Posted on 01/28/2011 9:32:34 AM PST by marshmallow
Shery Weddell at the St Catherine of Siena Institute reports that 32% of Americans raised Catholic abandon the identity altogether by their mid twenties. An additional 38% retain the identity but rarely practice their faith. 30% of those who call themselves Catholic attend Mass only once a month. On a given Sunday only about 15.6% of American Catholics attend Mass.
What is the reason for these disastrous statistics? Basically because for the last forty years Catholics themselves have not taught Catholicism to their children. They've taught 'American Catholicism' which is a watered down blend of sentimentalism, political correctness, community activism and utilitarianism. In other words, "Catholicism is about feeling good about yourself, being just to others and trying to change the world." The next generation have drawn the obvious conclusion that you don't need to go to Mass to do all that. You can feel good about yourself much more effectively with a good book from the self help shelf, or by attending a personal development seminar. You can be involved in making the world a better place without going to church.
If only 15% of Catholics go to Mass on a given Sunday, look around and see how many of them are old. Even the 15% who are there won't be there for very long.
The solution is simple: we must return to the supernatural realities of the historic faith and evangelize like the Apostles of old. The big difference is that the Apostles knew their targets were pagans and the pagans knew they weren't Christians. We're dealing with a huge population of Americans (Catholics and Protestants alike) who are pagan but who think they're 'good Christians.' It is very difficult to evangelize people who already think they're fine just as they are. We don't know what we don't know, and the vast majority of poorly catechized, lazy and worldly Catholics aren't aware that there's anything wrong.
What will it take for us to wake up?
I do not as I prefer to have any discussion on the basis of what is said and not some assumption or bias about a group applied to the person. So I don't ask and never answer personal questions.
Remember what i suggested earlier:
“If you don’t like the free for all of open threads, post a caucus.
Recommend to your Catholic friends that they not engage in personal insults and foul language or respond to those who do. I’ve found this most useful even though it is hard to hold the tongue from wagging.
Do not try to top others in their sarcasm. It never works even if it sometimes feels good.
Lastly, most here are quite able to defend themselves even as “newbies”. Well thought out comments will be welcomed even if disputed, no matter how long the poster has been here. Trust me on this on, really.
And, and have a sense of humor about all this. It’s a talk forum! I dare say I’ve argued with some here rather strenuously yet never neither of us felt the other was a bad person. So don’t take anything personally.
Cheers!”
Oh, look how much good your suggestions have done! Look at how WONDERFUL the Religion Forum is!
I don’t mind a free for all. What I mind is people who are baldfaced untruth tellers.
Yes it is the point. The article was about how to evangelize the faith in a pagan culture. Y’all came in and starting making it about Protestant vs Catholic. The editing would not have been deceitful because it was not the main focus of the article nor was it the topic of discussion.
Thank you. And may the same blessing be on you and yours.
Not deceitful unless we planned on talking about Protestants behind their back. Which we did not. Do you understand the concept of Catholic in name only and Protestant in name only?
True to a point. More and more though these wolves are being routed and godly shepherds are being placed amongst us.
Snort.
Is it flame baiting to continually post their false assumptions and to demand we accept it as truth and then not be allowed to defend against it?
Are some of the interlopers here also moderators? Just wondering since they seem to think you can not do your job without their help.
Heads just exploded.
WELL PUT.
. . .
AS THE SONG GOES . . .
They’re here . . .
at your local cathedral!
I cannot help laughing! ;-D
Amen to that!
Thanks for your clear response.
YET AGAIN, AN RC IS !!!!DEMANDING!!!! that a Proddy conform to THEIR sensibilities.
What a surprise.
1. I did not hire you or anyone else on the net as a
—style coach
—editor
—linguistic tutor
—font monitor
. . .
2. I won’t likely be altering my posting style much at all. I’m 64 years old. My ways of living life, my learnings and sensibilities at this point are more than surface deep.
3. WHEN you post something I wish to comment on, I will. When I talk about your post, I’ll ping you as is the courtesy standard on FR—and in my usual style.
4. These are the realities on FR.
I’ve heard that solidified coconut oil is great for improving memory.
from the mod’s link:
Final note: Trolls, troublemakers, disruptors, forum pests, malcontents, RINOs, liberals, stalkers, et al, would continue posting to (harassing) someone after being asked to stop. Conservative FReepers would not.
So, see what that says about people who continue to post to someone, after being asked to stop?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2664899/posts?page=68#68
AHHHHH
THE HAIRSPLITTING MAGNIFICAT SYMPHONY
accompanied by the
PRISSY PRISS CHORALE!
What an impressive musical production it should be.
Contact your local Rabid Clique RC for tickets.
Be prepared to produce your authentically Heavenly gilded White Hanky for authorization.
Only the ‘Holy’ water sprinkled need apply.
I do not as I prefer to have any discussion on the basis of what is said and not some assumption or bias about a group applied to the person. So I don't ask and never answer personal questions.
Remember what i suggested earlier:
“If you don’t like the free for all of open threads, post a caucus.
Recommend to your Catholic friends that they not engage in personal insults and foul language or respond to those who do. I’ve found this most useful even though it is hard to hold the tongue from wagging.
Do not try to top others in their sarcasm. It never works even if it sometimes feels good.
Lastly, most here are quite able to defend themselves even as “newbies”. Well thought out comments will be welcomed even if disputed, no matter how long the poster has been here. Trust me on this on, really.
And, and have a sense of humor about all this. It’s a talk forum! I dare say I’ve argued with some here rather strenuously yet never neither of us felt the other was a bad person. So don’t take anything personally.
Cheers!”
WELL PUT. AMEN! AMEN!
Besides, some foolishly bring a water pistol to a machine gun fight on such scores . . . and then wail because they came out on the short end of the stick! LOL
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh . . .
Such as the Vatican AIWSOTARM claiming
1. that it existed before 300AD!
2. that Christ instituted the whole horrific farcical structure, organization, dogma . . .
3. that Mary was a perpetual virgin . . .
4. that Mary is Queen of Heaven . . .
5. that Mary is a Mediatrix between man and God . . .
6. that 'Mary vanquishes sin in every respect'
7. that 'No one can go to God without Mary drawing him'--supplanting the Holy Spirit in one of His major jobs.
8. that 'Mary, . . . destoyed sin . . . '
9. that THROUGH MARY Salvation was wrought
10. that 'Mary saves all the souls that entrust themselves to her care.'
11. that Mary 'belongs to the order of hypostatic union; hence she particpates IN the INFINITE SANCTITY OF GOD.'
Yeah, all those delusional lies and deceptions propagated by the Vatican for so long are quite hideous. Proddys and the authentic Heavenly Mary would be quite blessed to see them gone.
Much appreciated.
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