Membership in our church has doubled in the last four years. I just have a problem with the vast numbers of Catholics in that citation.
Catholics are liking Pope Benedict and are coming back to the Catholic Church, don’t you think?
I believe that the Catholic Church is growing within certain dioceses and under certain bishops, yes. But I've never seen hard data that demonstrates an increase in overall numbers - or better yet, a statistical increase in influence on the moral, social, and political climates.
The Catholic Church is failing to stem the tide of immorality here in America. The creedally orthodox Protestant churches are failing as well. IMO we can argue all day regarding whose numbers are increasing or decreasing, but none of it matters if cultural rot is still the result. We are failing to be salt and light.