Posted on 03/06/2014 5:00:32 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I think this supposed popularilty is much more with the media and far left than with Catholic rank and file. I’m not suggesting he is unpopular but I see no reason to believe that he’s any more popular overall than the Pope who preceded him.
What I see is that Pope Francis is simply preaching what his favorite saint, Francis of Assisi once said: “preach the Gospel always, but when possible, use words.” It all comes down to preaching the Gospel with your everyday living.
As a layperson who is helping out one of my parish church’s deacons in the RCIA program, there are 3 canidates, 3 Catholics who have been baptized, but still need to get confirmed and to make their first euchurestic communion, the latter this coming Easter.
Even if it was just one person, I REJOICE because he or she is answering the call of Christ to holy conversion.
At least he comes from the new world which is a first.
Yet you cannot deny that the Catholic Church GAVED to the world the Holy Bible. If that is NOT evangelical, I do not know what is.
Did anyone give the Catholic church the Bible? Did the Catholic church create the Bible? Is the Bible the word of the Catholic church? From whence came the words in the Bible? Was the OT published, in place and available before the Lord was born?
The Church not only preserved the OT, but made possible the NT. That is why the Church HAS to be thanked. Case closed.
“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”
Because it’s the One, True, Church, whether some PROTESTant wants to believe it or not.
There is nothing more rewarding than living your life for God, and the blueprint for this is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Everything in the world you want to know on how to live your live for Christ and your fellow man (one in the same), is right there. It is no one’s fault but their own that they are ignorant of the own faith, or does not have the intestinal fortitude to abide by the teachings of Almighty God/the Catholic Church. They want to do it their way, instead of God’s way. No one gets to heaven living their live for themselves. Catholicism is not for sissies and God never promised us it would be easy to follow Him.
Plus the Holy Bible as well.
The OT had been preserved in total 400 years despite the presence of the political structures that would have desired its extinction.
Made possible by the Catholic church? Christ Himself promised that it would be preserved. The thanks go to God. The Catholic church claims credit for the work of God. Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33 It also claims extra-scriptural dogma is necessary for salvation so that claiming credit for God's work shouldn't and doesn't surprise anyone.
The curse of Rome, equating itself with God Almighty.
Make sure you get that in, despite the Catholic teachings that are in opposition to the very Word of God.
Your opinion and your opinion only.
We shall see. Send Off Sunday is coming, when bishops greet people who are planning to come into the Catholic Church via either baptism or by being fully recevied into the Church via RCIA/RCIC ministries of the parishes.
Maybe this has something to do with the fact that the Holy Father became the Pope on March 13, 2013, and the process of converting to Catholicism through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program usually starts in September and ends on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, which is April 20th this year.
Yes, and more often then that, for those who are coming into the Church via baptism, can often begin up to one year prior with the period of inquiry in the months leading up to the start of RCIA gatherings starting in September.
Really? Find me then, in scripture, in light of these passages (Luke 22:25, John 20:21, Matt. 28:19-20, Gal 1:8-9)that the following are required to be believed in order to attain salvation?
Mary gave the Redeemer, the Source of all graces, to the world, and in this way she is the channel of all graces
Mary, the Mother of God, is entitled to the Cult of Hyperdulia.
Christ gave His Church an hierarchical constitution.
The Pope possesses full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, not merely in matters of faith and morals, but also in Church discipline and in the government of the Church.
The Pope is infallible when he speaks ex cathedra.
Membership of the (Catholic) Church is necessary for all men for salvation.
Christ becomes present in the Sacrament of the Altar by the transformation of the whole substance of the bread into His Body and the whole substance of the wine into His Blood.
The source of Indulgences is the Church's treasury of satisfaction which consists of superabundant satisfactions of Christ and of the Saints
Are they in the Gospel of John, which certifies in Chap 20 30-31 that which is necessary to have life in Jesus' name is contained in John's Gospel?
Well why are you using the Bible as a basis of attack what is true?
attack what is true
These things aren't true, yet they bind the hearts and conscience of Catholics who would be Christian and obscure the scriptural prescription of salvation of grace through faith, both of which are gifts from God. The listed 'requirements' are all man-made, they require belief for salvation, a papal gospel, that isn't in consonance with but opposed to the Gospel revealed in scripture. Another gospel as Paul warned the Galatians.
It is still using the Bible to attack the Church. I do not attack your church community, so why atttack mine? Please end it now. Thank-you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.