the bulk of Catholics have been ignorant of many doctrines of the Church since the early Middle ages.

 

[reggieM]

Benediction and Adoration can be a very big help.

 

[Brooklyn]

I tend to think the bulk of Catholics have been ignorant of many doctrines of the Church since the early Middle ages.

I can only assume that you are under the age of 40, or you would never say that. Here is a quote from a blog from someone in Australia, and it mirrors my experience exactly:

“The nuns schooled us in our religion, and we were expected to know our Catechism by heart. I can still picture the little green book we used that was set out in question and answer form (“Q: Who made the world? A: God made the world.”), and I knew every answer to every question. We were taught the importance of the Sacraments, and were prepared for receiving them at the appropriate age by the nuns. We made our First Confession just before receiving our First Holy Communion when we were about seven or eight. It was scary, having to confess my sins of fighting or being disobedient to Christ’s representative. I was always petrified that God would see me doing something bad, like sneaking a penny from my mother’s purse to go buy a lolly at the local shop. It didn’t always stop me from doing it, but boy, I sure enough felt so guilty about it that it was a long time before I did it again! I made sure I went to Confession every time too, so that I would be forgiven and not go to Hell if I died.”

makingaustralia.abc.net.au/_Being-Catholic-in-the-1950s/blog/234601/73526.html

A lot of people could argue that the church instilled too much fear in people, but for those of us who believe that there is a hell, and that if we are not in a state of grace we will go there, I think a certain amount of fear is a good thing. After all, the Apostle Paul said to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12-13) Seems to me that most people have absolutely no fear of God anymore.

 

[utah_rose]

I can only assume that you are under the age of 40, or you would never say that. Here is a quote from a blog from someone in Australia, and it mirrors my experience exactly:

“The nuns schooled us in our religion, and we were expected to know our Catechism by heart. I can still picture the little green book we used that was set out in question and answer form (“Q: Who made the world? A: God made the world.”), and I knew every answer to every question. We were taught the importance of the Sacraments, and were prepared for receiving them at the appropriate age by the nuns. We made our First Confession just before receiving our First Holy Communion when we were about seven or eight. It was scary, having to confess my sins of fighting or being disobedient to Christ’s representative. I was always petrified that God would see me doing something bad, like sneaking a penny from my mother’s purse to go buy a lolly at the local shop. It didn’t always stop me from doing it, but boy, I sure enough felt so guilty about it that it was a long time before I did it again! I made sure I went to Confession every time too, so that I would be forgiven and not go to Hell if I died.”

Amen to that. I remember memorizing the Baltimore Catechism and feeling guilty every time I did something wrong. I don’t know what the kids are being taught now–maybe they should go back to this memorization or not.

Still remember my time tables too, and I can usually do addition in my head. Thank goodness for the nuns and also the priests at our church, particularly the pastor who put the “fear of God” in us.

makingaustralia.abc.net.au/_Being-Catholic-in-the-1950s/blog/234601/73526.html

A lot of people could argue that the church instilled too much fear in people, but for those of us who believe that there is a hell, and that if we are not in a state of grace we will go there, I think a certain amount of fear is a good thing. After all, the Apostle Paul said to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12-13) Seems to me that most people have absolutely no fear of God anymore.

 

[CathFaith1]

I can only assume that you are under the age of 40, or you would never say that.

I was 40 once.

Yet, I’d say people lack a tendency to study history accurately. It may be the same problem that most are ignorant of many tenets of the faith yet feel comfortable they know enough.

Over the years, there have been wonderful Doctors of the Church, Saints , remarkable religious and laity in yet the majority prove (through history) the Faith/Church survives in spite of them.

 

[OriginalJS]

As others have written here, I am not suprised by this poll but very saddened. How can it be a surprise to anyone when you see the way people come to Church when they do come, and how they go up and receive communion. They may just as well be going up to get a piece of bread the way they approach. I really think it would help if all churches would implement the Pope’s rule of kneeling and receiving on the tongue. I know I can get in trouble on this forum for saying that, but we need to do something to bring back the reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. We need to do something to make people realize that this is the great Creator God who came to earth as a man and died on a cross so that we can have salvation. 'Cause whatever we’re doing now, it ain’t working!

