Realizing that you are speaking of RCC membership, I take exception to that "billion or more". From many RC's on FR one can see that they condemn a great number of Catholics as CINO. And surveys and polls show us that far more Catholics don't really know what the church teaches than do - and some of the statistics have been mentioned in various threads on FR from time to time.
Actually, the membership numbers put out by the RCC are very deceptive, to say the least. IMHO, the actual numbers of Catholics in the world number no more than 40% of what is claimed - I could be off a few percentage points, but the statistics seem to prove the point I'm making.
An interesting aside to this is that there certainly are a "billion or more" Christians (including Catholics) that know what the Catholic church teaches - even though they may or not be members of the RCC. I'm one of them, as are quite a few non-catholics on FR who were Catholics at one time and left because they knew what the RCC teaches.
Just a little thought for you to ponder on.
From many RC's on FR one can see that they condemn a great number of Catholics as CINO.
A few dozen politicians really doesn't change the configuration of a group of over a billion.
And surveys and polls show us that far more Catholics don't really know what the church teaches than do
Which surveys are those?
IMHO, the actual numbers of Catholics in the world number no more than 40% of what is claimed
But that is your OPINION.
I could be off a few percentage points, but the statistics seem to prove the point I'm making.
What statistics are these?
But, even if you are right, that would still leave over 400 million devout Catholics and this would still be by far the largest group of devout Christians in the world.
I'm one of them, as are quite a few non-catholics on FR who were Catholics at one time and left because they knew what the RCC teaches.
People leaving the Church because the truth makes them uncomfortable is nothing new:
65 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that did not believe, and who he was, that would betray him.
66 And he said: Therefore did I say to you, that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father. 67 After this many of his disciples went back; and walked no more with him.
-- John 6:65-67
In many cultures like Europe.. it is the tradition to have babies baptized.. the child is then counted as a Catholic .Even if that child never sees the inside of a church again until 1st communion.. and then on their wedding ..maybe a Christmas now and again
I still get things in the mail from "the church" 34 years after I left.. In my area..one that would claim a 85 or 90 % catholic population, they are busy closing and "combining" churches because of a declining attendance..