So many Catholics leaving the church

[Lion_of_Narnia]

Numbers, numbers, numbers…

Growing and Declining American Denominations

Members per 1,000 US Population
Denomination: 1960/2006-07/% Change
Unitarian- 1.0 / 0.7 /-30
Universalist
Friends 0.7/ 0.5/-29
(Quakers, all meetings)
United Church 12.4/ 3.8/-69
of Christ
Episcopal 18.1/ 7.0/-61
Presbyterian 23.0/ 9.8/-57
(USA)
United 54.7/ 26.6/-55
Methodist
ELCA 29.3/ 15.6/-47

Catholic, Roman 233.0/ 229.9/-4

Southern 53.8/55.0/+2
Baptist
Foursquare 0.50/.9/+80
Gospel
7th Day 1.8/3.4/+89
Adventist
LDS 8.2/19.4/+138
(Mormons)
Jehovah’s 1.3/3.6/+177
Witnesses
Assemblies 2.8/9.6/+242
of God
Church of God 0.9/3.2/+260
(Cleveland, TN)
Church of God 2.21/8.6/+743
In Christ
[Sources: Yearbook of American Churches 1962; Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, 2008, 2009; Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1961]
The table has the most “liberal” Churches, both theologicaly and ethicaly at the top, and Churches with increasing “strictness” in doctrine and expected behavior towards the bottom.
It is clear from these numbers that 50+ years of “inclusive Christianity” has been a masterpiece of unintended consequences; either creating “who cares” non-believers who no longer attend services at all OR causing a flight of believers into Churches which DO requre high commitment of belief and behavior (even if, in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses & LDS, the theology departs radicaly from historic Christian creeds). As CS Lewis said (1947) to a group of Anglican Clergy “I fear your new theology will actually do one of two things; it will make your ordinary believer either an atheist or a Catholic”.

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

“Roman” Catholics in the middle is an interesting slight decline which requires further examination. Some liberal critics argue the Church’s re-affirmations against contraception, abortion, women’s ordination, etc…, along with the Priest Sexual Abuse Crisis have driven “many” Catholics out of the pews, an exodus that is disguised by a large amount of immigrant (primarily Hispanic) Catholics joining American parishes.
These liberal critics seem to not recognize [how could they!] that any supposed large Catholic exodus is much more likely driven driven by the “inclusivity doctrines” which are currently savaging the formerly mainline (now “sidelined”) Protestant denominations to extinction.
Those of us who actually experienced the (often but not entirely) ill-guided “relevantcy” of the post Vatican II era (1964 onwards) are best in a position to judge what was of lasting spiritual value (vernacular Masses when done reverently) and what was agenda-driven faddism which ranged from insipidly dippy (“Folk Masses” in whitebread suburbia) to the actually offensive and even spiritualy destructive (“clown Masses”, heresy preached from the pulpit and confessional, and neo-iconaclism in Church architecture and interiors). We also had instances of Bishops who were oblivious (or even simpatico) with heretical clergy and religious, who seemed embarrased by Catholic anti-abortion efforts, yet were frothing-mouthed opponents of any attempt to allow Latin (Tridentine) Masses to be experienced by the laity even after Benedict XVI ruled it was to be allowed by any parish that wanted it

 

[MarkInOregon]

That’s really hard to say. I was a devout Catholic & altar boy of my parish in elementary school. By the time I completed my college prep Catholic high school, I pretty much went to church on Christmas & Easter (if that) & “sort-of” observed Lent. I started getting back to my church in my late 20’s to early 30’s, but still, the Mass left me empty inside. I have always known that the readings were from the Old & New Testaments, followed by a reading from the Gospel. But the literally 5-10 explanation by out pastor on Sunday really left me feeling spiritually “empty” inside, just as it did when I was younger. When I started attending Bible study years later, as well as attending a Protestant church that spent 40 minutes of the service explaining Scripture - in addition to the reading from Scripture, & in addition to the songs & hymns sung. As a result, I began to really understand Scripture, & even started attending Sunday School before the actual service, which lasted an hour.