I agree with these observations. Receiving communion has for many just become a motion to walk through near the end of Mass - it is what Catholics do. Years ago communion was received at the rail and most at Mass did not go up. It seems to me there was an air of veneration there that has been lost.

 

[utah_rose]

It’s the Church’s fault all the way around. The Church is focusing far too much on social justice issues than the actual faith teachings. All I hear during homilies is love and feeding the poor. Catholics need to hear about the sacraments as well as hell and damnation much more than they currently do.

You hit the nail on the head. I have only heard the priest speak of the Eucharist once, all the rest of the time is social teachings and I am sick of it. I don’t know if our local bishop is promoting this (he is very much entwined with the immigration problem) but just once I would like to hear real teachings explained whether people liked it or not.

Perhaps we need to do what the Protestants do—have Sunday School before or after Mass. Many of the people work during the week, and sometimes evenings are difficult to attend RCIA. Also, think the Church could buy at a discount “The Catholic Catechism” and for a small fee insure every parishioner has a copy and encourage reading it.

 

[Brooklyn]

I was 40 once.

Yet, I’d say people lack a tendency to study history accurately. It may be the same problem that most are ignorant of many tenets of the faith yet feel comfortable they know enough.

Over the years, there have been wonderful Doctors of the Church, Saints , remarkable religious and laity in yet the majority prove (through history) the Faith/Church survives in spite of them.

Where is your proof that Catholics did not know their religion in the past? That is not my experience.

 

[GKCT]

Took the quiz, got one wrong. Didn’t know public school teachers could read the Bible to a class as literature. Wonder which one they are allowed to read? Or any and all of them?
Attended 13 years of Catholic school where "how to be a good Catholic’ wasn’t taught. We were taught religion and some of the history of the church, even in high school. I didn’t fully appreciate my religion until after I left the church and returned 6 months ago. Have learned more in the past months than I ever did in school. Schools have to do much better and so do parents-although if they received the same education as I did, they don’t know any better either.
This is ordinary time in the church, a time for renewal and learning about our faith. I also wish the priests would have more sermons/homilys about the sacraments as well as how to receive them.
I bet also, with a survey, many Catholics don’t even know exactly when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. Sad.

 

[Brooklyn]

Benediction and Adoration can be a very big help.

An ENORMOUS help!! Where there is benediction and adoration, you will see much more reverent people. Never fails.

 

[Brooklyn]

I didn’t fully appreciate my religion until after I left the church and returned 6 months ago. Have learned more in the past months than I ever did in school. (

That is an interesting observation. The Church definitely has responsibility for the state of catechesis in the Church. HOWEVER, we have more access to church teaching now in so many different ways than has ever been available in the 2000 year history of the chuch. There are books, dvds, cds, internet, apps on the Ipod, free access to ebooks by the saints. Anyone who has internet connection has free access to the Bible and the Catholic Catechism. If Catholics are ignorant of their religion, it is either because they aren’t interested in learning it, or they’re too lazy to take the time and effort to learn it. And we will all have to stand before our Creator and answer for what we have done with the time he has given us on this earth.

 

[Tigg]

I can only assume that you are under the age of 40, or you would never say that. Here is a quote from a blog from someone in Australia, and it mirrors my experience exactly:

“The nuns schooled us in our religion, and we were expected to know our Catechism by heart. I can still picture the little green book we used that was set out in question and answer form (“Q: Who made the world? A: God made the world.”), and I knew every answer to every question. We were taught the importance of the Sacraments, and were prepared for receiving them at the appropriate age by the nuns. We made our First Confession just before receiving our First Holy Communion when we were about seven or eight. It was scary, having to confess my sins of fighting or being disobedient to Christ’s representative. I was always petrified that God would see me doing something bad, like sneaking a penny from my mother’s purse to go buy a lolly at the local shop. It didn’t always stop me from doing it, but boy, I sure enough felt so guilty about it that it was a long time before I did it again! I made sure I went to Confession every time too, so that I would be forgiven and not go to Hell if I died.”

makingaustralia.abc.net.au/_Being-Catholic-in-the-1950s/blog/234601/73526.html

A lot of people could argue that the church instilled too much fear in people, but for those of us who believe that there is a hell, and that if we are not in a state of grace we will go there, I think a certain amount of fear is a good thing. After all, the Apostle Paul said to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12-13) Seems to me that most people have absolutely no fear of God anymore.

