The Collapse of the Church in France

[Lamentabili]

rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2010/01/collapse-of-church-in-france.html

MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010

The Collapse of the Church in France

The IFOP Institute has just made a survey on Catholicism in France for the daily La Croix. The result is mind-blowing:

Whilst, in 1965, 81% of the French declared themselves as Catholics, they were no more than 64% in 2009.

More serious: whilst 27% of the French went to Mass once a week or more in 1965, they are no more than 4.5% in 2009.

At a doctrinal level, generally, it’s a catastrophe: 63% of practicing Catholics think all religions are the same; 75% ask for an “aggiornamento” of the Church on contraception and even 68% for abortion.

As for communion with the Roman Pontiff, the situation is no better: only 27% of practicing Catholics consider that Benedict XVI “rather well” defends “the values of Catholicism” (personally, I don’t even understand the question, but that doesn’t matter) when 34% think he defends them “rather badly”.

That’s the least we could say, that in view of the figures, it is urgent to change the strategy and reunite the living forces of French Catholicism to re-evangelise the former Eldest Daughter of the Church! To find all the survey data (in French): “La Croix“.

 

[StrawberryJam]

What is the urgency and what is the strategy change? What was the original strategy?
And, most importantly who will do it? And, why hasn’t this been a concern before now?
Why is France considered the former Eldest Daughter of the Church? That doesn’t even make sense.

 

[NeedImprovement]

… Why is France considered the former Eldest Daughter of the Church? That doesn’t even make sense.

wf-f.org/03-1-France.html

 

[StrawberryJam]

wf-f.org/03-1-France.html

“won” the title? Read on, it gets better!



As I said before, it makes NO sense to call France the Eldest Daughter of -]anything./-]the catholic church. None. This is actually very offensive.

 

[redrosetea]

France was at one time very pious and very devout

This really is not anything new about France back in the 1970’s a priest who took a group of parishioners on a pilgrimage to Lourdes told us he had never seen a people so far from God and admonished us to pray for France

 

[NeedImprovement]

From newadvent.org/library/docs_le13ng.htm

Nobilissima Gallorum Gens
On the Religious Question in France
His Holiness Pope Leo XIII
February 8, 1884

" To Our Venerable Brethren the Archbishops and Bishops in France.
Venerable Brethren, Health and the Apostolic Benediction.
THE MOST NOBLE NATION of the French, besides many splendid achievements in peace and war, has deserved from the Catholic Church praise for special services, gratitude for which will never die, and the glory of which will never grow old. Having embraced Christianity at the initiative of its King, Clovis, it was rewarded by this most honorable testimony to its faith and piety, the title of eldest daughter of the Church. From that time, Venerable Brethren, often have your ancestors been the helpers of Providence itself in the performance of great and salutary works …”

From catholicherald.co.uk/articles/editorial/e0000278.shtml

…In the year 496 Remigius, the Archbishop of Reims, baptised Clovis I. Clovis, the first king to unite all the Franks under one ruler, proclaimed Catholicism as the state religion. The King of France was subsequently known as “His Most Christian Majesty” and France itself was called “the eldest daughter of the Church.”

From zenit.org/article-23674?l=english

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).
"- The eldest daughter of the Church is a source of hope, says a Vatican spokesman, who affirmed that particularly the youth of France give the Church reason to look forward to the future.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, spoke of France and Benedict XVI’s trip there last week on the most recent edition of Vatican Television’s “Octava Dies.”
“The Pope’s trip to France was certainly blessed by largely positive results, as the majority of observers have recognized,” he said. “The visit to Lourdes was expected to unfold in a serene atmosphere of intense spirituality but it was not necessarily foreseen that the Paris visit would be accompanied by such respectful attention from French society and that the local Church would succeed in demonstrating such vitality and significant participation. But this is what happened. This is no reason for triumphalism but it is a reason for confidence and hope…”

 

[Jacafamala]

“won” the title? Read on, it gets better!



As I said before, it makes NO sense to call France the Eldest Daughter of -]anything./-]the catholic church. None. This is actually very offensive.

Offensive? Why? This was her title.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Offensive? Why? This was her title.

I’ll leave that for you to decide. If you have not seen politics in this, you may not be concerned.

Let me ask you from a theological standpoint, what can a daughter of the one true church be?

Other lung, sister church, I have heard even though it is offensive to Orthodox. But, it makes theological sense from the catholic standpoint.

Walk me through this.

By the way, it reminds me of titles bestowed on Henry also.

 

[JustaServant]

The French Revolution is finally seeing its long awaited results. Very sad.
But this is epidemic all over Europe.

 

[Jacafamala]

I’ll leave that for you to decide. If you have not seen politics in this, you may not be concerned.

Again, I’m not really sure what your concern regarding France’s title is specifically, other than the fact that you don’t like it. Could you please explain what you meant when you said, ‘If I haven’t seen politics in this, I may not be concerned’?

Let me ask you from a theological standpoint, what can a daughter of the one true church be?

Loyal to the teachings and doctrine of the Church.

In addition, I’ll add that Sometimes nations and institutions are referred to by the feminine pronoun. The Church is considered our Mother and is often referred to as “she”. So too the Christian or post Christians European nations: they are sometimes referred to in the feminine.

Other lung, sister church, I have heard even though it is offensive to Orthodox. But, it makes theological sense from the catholic standpoint.

I hadn’t realized that being called the “other lung” was offensive to the Orthodox, on the contrary, I’ve heard two Greek Orthodox priests referring to themselves this way on EWTN. They seemed happy about that. Are you from an Orthodox background, or do you know any Orthodox individuals who are offended by this description?

Walk me through this.

If I can, I will, but I need to know more from you first.

By the way, it reminds me of titles bestowed on Henry also.

Catholic Herald
In the year 496 Remigius, the Archbishop of Reims, baptised Clovis I. Clovis, the first king to unite all the Franks under one ruler, proclaimed Catholicism as the state religion. The King of France was subsequently known as “His Most Christian Majesty” and France itself was called “the eldest daughter of the Church”.