Pope Francis Faces a Latin America Where Many Catholics Worship to a Different Beat

NY Times ^ | 07-09-2015 | WILLIAM NEUMAN

[NRx]

QUITO, Ecuador — The rock music boomed as the congregants at this simple, white-walled church sang and clapped, raising their arms skyward as they prayed aloud and swayed to the beat. The sermon included jokes and a call-and-response with people in the pews. There was even a faith healing testimonial.

But just when it seemed like a Protestant revival meeting, the blessing of the host began and the parishioners filed to the altar to take communion, as in any other Roman Catholic Mass.

Afterward, many of the worshipers bought T-shirts and scarves with the logo of Pope Francis’ visit to their country this week.

“They’re not so Catholic, are they?” joked the priest who presided over the service, Ismael Nova, referring to the Masses he conducts at San Juan Eudes parish church. “They’re different.”

But then he added, “It’s the same Catholic Mass, because we’re still Catholic, but it’s made livelier with the music and the singing and raising the arms and handing over our lives more to Jesus.”

[NRx]

Summary from the front page of the Times: Trying to breathe life in the church, Pope Francis has embraced the charismatic movement, with Masses featuring rock music, arms held skyward and faith healing testimonials.

[Buckeye McFrog]

They have a huge population under-30 which has been gravitating towards Evangelical churches in droves.

If the Catholic Church’s biggest problem is losing our young people, going back in the direction of the pre-Vatican II Liturgy and inserting words like “consubstantial” is never going to get them back.

Of course, after reading the Pope’s Encyclical, I no longer believe that our biggest problem is the loss of our young people.

[Alex Murphy]

The rock music boomed as the congregants at this simple, white-walled church sang and clapped, raising their arms skyward as they prayed aloud and swayed to the beat. The sermon included jokes and a call-and-response with people in the pews. There was even a faith healing testimonial. But just when it seemed like a Protestant revival meeting, the blessing of the host began and the parishioners filed to the altar to take communion, as in any other Roman Catholic Mass. Afterward, many of the worshipers bought T-shirts and scarves with the logo of Pope Francis’ visit to their country this week.

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[dljordan]

“worship a different beat”

What does that mean?

[dljordan]

“Worship to a Different Beat”

Oops, sorry, I had “Worship a Different Beat”.

[SumProVita]

ALERT!!! This comes from the media. Beware!...or rather BE AWARE.

[piusv]

I’m curious. What in this article do you think is wrong?

[SumProVita]

Do you automatically trust the NY Times without doing your own research? ;-o