The larger point is that the RC community isn't the only church losing members--just look what is happening to "Yuppie catholics" (Episcopalians) since Vickie Gene became bishop of N.H. and the EUSA governing council thought it cool to appoint a far-left-of-Hillary Clinton liberal woman to be the presiding bishop.
I, for one, believe the American RC losses, though admittedly while started more than a score ago (due to cultural changes rather than VII), had reached its peak under JP-II but began to decline again after the church's College of Cardinals chose Ratzinger as pope.
The "spirit" killeth, the letter giveth life! I'm all over VII, from the little I've read of the documents. But I have heard the most amazing BS offered as somehow in the spirit of VII.
I love this Pope. I appreciated and loved/respected JP2 but our Church needed someone like Benedict. Most practicing Catholics appreciate and thank God we have this Pope now. Many in the liberal American Catholic church didn’t want him as pope so they weren’t pleased.
Pope Benedict doesn’t cater to anyone(except Jesus and His teachings), note his speech and the backlash concerning Mohammed/Islam. One would think the non-muslim world would appreciate that. Especially America since 9-11. Sorta surprises me so many don’t. Then again, on the flip side, it doesn’t really surprise me since we’re heading towards socialiam and the masses are too stupid to see it or too lazy to fight it.
Vatican II did a few wonderful things in the ecumenical sense. And we finally reconciled with the Greek/Eastern Orthodox Church. It also did horrible things, liberal things to our Church and we’re still battling those.
Pope Benny rocks. I hope he lives long enough to make some real changes. More catholics are coming back to the church because of this Pope. It’s about time, imo.