Catholics, because of a strong cultural identity, tend to identify themselves as Catholic even if they haven't been to mass since they were kids. Those people are lumped in with the practicing Catholics in order to arrive at that number. Obama's support among weekly mass attenders was much smaller.
The Church lost a lot of people during the 70's and 80's, due to the haphazard Vatican II reforms and the poor teaching of the children during those years. As a convert, I was shocked that some of the things I knew about the Church and her teachings was unknown to cradle Catholics in my own parish.
Thankfully, things are beginning to turn around, but the Barque of Peter is a large ship, which turns slowly. It will probably be another 10 years before things are really squared away. The Holy Gather is a true blessing to us, and may he live long years more and confound those who want to wreck the Church.
Ack!
Holy Gather should read Holy Father!
>>Ppeople who have fallen away from the evangelical or Protestant churches tend to either identify themselves as “protestant” or “unaffiliated” or something like that.
Catholics, because of a strong cultural identity, tend to identify themselves as Catholic even if they haven’t been to mass since they were kids. Those people are lumped in with the practicing Catholics in order to arrive at that number. Obama’s support among weekly mass attenders was much smaller.<<
I was having a debate with a friend and we both started googling. We were both right.
I said the Catholic church is the fastest growing - that’s true because most immigrants are Catholic.
He said the Catholic church was the fastest declining - he had a point because their church attendance is declining most and they have more parishes closing.