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Adelphine
Guest
This is so puzzling to me. I have seen many, many Catholics who never were seen at Mass leave for other denominations, where they seem so enthusiastic. How to explain this?
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chero23
Guest
That’s the thing, They never took their faith seriously. Some people might argue, well they were never catechized. But theirs a lot of stuff out there that the church is doing. I mean theirs stuff like Bible classes, our weekend retreats, or speakers. I mean the information is out there, oh, plus you have the internet. We have the resources to learn about our faith better. Some people just take the easy way out.
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Randy_Carson
Guest
They have come to know the Lord, been filled with the Spirit, and they are excited about it.
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Vitalina
Guest
I know many Catholics who barely know the basics of their faith. I’m sure not nearly as many would leave if they truly knew their faith and understood why the Church teaches what it teaches. If they truly understand and appreciate the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Real Presence of the Eucharist, the authority of the Church, and that the Catholic Church is the Church Christ founded, then they’d probably be less likely to go. 
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commenter
Guest
There’s no one reason, it varies from one individual to another. But here’s some reasons:
- Many Catholics have not been grounded in Catholic doctrine. They don’t know what they are missing, because they have only the slightest awareness of the sacraments, Catholic Tradition, the role of Mary and the saints, and the Mass.
- Evangelical churches tend to focus on small groups, and building interpersonal relationships. Most Catholic parishes fail to do that, even though we’re the ones who invented that strategy. Read about St. Francis de Sales, and others.
- The non-denominational churches focus heavily on young adults. In my diocese, most Catholic activities are, in effect, for seniors. A few Catholic activities are for parents or children. Practically no Catholic sponsored activities are mainly for young adults.
Part of the reason is that “the squeaky wheel gets the most grease”. The seniors are the “squeaky wheel”, at least in my Catholic diocese. That’s why nearby parishes with only a few hundred parishioners - almost all seniors - were kept open in spite of the priest shortage, while there was no effort to set aside clergy or lay staff specifically for young adult ministry. - We live in the “Me generation”. People say “I need to go where I’m going to be fed”. The whole idea of dying to self, of the call to take up one’s cross, is unpopular. Catholic (and Protestant) churches that preach the cross are losing people.
- Evangelical and non-denominational churches and organizations tend to be far ahead of us in the use of media - radio, TV, and now, social media. I like my fellow Knights of Columbus, but my very large Council almost never uses the internet; everybody thinks in terms of “the good old days”. We aren’t attracting the young men, but the non denominational churches sure are.
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chero23
Guest
I like your post. Especially number 4, we are in a world that is all about “ME”. If whatever I’m doing does not please “ME” ,even if its something related to God then I’m not doing it.
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Marie5890
Guest
There are also many Catholic teachings and traditions they simply reject.
For example. Many people really are ok with using contraception, or gays getting married. They know the Church’s teachings on these things, reject that teaching, and find a place where those things simply are not issues.
For example. Many people really are ok with using contraception, or gays getting married. They know the Church’s teachings on these things, reject that teaching, and find a place where those things simply are not issues.
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Emily2014
Guest
There seem to be insufficient numbers of truly enlightened Priests who emphasise God’s love and the joy of being a Catholic. You cannot inspire a congregation by concentrating mainly upon sin. Jesus Christ led us to follow Him through the example of His love and compassion.
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boomerang
Guest
Yep. The entertainment factor is very big in non-denominational churches. People want to be entertained in a Christian environment. The Mass is not entertaining. It’s too bad. If only they knew what they were really giving up in exchange for two hours of rock music.
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Cider
Guest
Your point would be valid if sin was the most common topic in homilies but IME it sure isn’t. Lots of stuff about love and compassion and very little on morality some the pews I’ve sat in.
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chero23
Guest
This is sad but true, its like another members post, that stated, that people today are all about me.
They know something is wrong, but decline to accept because in their mind that’s not what they want.
Something that comes into mind is people living together prior to getting married.
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chero23
Guest
I know, its scary and heartbreaking, that people would rather go to Church for entertainment, rather than to go to Church, where you can go the day before, confess your sins to a priest and be forgiven, go to Mass the next day, and be a past of the Lamb’s Supper, which gives eternal life.
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Colorad007
Guest
If you think Catholics are becoming Evangelicals because they’re looking for entertainment then you’re clearly missing the crisis of faith happening in the Church today.