So, listening to Scripture & hearing hymns based on Scripture isn’t enough to leave one’s church “edified,” whether it’s Catholic, EO, or Protestant. That’s why the early Church in Scripture when they gathered together committed to reading the Word of God & being edified by it. Sorry, just something I didn’t receive from the church of my youth - either as youth, nor as a young adult.

Perhaps you should look at Justin Martyr and his description of the Mass in his day (roughly 150AD). I never leave Mass --not now nor as youth–feeling spiritually empty. I’ve gone and given God worship and received the body and blood of Christ as he commanded. I go and I ask for forgiveness, I sing glory to God, I listen to the word of God proclaimed and sing the Psalms, I am given a little instruction, I confess my belief, I pray for others, I join my prayer to the priests prayer, I offer peace to my neighbor, I receive the Lord and I receive a blessing to go out into the world to live the Gospel. How one can do all that and not be spiritually fulfilled is something I have a hard time understanding.

Our Church, as do many other Catholic Churches, has a Bible study. I attend on Sunday nights. When I was younger and the small parish were I grew up did not have a Bible study–I studied on my own. We have tried adult education before Mass, after Mass, on Wednesday nights but it has been traditionally poorly attended. My point would be that these things are available in Catholic parishes–one just needs to avail oneself of them. Perhaps then Mass would be experienced for what it truly is–a glimpse of heaven on earth.

When I look at the early Church I see that they “devoted themselves to prayer” Acts 1:14 and to “the teachings of the apostles, to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” Acts 2:42

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[Abu]

Thetazlord #98
Then why when I was Catholic I left Mass spiritually empty, yet when I left my Protestant church I didn’t? And, BTW, worship of Christ is involved during Bible study. How can you worship Someone you don’t understand or truly know? Also, there’s a difference between Bible study & a sermon. Since I’ve been to churches that do both, that’s why I know the difference. And the Homily in my old Catholic church really did neither. I don’t call a 5-10 minute Homily adequate enough to edify, at least not after my experience from Protestant churches I’ve attended since then.

The abysmal lack here is the reality that is Christ – so little of His teaching is understood, but left out and replaced by a mirage. No real Catholic who knows what Christ’s Church teaches with regard to Protestants and follows it would imagine that a sincere Protestant does not have a relationship with Christ.

The key is whether the non-Catholic has come to know the fullness of truth, with the help of Catholics, through Christ’s Church as Christ has instituted His Church with His Magisterium.

For the life of the follower of Christ is centred on His Body and Blood:
John 6:53 - So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” … this refers to the Eucharist found in no Protestant sect.

Christ did not institute thousands of differing sects but only one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church, with seven sacraments, including the Holy Eucharist, only available through His priesthood, and which teaches, sanctifies and rules, and gave the world the Sacred Scriptures.

Where do you think the evils that so abound have come from? It was the rejection of Christ’s chosen Magisterium and of the Church’s teaching that resulted in Protestant sects in the 16th century that sanctioned divorce and remarriage; the rejection of the valid priesthood to celebrate the Holy Eucharist; contraception at the Lambeth Conference of 1930. The result – separation of marriage from natural reproduction and family, the progressive diminishment of marriage through materialism, divorce, contraception, cohabitation, and homosexuality. None of this is due to Catholic doctrine.

In short the evils which have been growing are due to all who have rejected or ignored the fullness of truth regardless of whether non-Catholic, Catholic or non-religious. Any non-Christian could have little reason, or faith, to be attracted to a mishmash of beliefs if they come to know the truth. No other sect or religion has the full teaching of Christ given only to His Church – so whether it is divorce or contraception or euthanasia or polygamy, no other sect or religion has the fullness of Christ’s truth.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Then why when I was Catholic I left Mass spiritually empty, yet when I left my Protestant church I didn’t? And, BTW, worship of Christ is involved during Bible study. How can you worship Someone you don’t understand or truly know? Also, there’s a difference between Bible study & a sermon. Since I’ve been to churches that do both, that’s why I know the difference. And the Homily in my old Catholic church really did neither. I don’t call a 5-10 minute Homily adequate enough to edify, at least not after my experience from Protestant churches I’ve attended since then.