And that little green book would be, of course, the BALTIMORE CATECHISM. I still have mine with all the answers correctly written in (when I was 14 and came into the Church.) Oh yes, we knew the answers and most of us can still recite them correctly. But we also live our faith, have well-formed consciences and KNOW without question that is Jesus on the altar.

Of course, now religious ed teachers are asked to not focus so much on memorization, but rather do “fun” activities to stimulate the little brains and enforce learning. Sometimes we feel we are doing a dog and pony show on Sundays (I have 6th grade this year) and catechists are constantly looking for ways to make learning interesting. I blame the need for constant stimulation on the video games, of course. When my kids were growing up and I heard, “I’m soooooo bored and there’s nothing to do,” they got sent to their rooms to read a book and amuse themselves the best they could. There is nothing wrong with occassionally being bored and without constant social contact!

 

[Fatima_Vision]

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100928/ap_on_re/us_rel_religious_literacy_poll

So what do you say? When you go to Church on Sunday, do you think almost half of your congregation doesn’t know this? Exactly, where is the failure point here? I know the teaching is bad and so forth, but if you actually listen to the Eucharistic prayer, you should have some comprehension of what is going on.

Note the poll findings say that the Catholics don’t know not that they don’t believe.

While I’m not a big believer in the accuracy of polls, that wouldn’t shock me if it were true, or if the number were even higher. I always see very long lines for Communion & almost nobody showing up for Confession. I’m not passing judgement by saying this, its just something that I can’t help but notice.

 

[Roy5]

I wonder a bit if persons answering the questions were ignorant or expressing a point of view.

 It must have been a year or two ago that I read a poll in the *US Catholic* magazine which found that (as I recall) 43% of American Catholics do not believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. That doesn't surprise me. Most Catholics I know - with whom I have discussed the matter - don't believe it. They regard it as a medieval concept appropriate to an earlier age, perhaps, but no longer believable. At the same time, many find communion a powerful expression of their faith - remembering Christ, celebrating Christ, etc.

  On the other hand, I have some doubts about the Pew poll. Nevertheless, I have no evidence on which to base my suspicion, so probably should not challenge it. Just rather shocked to read some of the results. I must hang around with a much better-informed crowd because I don't think the poll results reflect them at all, regardless of their church connection or lack of same.

 

[irishpatrick]

Put another way the poll demonstrates that 55% of Catholics know that they are receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

While that number is still too low, it is a vast improvement over the 30% of Catholics who knew in a survey/poll taken about 10-15 years ago. The Holy Spirit is working.

 

[turtle18]

I can only assume that you are under the age of 40, or you would never say that. Here is a quote from a blog from someone in Australia, and it mirrors my experience exactly:

“The nuns schooled us in our religion, and we were expected to know our Catechism by heart. I can still picture the little green book we used that was set out in question and answer form (“Q: Who made the world? A: God made the world.”), and I knew every answer to every question. We were taught the importance of the Sacraments, and were prepared for receiving them at the appropriate age by the nuns. We made our First Confession just before receiving our First Holy Communion when we were about seven or eight. It was scary, having to confess my sins of fighting or being disobedient to Christ’s representative. I was always petrified that God would see me doing something bad, like sneaking a penny from my mother’s purse to go buy a lolly at the local shop. It didn’t always stop me from doing it, but boy, I sure enough felt so guilty about it that it was a long time before I did it again! I made sure I went to Confession every time too, so that I would be forgiven and not go to Hell if I died.”

makingaustralia.abc.net.au/_Being-Catholic-in-the-1950s/blog/234601/73526.html

A lot of people could argue that the church instilled too much fear in people, but for those of us who believe that there is a hell, and that if we are not in a state of grace we will go there, I think a certain amount of fear is a good thing. After all, the Apostle Paul said to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12-13) Seems to me that most people have absolutely no fear of God anymore.

Not only did St. Paul say to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, our Lord Jesus Christ says to be afraid of the one who can cast you into Gehanna,

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one” (Luke 12:4-6)