[Investment Biker]

We were in Florence this year and went to early mass in the duomo. In this great church mass was said at the side alter. There were about 120 people in attendance in a great church that holds thousands. About 1/2 were tourists. There is little church attendance in Europe these days. So the priest may have deny a funeral to parishioners that have never been to Sunday mass also.

[Conservative til I die]

There is little church attendance in Europe these days. So the priest may have deny a funeral to parishioners that have never been to Sunday mass also.

You think that tourists are going to go to a stranger's funeral?

[redgolum]

A former principle at the parochial school in my home town is now a Lutheran missionary in Germany. He says that Europe is so de Christianized that it is almost an open mission field.

Interestingly is that the old East Germany is a bit more Christian.

[pgkdan]

We were in Florence this year and went to early mass in the duomo. In this great church mass was said at the side alter. There were about 120 people in attendance in a great church that holds thousands. About 1/2 were tourists. There is little church attendance in Europe these days.

How early were you there? Was this a Sunday Mass or daily Mass? My church seats about 900 people and if you came to 6:00 am Mass on a weekday you'd think that our parish was on the verge of failing...25-30 people in attendance. At the 7:00 am Sunday Mass the church is only about half full but if you came to any of the other 3 Sunday Masses and didn't get there 15-20 minutes early you'd be standing in the back or along the wall.

[TomSmedley]

There is little church attendance in Europe these days.

Italian families are averaging 1.3 kids, I think. Loss of faith -> loss of hope -> loss of charity -> extinction.

The only alternative is a revival of Biblical and fecund Christianity.