Stimulating your intellect is just another form of being “in the flesh”, theta.

It’s great to get a good talk that you find “interesting”, but the heart of the mass is not the homily but the Eucharist.

Not sure how long you’ve been gone, but if you follow the standard pattern, eventually the entrertainment value of Sunday sermons will grow thin, and you’ll realize what you’ve left behind.

You’re just not there, yet.

 

[thetazlord]

Your candid answers are very helpful. But there are some simple explanations (as you yourself admit) as to why you went down the path you did.

First, you drifted away from Catholicism in your HS/College years. That is unfortunately a statistical reality for a great many Catholics.

Second, you had a reawakening to Religion in your late twenties. That is also very typical, as one begins to take responsibility for a family and other signs of maturity.

Third, the Protestant church you found helped you to understand a lot about Christianity that you just never saw before. Again, very normal.

But now the troubling part.

Because you are grateful and feeling as though SOMEONE has finally taken the time to help you understand your Faith in Jesus Christ and even helped you to grow in that Faith, you are naturally inclined to be more loyal to that church, while at the same time you can’t help wondering why your Catholic Faith was so empty and unhelpful to you. Your new church of course, has ready answers for you on this score.

This is a story that is repeated millions upon millions of times across the West. It is the very reason for this thread.

But there is another side to this coin. The side where DEVOUT Protestants who have studied history, theology and the Bible, are nagged by certain inconsistencies, and even sometimes errors in their church (and other Protestant churches.) They are the ones who upon much more study and reflection turn to Catholicism, and THEN become the most convincing apologists for the Truth of Catholicism.

Catholicism takes work. A lot of the work is “home work.” IOW, you won’t be spoon fed doctrine, the Bible and other matters at Mass. Catholics need to understand their Faith deeply. SOMETIMES, it actually helps to worship as a Protestant for a while to get your Catholic Faith in perspective.

But the danger is that while a Protestant, you will become content and feel entitled to be spoon-fed all of your religion. (a consumerist view of religion, if you will.) Instead, keep the progress moving! Continue to study religion, its history, the reformation, Theology etc. Question your new found Protestant church with as much diligence as you questioned your Catholic faith.

I appreciate your “theories,” but none of them is why I became a Christian in my early 30’s. Despite countless people sharing the Christian faith with me, I rejected it until the moment the Holy Spirit regenerated my heart & convicted my soul. Until that time, nobody could “convince” me it was true. I was pretty antagonistic to it. So, I didn’t “find religion,” since Christianity isn’t actually about religion, but about Jesus. I wanted to “know” what was true, & I realized that although opinion is valuable, truth is necessary - as well as knowable & absolute. And unlike my youth, I didn’t just “assume” that what I was taught by my Protestant church leaders were “automatically” true. Like the Bereans, I tested what they taught TO Scripture (Acts 17:10-11), which is why I honestly couldn’t embrace what I was taught in my youth.

Ask why the Sacraments were dispensed with after 1500 years. Ask why Apostolic succession matters. Ask why the Eucharist is CENTRAL to the Catholic Faith. But don’t JUST ask your new found Protestant friends. Ask knowledgeable Catholics, and read up.

Again, I don’t just “ask my newfound Protestant friends.” That’s not a trait of genuine sola scriptural Christians - in fact, it contradicts it. I have also “read up” on many Catholic authors, and likewise, didn’t just “accept” their writings, but also compared “them” TO Scripture as well. And those “beliefs” aren’t actually supported by Scripture, and since Scripture is GOD-breathed, where Scripture & “tradition” conflict, Scripture wins out.

