Pope Laments 'Dying' Churches in West

Statesman ^ | July 28, 2005 | Nicole Winfield

[B Knotts]

I wonder if these are the subjects the Holy Father will write about in his first encyclical.

[BobCNY]

The Western Churches remind me of the writings in the New Testament of the 7 Churches.

[Hugin]

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI lamented the seemingly "dying" church in Europe and the United States and raised questions about the soaring number of priests in Asia and Africa in a lengthy, off-the-cuff speech to Italian priests.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, and European and American priests aren't?

[gscc]

The State of the Western Church mirrors the worst admonitions of the Seven Churches of Revelation. It also mirrors the state of the denominations that serve West Europe. They are not even lukewarm - they are apostate. The Pope needs to clean his own house. An inability to discipline Church leaders and the flock, to enforce orthodoxy and scriptural truth, and to spread the good news of the Gospel has led the Church to this point. Juxtapose the early Church, a Church that was persecuted and despised, yet grew quickly, to the new age Church that is losing to flock in droves. The state of the Lutheran, Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, etc Churches is almost uniform in their lack of faithfulness to the Scriptures. The lukewarm will be spewed out - the totally apostate were warned "Now turn from your sins! If you don't, I will come to you soon and fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.

[VeritatisSplendor]

The rule is the same for all countries. Wherever did you get the idea that African and Asian priests are allowed to get married?

[Sam Gamgee]

There are more tourists in European churches than church goers. Europe is lost.

[Coleus]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, >>

what? explain yourself please.

[Selkie]

I love him !

[A.A. Cunningham]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, and European and American priests aren't?

An ignorant statement refuted by the facts.

Protestant churches face pastor shortage

[infidel dog]

Ee-yeah. I'm afraid I have to agree with you on the status of Christian civilization in Europe, west of the Elbe at any rate. "Old" Europe has become a sort of secular humanist theme park, a "Europeland" for American Democrats to gaze wistfully across the Atlantic at. Well, perhaps our liberals will emigrate and temporarily slow Europe's disastrous demographic trends...

[RKBA Democrat]

I guess it all depends on where you're at. In the southern U.S., churches are doing pretty well. In the northeast, not so good.

As regards the comments made about celibate priesthood, I think celibacy has an impact on the numbers, but not as great as one might expect. Being a priest is often a thankless job, and certainly not one with many material rewards.

[jec1ny]

"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, and European and American priests aren't?"

I don't think so. Mainly because Asian and African priests are NOT allowed to marry (provided they belong to the Roman Rite).

[Hugin]

I hereby retract my statement. I swear I read a thread on FR some time back about how the Church was accepting married men with families as priests in Africa due to "cultural considerations". However, I can find no evidence to back this up.

[Coleus]

OK,

but one thing you said confused me, how would the marriage situation of a priest affect the lack of enthusiasm of Catholics of any particular geographic area, in this case the "west". Maybe many western areas of old-time catholics take their religion for granted while many converts and former Pagans accept their new found faith with a zeal and exuberance we don't see anymore in the west regardless of the marriage situation of the priest.

[Coleus]

 England 'Return To Your God'

[Salvation]

Pope Says Churches In the West Look To Be Dying

[Salvation]

I have stories that go both ways on this:

Catholic Parishes Flourish in Southern U.S.

Bible-belt Catholics

Number of Catholics Rises by 15 Million (Diocesan Priests Increase; Religious Decrease)

Spanish Catholicism still very robust (3 shrines and The Sagrada Familia)

Catholics outsource praying to India

Catholic Priests in India 'Outsourced' to Meet Clergy Shortage in West

Christian Coalition head (in Ala.) becomes Catholic

Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline

Young people turn against their parents' 'church lite'

Pope calls US Church to repentance and renewal

A father for the 11th time - Widower becomes Catholic priest

Number of Adults Who Don't Attend Church Service Doubles

Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders

Church Attendance Increased : Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance

Catholics Trail Protestants in Church Attendance [Gallup]

Church Attendance Linked to Longer Life

Church Growth and Eveangelism

Dozens of Episcopalians Follow Leader into Catholic Church

Thousands prepare to join U.S. Catholic Church this Easter

Where Have All the People in the Pews Gone?

More Than 150,000 People to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday

Spirituality on the rise on college campuses

Analysis: Rome up, Protestantism down?

Benedict's Logic: A Church Contracting & Expanding Simultaneously

CHRISTIANITY EXPLODING WORLDWIDE; 3RD WORLD SENDING MISSIONARIES [V ENCOURAGING DOC]

Christianity taking over the planet?

Local pews straining to hold increasing Catholic population

Catholic Church is losing sway in Europe (Opinion from Ireland)

Has the Catholic Church given up the Ghost?

Statistics Reveal Africa Is (Catholic) Church's New Hope

Chicago Ordains Largest Class of Priests in a Decade

Foreign priests want to fill a need- if Americans let them

Reviving a dream: Big hopes of little congregation growing for Orthodox church

Ancient rhythm: Converts to Orthodoxy growing in America

Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists

IS THE CHURCH LIKELY TO SHRINK--AND SHOULD IT?

Church Attendance in Germany Experiences Huge Growth after Pope Benedict Elected

Pope Says Churches In the West Look To Be Dying

Pope Laments 'Dying' Churches in West

[Sam Gamgee]

We could only hope. Europeans seem to have this snide idea that those who believe in absolutes and God are stupid and ignorant. How us ignorant Christians managed to build a Republic and the wealthiest civilization must just boggle their minds.