Research Shows the Largest Religion in the United States is Catholic; Second is Inactive Catholics

emediawire ^ | May 2007

[ears_to_hear]

I am still on the records after 30 years.

My grandchildren that are now Presbyterian are still on the church records as are my Baptist grandchildren .

[FourtySeven]

However, if we must talk about numbers, from the same article I posted earlier:

And the Catholic Church is growing not only in the world at large but in America in particular. In 1998—the most recent year for which national statistics are available—the U.S. Catholic population had an overall increase of 455,000, including 162,000 conversions to the Catholic Church (i.e., cases of people joining other than baptisms of those below the age of seven).

Again though, numbers doesn't prove truth. Truth is independent of Man.

[utahagen]

I’m delighted to see “active” and “inactive” Catholics finally viewed as separate groups.

[Salvation]

I agree. Although the inactive Catholics are technically still Catholics. There is a process for them to go through if they wish to formally denounce their Catholic roots.

I always tell people that they are still Catholic unless they have filled out a lot of paperwork. When they don’t know what I mean, I just leave it there.

[Salvation]

That’s a great link that proves a great point!

[Salvation]

Thanks.

[jacknhoo]

I agree and thanks for the link to the article.

Have you read this one:
The Incredible Shrinking Catholic Church
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=22821

With things like this going on we don’t have to look far to understand why, at least in the U.S.:

Catholic De Paul University to Host Gay Conference
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/may/07052806.html

Thank God, for Pope Benedict XVI.

[Pinkbell]

While I would avoid his book, I do certainly agree that there are many baptized Catholics that have left the Church. Some pick a different faith, but a lot of those just stop going and get roped into the secular world. Some Catholics attend weekly Mass, but they pick and choose which other teachings to follow and put little into their faith. They may have been what this Mr. Lott did. If you put little into your faith, you generally get little out of it. Once one is baptized, they are always welcome back to the Church so we must pray for those fallen away and cafeteria Catholics.

[tiki]

"Roman Catholics, the largest U.S. church with a reported 69 million members, start counting baptized infants as members and often don’t remove people until they die. Most membership surveys don’t actually count who’s in the pews on Sunday. To be disenrolled, Catholics must write a bishop to ask that their baptisms be revoked..."

I can only speak for my parish but we purge the rolls every year and to be considered a member of our parish you have to sign up. When an infant is baptized the baptism is recorded but the baby does not become a member of our parish unless his parents enroll.

[AlaninSA]

Using this as a “source” is a joke, right?

Next we’ll see people using Hillary Clinton’s website as a means of understanding the positions of the GOP candidates. If you’re going to bash Catholics, at least use something valid.

Better yet, stick with the standard Protestant lies about Catholicism:

1. Catholics WORSHIP saints!

2. Catholics don’t read the Bible!

3. Catholics WORSHIP Mary!

4. All priests are pedophiles!

5. There is a Jesuit conspiracy to RULE THE WORLD!

6. The Mass is not valid and contains no Biblical basis!

7. There is no Biblical basis for purgatory, confession or infant baptism!

8. The Real Presence is a lie!

9. Catholics are not Christians!

10. The Rosary is a pagan tradition!

I’ll give you credit, though. You’re at least charting new waters with this garbage.

[murphE]

After all, isn't personal satisfaction the arbiter of truth? /sarcasm

[Mad Dawg]

5. There is a Jesuit conspiracy to RULE THE WORLD!

Wait! YOU mean there isn't really a Jesuit conspiracy? Darn!

I don't think this is necessarily garbage. I also don't think it is necessarily important. As a convert it amuses me that I know bunches more than many life-long RC's, but it doesn't really surprise me. I'm here because I want to be here. A lot of them are here because, well, y'know, my Mom was a saint, no relaly, and I used to be an altar boy. It's true, but then I got older and , well, heh heh heh, discovered girls, and, well, you know how THAT goes.

BTW, There is no way to stop being an Episcopalian, either. Somewhere in some diocese or other, on some micro-fiche, is my Episcopal data.

It's like the priest who confirmed me in the RC church said, when I said something about the clergy shortage, "I don't hold with all this clergy shortage stuff. Jesus started out with only twelve, and one of them was a bum, and He did okay."

Our being either the group where the Body of Christ may be said to subsist fully OR our being the synagogue of Satan is not going to vary with our popularity - either inversely or directly or according to some intricate function. Our job is to follow attentively where our Lord leads. And since our Lord's most popular Sunday was followed by his least popular Friday and both days were critical to His work, we can't be worrying too much either way about the number of people shouting Hosanna --- or, come to think of it, shouting "Crucify Him."

Eyes on the prize, gang, eyes on the prize.

[steadfastconservative]

I hope that Lott’s book makes more sense than this article, which doesn’t say why Catholics, especially men, are dissatisfied with the Church. But, frankly, I don’t see what real insight an apostate can offer faithful Catholics.

I might read the book, though, when it comes out and then write a review that tears it to pieces. It will be fun.

[LordBridey]

The link in the article will link you to a sample chapter. Rip away.

[stevem]

Judging from the attendance at the Mass I generally attend, the inactives are the larger denomination. I still attend every week if I am in town. I do this despite the best efforts of the majority of the priests that have presided in the last twenty years and their efforts to drive me away.

Their efforts have little to do with the pedophilia that has made all the papers, although that has been inexcusable. What drives me crazy is the socialism that rises like a haze above the pulpits. Since I believe Jesus was more an existentialist than a socialist, I try to ignore these bozos in favor of the Good News especially of the persuasion of John.

I believe the Catholic Church in the United States can recover, but will need to rethink many issues. The hierarchy needs to give folks a reason to attend with enthusiasm rather that to stay away with the same enthusiasm. They won't succeed in this by telling people they are immoral if they aren't communists.

Note, this is anecdotal, and I can only speak to the sermons I have listened to in the few parish churches I have attended in the last 25 years.

[FourtySeven]

You're welcome for the article, I like it too. I always think of it whenever someone trots out "statistics" to prove their church superior (or another inferior).

Thank God, for Pope Benedict XVI.

Amen.

[gemoftheocean]

Bingo, LordBridey - If you have the Eucharist, the most important thing, and if you understood that, you wouldn’t give it up for anything. This guy didn’t know what he turned his nose up at. It’s not about how happy-clappy your services may or may not be, it’s not about punching an “I was baptized, so now I can just go about my business without guilt because no matter what I do from now on I will still be saved” card.

The problem with the church, as I see it, is they phoo-phooed all those moms and aunties and dads that said the rosary nightly with their kids, “dropped by” the blessed sacrament for a visit, taught their kids the prayers “heavens to betsy before the could understand them” blah-blah-let’s-all-hold-hands-and-feel-good-about-ourselves, no-need-to-tell-the-kiddies-why-we-believe-as-we-do crowd got ahold of things and mucked them up.