You have Apostatized from Catholicism. It is not something you should do on a whim, or because you “feel” better where you are now. The Truth isn’t always pleasant, nor is Christianity meant to be comfortable.

Hopefully, by now, you should realize that I didn’t abandon Catholicism “on a whim.” Perhaps when I entered college I initially embraced a form of ecumenism, but when I wanted to “know” what is & what is not true, it was hardly a “whim.” That is why I am a Christian today, with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

 

[thetazlord]

Perhaps you should look at Justin Martyr and his description of the Mass in his day (roughly 150AD). I never leave Mass --not now nor as youth–feeling spiritually empty. I’ve gone and given God worship and received the body and blood of Christ as he commanded. I go and I ask for forgiveness, I sing glory to God, I listen to the word of God proclaimed and sing the Psalms, I am given a little instruction, I confess my belief, I pray for others, I join my prayer to the priests prayer, I offer peace to my neighbor, I receive the Lord and I receive a blessing to go out into the world to live the Gospel. How one can do all that and not be spiritually fulfilled is something I have a hard time understanding.

Our Church, as do many other Catholic Churches, has a Bible study. I attend on Sunday nights. When I was younger and the small parish were I grew up did not have a Bible study–I studied on my own. We have tried adult education before Mass, after Mass, on Wednesday nights but it has been traditionally poorly attended. My point would be that these things are available in Catholic parishes–one just needs to avail oneself of them. Perhaps then Mass would be experienced for what it truly is–a glimpse of heaven on earth.

When I look at the early Church I see that they “devoted themselves to prayer” Acts 1:14 and to “the teachings of the apostles, to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” Acts 2:42

The peace of Christ,
Mark

First, Justin Martyr’s writings are not God-breathed. Second, if you read Justin Martyr’s writings, you’ll find there are things he believed that present day Catholicism doesn’t - and vice versa. This is why using the writings of ECF’s that are not NT Scripture from the FIRST Century doesn’t “support” one particular Christian denomination’s view, because you can easily find disagreements among the ECF’s regarding numerous doctrines, including the PVM, water baptismal salvation, the canon of Scripture - OT & NT, the “real-presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist, etc. That’s why believing in the sufficiency of Scripture for “doctrine, reproof, correction, & training in righteousness” is vital (2 Timothy 3:16). It’s because of the deviation from the sufficiency of Scripture is why the Reformation was needed, & why so many children abandon the faith - Catholics & Protestants alike. Think about it. If the Catholic church didn’t “add” to Scripture and call it “tradition,” the Reformation would have never happened, & “maybe” so many Catholics wouldn’t be leaving the church. Food for thought.

 

[thetazlord]

The abysmal lack here is the reality that is Christ – so little of His teaching is understood, but left out and replaced by a mirage. No real Catholic who knows what Christ’s Church teaches with regard to Protestants and follows it would imagine that a sincere Protestant does not have a relationship with Christ.

The key is whether the non-Catholic has come to know the fullness of truth, with the help of Catholics, through Christ’s Church as Christ has instituted His Church with His Magisterium.

For the life of the follower of Christ is centred on His Body and Blood:
John 6:53 - So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” … this refers to the Eucharist found in no Protestant sect.

Christ did not institute thousands of differing sects but only one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church, with seven sacraments, including the Holy Eucharist, only available through His priesthood, and which teaches, sanctifies and rules, and gave the world the Sacred Scriptures.

Where do you think the evils that so abound have come from? It was the rejection of Christ’s chosen Magisterium and of the Church’s teaching that resulted in Protestant sects in the 16th century that sanctioned divorce and remarriage; the rejection of the valid priesthood to celebrate the Holy Eucharist; contraception at the Lambeth Conference of 1930. The result – separation of marriage from natural reproduction and family, the progressive diminishment of marriage through materialism, divorce, contraception, cohabitation, and homosexuality. None of this is due to Catholic doctrine.

