Pope Francis' Popularity not Bringing More into Catholic Church

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 3/5/14 | Kurt Streeter

[marshmallow]

Pew Research poll finds no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic or in the number sitting in church pews on Sundays.

Pope Francis is one of the best-known religious figures in the world, but a new Pew Research poll seeking to quantify his popularity raises questions about the so-called Francis effect.

The poll found an overwhelming embrace of Francis, who has been trying to steer the Catholic Church toward a greater emphasis on compassion for the poor and marginalized. Sixty percent of non-Catholics and 85% of Catholics surveyed said they viewed the pontiff favorably — numbers approaching those of Pope John Paul II, whose peak popularity ratings among Catholics hovered just above 90%.

However, the poll found no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic or in the number sitting in church pews on Sundays. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed described themselves as Catholic, the same figure as in the year preceding Francis' election. Forty percent said they attended Mass at least once a week, unchanged from just before the papal transition.

While the survey found a significant increase in the excitement Catholics are feeling about their faith, there wasn't evidence they are volunteering or attending confession more.

[marshmallow]

Unsurprising. The Pope's message, at least as perceived by the world (rightly or wrongly), does not appear to stress the importance or pre-eminence of Catholic theology nor the urgency of conversion. On the contrary, he appears to say "be a good Anglican, be a good Muslim" and his "popularity" is due to the perception of him being opposed to most of what the world opposes in Catholicism; changeless doctrine, moral absolutes, and tradition. That sort of "popularity" doesn't bring converts.

[Salvation]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3130303/posts

[Cicero]

Ditto.

[Salvation]

From the LATinmes? LOL!

Glad you believe them. I don’t.

[Alex Murphy]

....the poll found no change in the number of people who self-identify as Catholic or in the number sitting in church pews on Sundays. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed described themselves as Catholic, the same figure as in the year preceding Francis' election. Forty percent said they attended Mass at least once a week, unchanged from just before the papal transition.

While the survey found a significant increase in the excitement Catholics are feeling about their faith, there wasn't evidence they are volunteering or attending confession more.

Oops.

[rwilson99]

Considering that the vast majority of Catholics who enter the church enter at Easter it is a particularly poor time to conduct the survey.

The way to track the Francis effect would be to compare the size of RCIA classes from one year to the next.

[Burkean]

The modern Catholic Church is not evangelical, in my opinion. I wouldn’t expect that to change.

[Burkean]

The modern Catholic Church is not evangelical, in my opinion. I wouldn’t expect that to change.

[Romulus]

I teach an RCIA class. This year’s crop is no larger than normal.

This pope will probably attract a good number of converts, but also convince a great many more lukewarm Catholics that they have no particular reason to keep coming round.

[ansel12]

You only trust NBC as a source?

[steve86]

This pope will probably attract a good number of converts, but also convince a great many more lukewarm Catholics that they have no particular reason to keep coming round.

And convince a number of very devout and observant traditional Catholics that maybe some of the independent Catholic groups are worth considering.

[steve86]

The Pope's message, at least as perceived by the world (rightly or wrongly), does not appear to stress the importance or pre-eminence of Catholic theology nor the urgency of conversion. On the contrary, he appears to say "be a good Anglican, be a good Muslim" and his "popularity" is due to the perception of him being opposed to most of what the world opposes in Catholicism; changeless doctrine, moral absolutes, and tradition.

Very astute observations.

[Salvation]

**The modern Catholic Church is not evangelical**

And just how do you know that?

Many Catholic Churches are growing by leaps and bounds because there is a Holy Spirit filled energy within them — that’s evangelical!

[Salvation]

When did I say that?

[ansel12]

I was merely wondering how much difference you saw between the LA Times, versus the source you posted, NBC.

[rwilson99]

And that’s about what my assessment is too... Give the guy 5-10 years and see what he accomplishes in terms of reform of the beuracracy and most importantly in my book... Who our new bishop will be in two years.

[piusv]

Exactly. This talk of “media bias of MSM sources” is a bunch of hooey. MSM sources are totally accurate when they report what one believes.

[catfish1957]

This might not be a popular post, but I will give you my observations as a Protestant who married a Catholic, and has attended Catholic services for over 25 years:

(1)Catholics generally do not know the bible. Cathecism apparently focused more on Dogma than scripture. Frame that picture versus VBS and Sunday School which drilled chapter and verse like crazy. I am often floored by how they don't know

(2)Overstructured services that vary little, are counterproductive toward recharging the heart.

(3)Homilies focus more on church doctrine and position than on people's personal lives.

(4)Clergy are generally but not exclusively less personable than Protestant counterparts.

(5)Catholics grow their faith more through threats than good PR/deeds. I will be nice and not go into details, and will entertain examples if needed though freepmail.

On the other hand, I am a history buff, and find it fascinating that this faith has remained intact for almost 2000 years. I also see why all my ancestors left it 300-500 years ago too.

[Biggirl]

Wow, that REALLY surprises me.

[Biggirl]

Maybe he is trying to be a PEACEMAKER first, speaking about the Gospel of Christ to a very troubled world.