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chero23
Guest
Something positive I believe is that we are getting a lot of pastors and ministers from Protestant faiths who are coming into the Church.
I believe that with their experience of proclaiming the Bible, with God leading them home, most of these pastors are now going out as Catholic converts, going out and trying to help people see the CC the right way not with a lot of bias.
I believe that with their experience of proclaiming the Bible, with God leading them home, most of these pastors are now going out as Catholic converts, going out and trying to help people see the CC the right way not with a lot of bias.
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dronald
Guest
I liked all of them except number 4 personally.
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commenter
Guest
In my diocese, every few years they have some kind of “Come Home” or “Welcome to the Community” type program. All these programs push the idea of “Christianity is caught, not taught” or “A Christian is a person who has met one”, etc. All these programs avoid any mention of Catholic doctrine, or anything about salvation. The whole idea is "invite them to the community now, now’s not the time for doctrine; they’ll pick that up, later on. But in the diocesan ministries, and in most parishes, there isn’t any doctrine later on. These programs have no lasting success at all.
We keep forgetting that Catholic doctrine does, in fact, provide answers to questions many people have about life. Many atheists, Jews, and Protestants have in fact, “read their way into Catholicism”. Some begin the process of conversion in the library, or their own home, and begin dropping in on parishes. If they are lucky, the parish they visit allows them to pray and think about things, rather than “Ever’body gotta hold hands”.
If I were in charge of the evangelism for the diocese, I would take some money out of the donut budget, and pay to print some brief classic excerpts from G. K. Chesterton in the daily newspaper, or a website visited by young adults. That would start some people thinking. A few would follow up on those thoughts.
We keep forgetting that Catholic doctrine does, in fact, provide answers to questions many people have about life. Many atheists, Jews, and Protestants have in fact, “read their way into Catholicism”. Some begin the process of conversion in the library, or their own home, and begin dropping in on parishes. If they are lucky, the parish they visit allows them to pray and think about things, rather than “Ever’body gotta hold hands”.
If I were in charge of the evangelism for the diocese, I would take some money out of the donut budget, and pay to print some brief classic excerpts from G. K. Chesterton in the daily newspaper, or a website visited by young adults. That would start some people thinking. A few would follow up on those thoughts.
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Church_Militant
Guest
My experience is just the opposite. I see and am involved in leading more people into the Catholic faith.
I don’t see this so called massive exodus that some people talk about. I only know of one guy and he was so dumb that he actually called Pope Benedict XVI a Nazi and Pope Francis a Communist. I had trouble deciding whether to smack him in the nose or just break up laughing, but the Holy Spirit restrained me and all I said was that he needed to check his facts and stop listening to anti-Catholic propaganda, but even then he said he didn’t need to, so I walked away and said a prayer for him.
He’s typical of the people that I have seen do this, but I have seen many more coming into the church and it’s been a great blessing to help them along. If you want to see what’s really going on join your RCIA classes and start inviting people to Mass and going out of your way to evangelize people with literature like this from CA.
I don’t see this so called massive exodus that some people talk about. I only know of one guy and he was so dumb that he actually called Pope Benedict XVI a Nazi and Pope Francis a Communist. I had trouble deciding whether to smack him in the nose or just break up laughing, but the Holy Spirit restrained me and all I said was that he needed to check his facts and stop listening to anti-Catholic propaganda, but even then he said he didn’t need to, so I walked away and said a prayer for him.
He’s typical of the people that I have seen do this, but I have seen many more coming into the church and it’s been a great blessing to help them along. If you want to see what’s really going on join your RCIA classes and start inviting people to Mass and going out of your way to evangelize people with literature like this from CA.
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Jeanne_S
Guest
Agree.Most of the homilies I hear at my parish are warm and fuzzy with a touch of comedy thrown in!
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dronald
Guest
They probably get it from their Catechism to be honest. It’s so warm and fluffy to all Protestant denominations and Islam without ever endorsing it.Agree.Most of the homilies I hear at my parish are warm and fuzzy with a touch of comedy thrown in!
Catholicism should go back to taking a proud stance against what it once called heresies.
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123Strontium
Guest
Because a lot of the clergy are gay, so they are concerned about their own clerical communities, then serving the communities.
In America, the priesthood is now called the Gay Profession.
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