In short the evils which have been growing are due to all who have rejected or ignored the fullness of truth regardless of whether non-Catholic, Catholic or non-religious. Any non-Christian could have little reason, or faith, to be attracted to a mishmash of beliefs if they come to know the truth. No other sect or religion has the full teaching of Christ given only to His Church – so whether it is divorce or contraception or euthanasia or polygamy, no other sect or religion has the fullness of Christ’s truth.

The short answer to your question can be answered by Christ Himself, when He confronted the Pharisees & asked them, “why do you transgress the commandments of God for the sake of your ‘traditions’?” (Matthew 15:1-9). Jesus didn’t have a problem with the Pharisees when the stuck to the Word of God & not exceeded it (which wasn’t that often). Rather, He rebuked them when they either added to it (“the doctrines & precepts of men”), or contradicted it.

 

[thetazlord]

Stimulating your intellect is just another form of being “in the flesh”, theta.

It’s great to get a good talk that you find “interesting”, but the heart of the mass is not the homily but the Eucharist.

Not sure how long you’ve been gone, but if you follow the standard pattern, eventually the entrertainment value of Sunday sermons will grow thin, and you’ll realize what you’ve left behind.

You’re just not there, yet.

My faith isn’t based on “stimulating my intellect,” but rather trusting in the sufficiency of Scripture, as well as the sufficiency of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross “for” my salvation.

Also, upon studying the Greek, which the NT was written in, the concept of the Eucharist as the “actual” body of Christ isn’t supported by it. Otherwise, ANYONE who didn’t physically “eat” it couldn’t have “eternal life” (John Ch.6). The key to understanding John Ch.6 is John 6:35, as well as the fact that Jesus saying “I AM the Bread of Life” is 1 out of 6 “I AM” statements that Jesus uses to describe Himself “figuratively” in the Gospel of John alone.

BTW, my church is very conservative - both in the sermon, as well as the music. So, the “entertainment value” isn’t the reason I’m worshiping there.

 

[thetazlord]

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?

There’s a really good book on this particular subject that just came out late last year. It was actually written by a person who was raised Catholic & left the faith, & embraced an ecumenical worldview, but later embraced Christianity. From what I read, it doesn’t seem to be “anti-catholic.” It just explains the reasons “why” he abandoned the faith, as well as “why” those reasons aren’t valid. It’s titled, “Not really ‘of’ us: why do children of Christian parents abandon the faith?” Might be worth looking into to answer your question.

 

[TimothyH]

This whole thread is moot, based on a false assumption. There aren’t “so many Catholics” leaving the Church.

There are places like the Northeast USA and parts of Europe where this is true but overall the worldwide Catholic Church is growing.

You are all discussing why something is happening which isn’t really happening. You might as well debate the lack of theme parks in Orlando.

-Tim-

 

[Ositokc]

This whole thread is moot, based on a false assumption. There aren’t “so many Catholics” leaving the Church.

There are places like the Northeast USA and parts of Europe where this is true but overall the worldwide Catholic Church is growing.

You are all discussing why something is happening which isn’t really happening. You might as well debate the lack of theme parks in Orlando.

-Tim-

Perhaps the assumption is not false at all, here’s an article from CNN:
7 reasons Catholics leave church:

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/30/7-reasons-catholics-leave-church-in-trenton-1-is-sex-abuse-crisis/

 

[Goya]

I dispute the premise to begin with.

I don’t see people leaving the Catholic Church in droves. I see mainline protestant churches bleeding out constantly, while the Catholic Churches grew steadily–former large Baptist churches and such, becoming Catholic.

Classic high profile e.g.—“the Crystal Cathedral.”

It’s now Catholic (owned by the local Catholic diocese, but won’t be consecrated as Christ Cathedral until 2016–purchased out of Bankruptcy).

I find it interesting that this discussion was initiated and largely fueled by posters with very low post counts (i.e.–relative newbies).

Protestants in disguise perhaps, seeking to perpetuate some bogus myth about Catholics losing interest in the Catholic Church? Or an even bigger myth, that folks are flocking to protestant churches? Like protestant churches have something great, that Catholic churches don’t? Generating a bogus ‘buzz’ about great things offered by protestant churches?

