Where is the faith of the Apostles and the courage of the Martyrs?
Posted on 03/23/2021 5:33:10 PM PDT by lightman
(RNS) — Americans are becoming more confident they can attend in-person religious services but church attendance at Easter services will still be far lower than usual this year, a new Pew Research poll finds.
The poll, conducted in early March among 12,055 Americans, finds the percentage of regular attenders who say they actually have attended religious services — in person — in the past month is slightly higher than it was in June, about 17%.
Among Christians, only 39% said they planned to go in person to church services this Easter Sunday (April 4), with white evangelicals the most likely to say they planned to — 52%. That’s far lower than the 62% of Christians of all kinds who typically attend services at Easter, the holiest day of the Christian year. “Roughly four-in-ten U.S. Christians plan to attend Easter services in person this year” Graphic courtesy Pew Research Center
“Roughly four-in-ten U.S. Christians plan to attend Easter services in person this year” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center
The poll also found that people who attend religious services favor keeping a lot of the COVID-19 restrictions, such as social distancing and mask-wearing, in place.
Catholics, more than any other group, say their churches are open but operating with virus-related precautions in place: 79% are open but require social distancing, masking and attendance limits.
Overall, half of Christians say their congregations are open to in-person services while enforcing social distancing and mask-wearing.
The return to pre-pandemic levels of in-person religious attendance is much slower among Black Protestants. Only 21% said they are attending in-person services now and only 31% plan to attend at Easter — far lower than the 68% who typically attend. The pandemic has hit Black Americans especially hard, and that may be one reason.
About 80% of all religious attenders said their place of worship offers online services.
The poll also found an unsurprising political divide: Republicans who regularly attend services are more than twice as likely as Democrats who regularly attend services to say they recently attended in-person religious services (57% vs. 26%).
Where is the faith of the Apostles and the courage of the Martyrs?
Our church has been in-person since June. No masks. Alternate pews.
The Hierarchs should NEVER have allowed Christianity to be declared “non-essential”.
Now reaping what was sown a year ago.
Mine too. Plus I sing in the choir. Very dangerous 🤣🤣🤣
We cancelled Easter last year. Not this time.
Good to know!
Glory to God!
Yeah, just think of the billions of viruses that are floating around in the choir loft, searching for a victim.
I consider myself a Christian.
I am not affiliated with any religious organization or any church.
I have not attended any church service in over 20 years.
I read scripture daily.
I pray many times daily.
I always try to live my life as a good, kind, helpful, and positive person.
I worship God in my own way, especially appreciating his creations.
I will not be attending any Easter church services this year.
9 out of 10 Roman Catholic Bishops hope everyone stays at home and watches on TV - but still send in their offerings.
Most churches around here have hybrid services - in-person, live on Facebook and/or ZOOM.
This is ending the Church in North America.
Idiots all
Spot on. Terrible decision to allow the non-essential label.
One of the worst in Christian history was the abrogation of responsibility to grieving and ill families. We abandoned our ill and deceased.
I hoped at least 60% would attend in-person Easter services. I’ll work, that day, but I’ll watch a service via facebook live.
REAL holy Hierarchs, like Pope St. Gregory (propertly titled “Magnus”—”the Great”—by Orthodox and Catholics alike) led pentitental processions through the streets of plague infected cities.
Now we mostly have hierlings...
So sad.
Christians have become too comfortable. Simple as that. We’re not used to dealing with fear and the need for hope in the face of death.
This covid BS has reduced me to the status of literally mother’s basement and we’ve had multiple screaming matches about being able to take the preaching and teaching gigs that I can because of how terrified she is that a virus may float across the state and into her body.
Maybe things change now that she’s got jabbed.
> An awesome pic, sharing from > Maritime History Archive -
"American soldiers eating Easter dinner in blackout on Signal Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland, 1942." ..
Happy Easter
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