Posted on 09/17/2015 12:42:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Over 50 percent of Americans raised in the Catholic Church say they've left the faith at some point in their lives, according to a Pew Research survey on religion and public life.
The data further revealed that among the 52 percent who left the Church, about six out of 10 have returned at some point.
Two-thirds of the group that left the Church now consider themselves ex-Catholics and no-longer identify with the faith.
Around 13 percent, however, still identify as Catholic, but no longer practice the religion.
For those who are still practicing, around 73 percent said they've been in the Church their entire life, and seven out of 10 said they could never imagine leaving it.
Aside from membership, Pew Research also uncovered surprising beliefs held by Catholics pertaining to families.
The survey found that a "strong majority" of Catholics said children being raised in unconventional families with unmarried parents living together, same-sex couples or single parents, is acceptable. Around 90 percent, though, preferred that children be raised with a married mother and father. Forty-three percent said it's acceptable for a gay couple to raise a child.
"Nine-in-10 U.S. Catholics say a household headed by a married mother and father is an ideal situation for bringing up children. But the survey shows that large majorities think other kinds of families those headed by parents who are single, divorced, unmarried or gay are OK for raising children, too," noted Pew in the analysis released just days before Pope Francis' first U.S. visit in which he'll encounter a national Catholic population largely supportive of family units not advanced or encouraged by Church teaching.
The survey also found that: "A sizable majority (85 percent) think it's acceptable for a man and a woman to live together as a couple outside of marriage, including more than half (55 percent) who say cohabitation is as good as any other living arrangement for adults. And [seven]-in-10 Catholics say married couples who opt not to have children have chosen a lifestyle that is as good as any other."
And while many Catholics hold progressive beliefs when it comes to issues involving families, the Church seems to be maintaining its traditional views, despite the change in tone from Pope Francis when it comes to divorce and homosexuality.
The Pope did, however, make changes to the Church's annulment process, loosening restrictions on Catholics who wish to remarry. The Vatican is also expected to host a meeting in October with Catholic leaders worldwide where they will analyze recommendations on family issues, including divorce and marriage.
True; but doesn't being rabidly fervent count for ANYTHING these days??
This sounds; shall we say; a wee bit judgmental...
You truncated my quote (and added a period) and, thus, altered my sentence’s meaning and intent. That’s not entirely an honest thing to do, FReeper.
We have pew research in our church each Sunday, by folks looking for a place to sit.
Well...
...Jesus is recorded as saying; in the Bible that the Catholics compiled:
He said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.
Luke 16:31
Saw the emojis on the way out and thought I'd say Hi...
G-d ♡ bless you!
Grateful ✟ ✡
He DID?
Irenaeus of Lyons wrote in the 2nd century that Peter and Paul had been the founders of the Church in Rome and had appointed Linus as succeeding bishop.[66]
Clement of Alexandria states that "Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome. (A.D. 190)"[67]
Lactantius, in his book called Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died, written around 318, noted that And while Nero reigned, the Apostle Peter came to Rome, and, through the power of God committed unto him, wrought certain miracles, and, by turning many to the true religion, built up a faithful and stedfast temple unto the Lord.[68]
The Catholic Church speaks of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, as the successor of Saint Peter. This is often interpreted to imply that Peter was the first Bishop of Rome. However, it is also said that the institution of the papacy is not dependent on the idea that Peter was Bishop of Rome or even on his ever having been in Rome.[69] While accepting that Peter came to Rome and was martyred there, scholars find no historical evidence that he held episcopal office there.[70][71][72][73][74]
While the church in Rome was already flourishing when Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans about AD 57,[43] he greets some fifty people in Rome by name,[44] but not Peter whom he knew. There is also no mention of Peter in Rome later during Paul's two-year stay there in Acts 28, about AD 60-62.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
We Prots have SO much power here on FR that you Catholics can't even highfive each other in your caucus threads!
They ARE???
Its so bad that the fundamentalists have to send vans into the ghetto to fill their pews.
Luke 14:23
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.
Are YOU going to Heaven?
What's your take on Francis?
I shudda read ahead!
Would THESE help any??
Bonaventure: the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.
Ephem: devotion to the divine Mother is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.
Ambrose: constantly pray Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.
Fulgetius: by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.
Athanasius: And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.
Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.
Guerric: he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.
Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.
Antoninus:
souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.
And was re-elected by the people!
Conversely...
When a Catholic brings up Luther they automatically lose the argument. See definition of Common Sense.
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