Ping!
**There was an increase in seminarians in the Catholic Church from 115,919 in 2007 to 117,024 in 2008, in which Africa, Asia and Oceania enjoyed increases while Europe’s numbers dropped by 4.3 percent and America’s figures remained nearly the same.**
I am aware of where the vocations are coming from so I am very encouraged that the American numbers remained about the same......in my book they are increasing slightly. Stay tuned!
Catholics (World Population)
1,116,000,000 (17.4%)
Priests (Increase)
409,166 (0.01%)
Seminarians (Increase)
117,024 (1.0%)
ah but the US press won’t notice it...the “new” Catholics aren’t white yuppies.
See Jenkin’s book on the New Christianity...
And of course, the explosion of Christian house churches in China is another unreported story.
Just wondering if there’s a particular reason the title is using the term “Universal Church”? The article then goes on to speak of the Catholic Church specifically.
I believe all true Christians are part of the universal church of Jesus Christ and that the word catholic is supposed to mean universal, but obviously not all Christians are members of the Catholic Church (under the pope of Rome).
Please clarify the use of this term in the title. I haven’t seen it used this way before on the RF.
The Holy Spirit...
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“The number of consecrated religious decreased from 801,185 in the year 2000 to 739,067 in 2008, with there being 17.6 percent fewer in Europe, a drop of 12.9 percent in America and 14.9 percent in Oceania, while the number in Africa and Asia have risen by double digit percentages points.”
There are wide differences in the rates of change in these important charisms of the Church.