That’s certainly not what I’m seeing.

Beware “wolves in sheep’s clothing”.

 

[zz912]

First, Justin Martyr’s writings are not God-breathed. Second, if you read Justin Martyr’s writings, you’ll find there are things he believed that present day Catholicism doesn’t - and vice versa. This is why using the writings of ECF’s that are not NT Scripture from the FIRST Century doesn’t “support” one particular Christian denomination’s view, because you can easily find disagreements among the ECF’s regarding numerous doctrines, including the PVM, water baptismal salvation, the canon of Scripture - OT & NT, the “real-presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist, etc. That’s why believing in the sufficiency of Scripture for “doctrine, reproof, correction, & training in righteousness” is vital (2 Timothy 3:16). It’s because of the deviation from the sufficiency of Scripture is why the Reformation was needed, & why so many children abandon the faith - Catholics & Protestants alike. Think about it. If the Catholic church didn’t “add” to Scripture and call it “tradition,” the Reformation would have never happened, & “maybe” so many Catholics wouldn’t be leaving the church. Food for thought.

Citation for this claim that Justin Martyr differed from present day Catholicism. And please cite your claim of the ECF’s disagreement over numerous doctrines.

And about your “sufficiency” argument from 2 Timothy, I’d like to turn that question around on you and ask why you ignore James 1:4? All we need is patience to be saved, according to your personal theology, correct?

James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

[Ignatius]

Perhaps the assumption is not false at all, here’s an article from CNN:

Oh, my! CNN get’s matters of Faith wrong . . . . . AGAIN!
I haven’t seen a single article on religious subjects from CNN that wasn’t full of error. And is it any wonder since the so many reporters misunderstand The Catholic Church.

 

[Ignatius]

This whole thread is moot, based on a false assumption. There aren’t “so many Catholics” leaving the Church.

There are places like the Northeast USA and parts of Europe where this is true but overall the worldwide Catholic Church is growing.

You are all discussing why something is happening which isn’t really happening. You might as well debate the lack of theme parks in Orlando.

-Tim-

Precisely, Over the last 60 years the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has stayed roughly the same, at around 25% (source: pewresearch.org/key-data-points/u-s-catholics-key-data-from-pew-research/#popsize)

The North East US Population has declined and the Southwest grown but The proportion of the population has remained the same, i.e. as people flee the 'rust belt" for the Southwest, the shift includes Catholics as well.

Here is a Chart of the Top 5 Christian Denominations from Adherents.com

             **Largest denominational families in U.S.    **

**Denomination **** % of U.S. **
Catholic 24.50%
Baptist 16.30%
Methodist 6.80%
Lutheran 4.60%
Presbyterian 2.70%

My apologies, the chart isn’t very pretty, but I think it’s important to show some real numbers

 

[Randy_Carson]

I appreciate your “theories,” but none of them is why I became a Christian in my early 30’s. Despite countless people sharing the Christian faith with me, I rejected it until the moment the Holy Spirit regenerated my heart & convicted my soul. Until that time, nobody could “convince” me it was true. I was pretty antagonistic to it. So, I didn’t “find religion,” since Christianity isn’t actually about religion, but about Jesus. I wanted to “know” what was true, & I realized that although opinion is valuable, truth is necessary - as well as knowable & absolute. And unlike my youth, I didn’t just “assume” that what I was taught by my Protestant church leaders were “automatically” true. Like the Bereans, I tested what they taught TO Scripture (Acts 17:10-11), which is why I honestly couldn’t embrace what I was taught in my youth.

Again, I don’t just “ask my newfound Protestant friends.” That’s not a trait of genuine sola scriptural Christians - in fact, it contradicts it. I have also “read up” on many Catholic authors, and likewise, didn’t just “accept” their writings, but also compared “them” TO Scripture as well. And those “beliefs” aren’t actually supported by Scripture, and since Scripture is GOD-breathed, where Scripture & “tradition” conflict, Scripture wins out.

Hopefully, by now, you should realize that I didn’t abandon Catholicism “on a whim.” Perhaps when I entered college I initially embraced a form of ecumenism, but when I wanted to “know” what is & what is not true, it was hardly a “whim.” That is why I am a Christian today, with the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Ambrose may have had a few details wrong, but the pattern is the same. You never heard the Gospel until you left the Catholic Church.

That probably says more about you than it does about the Church.

My best friend (and best man at my wedding) was a cradle Catholic who left the Church for many years. When he finally started attending mass again (initially only because he agreed to take his elderly parents to mass), he thought, “Wow. When did priests start preaching the Gospel?”

Well, the point, of course, is that the priests of the Catholic Church were preaching the Gospel all along; he just didn’t have “ears to hear”.

I’m happy that you are hearing the hearing the Gospel at your current church, and I invite you to go deeper with the one, true Church when you are ready.

 

[Randy_Carson]

My faith isn’t based on “stimulating my intellect,” but rather trusting in the sufficiency of Scripture, as well as the sufficiency of Jesus’ shed blood on the cross “for” my salvation.

Catholics agree with you 100% on the material sufficiency of Scripture, but not on the formal sufficiency.

Also, upon studying the Greek, which the NT was written in, the concept of the Eucharist as the “actual” body of Christ isn’t supported by it. Otherwise, ANYONE who didn’t physically “eat” it couldn’t have “eternal life” (John Ch.6). The key to understanding John Ch.6 is John 6:35, as well as the fact that Jesus saying “I AM the Bread of Life” is 1 out of 6 “I AM” statements that Jesus uses to describe Himself “figuratively” in the Gospel of John alone.

I’m not convinced that you have the necessary skills to analyze the entire NT in Greek and overturn 2,000 of Catholic and GREEK Orthodox belief.

 

[MJJean]

Precisely, Over the last 60 years the percentage of Americans who are Catholic has stayed roughly the same, at around 25% (source: pewresearch.org/key-data-points/u-s-catholics-key-data-from-pew-research/#popsize)

The North East US Population has declined and the Southwest grown but The proportion of the population has remained the same, i.e. as people flee the 'rust belt" for the Southwest, the shift includes Catholics as well.

Here is a Chart of the Top 5 Christian Denominations from Adherents.com

             **Largest denominational families in U.S.    **

**Denomination **** % of U.S. **
Catholic 24.50%
Baptist 16.30%
Methodist 6.80%
Lutheran 4.60%
Presbyterian 2.70%

My apologies, the chart isn’t very pretty, but I think it’s important to show some real numbers

That study also says that about 17% of those who identify as catholic attend Mass rarely or never. So, for all intents and purposes, those people have left the Church. 41% say they attend monthly or yearly. Meaning those folks aren’t really practicing, either, and have one foot out the door. Only 41% attend Mass regularly.

The study also mentions that one of the reasons the numbers are holding steady for catholics under 40 is an influx of immigrants. Meaning that the non-imigrant population is actually dropping. Otherwise, the number of practicing catholics under 40 would be growing, not merely staying roughly the same. And I think that some of those immigrants will stop practicing once they have been here long enough to assimilate into our country’s rather secular culture. Which is a HUGE problem. As we lose the adults we also lose their children and their children’s children and so on.

Sometimes I get a bit sad at Mass. I have attended Mass on Holy Days and at different times here and there throughout the year and a half since I began converting. I can count on my fingers the number of adult Mass attendees, besides myself and my family, that are under 50.

 

[TimothyH]

Perhaps the assumption is not false at all, here’s an article from CNN:
7 reasons Catholics leave church:

religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/30/7-reasons-catholics-leave-church-in-trenton-1-is-sex-abuse-crisis/

The article is specific to the United States and their statistics come from…

wait for it…

National Catholic Reporter!



-Tim-