Posted on 01/28/2011 9:32:34 AM PST by marshmallow
Shery Weddell at the St Catherine of Siena Institute reports that 32% of Americans raised Catholic abandon the identity altogether by their mid twenties. An additional 38% retain the identity but rarely practice their faith. 30% of those who call themselves Catholic attend Mass only once a month. On a given Sunday only about 15.6% of American Catholics attend Mass.
What is the reason for these disastrous statistics? Basically because for the last forty years Catholics themselves have not taught Catholicism to their children. They've taught 'American Catholicism' which is a watered down blend of sentimentalism, political correctness, community activism and utilitarianism. In other words, "Catholicism is about feeling good about yourself, being just to others and trying to change the world." The next generation have drawn the obvious conclusion that you don't need to go to Mass to do all that. You can feel good about yourself much more effectively with a good book from the self help shelf, or by attending a personal development seminar. You can be involved in making the world a better place without going to church.
If only 15% of Catholics go to Mass on a given Sunday, look around and see how many of them are old. Even the 15% who are there won't be there for very long.
The solution is simple: we must return to the supernatural realities of the historic faith and evangelize like the Apostles of old. The big difference is that the Apostles knew their targets were pagans and the pagans knew they weren't Christians. We're dealing with a huge population of Americans (Catholics and Protestants alike) who are pagan but who think they're 'good Christians.' It is very difficult to evangelize people who already think they're fine just as they are. We don't know what we don't know, and the vast majority of poorly catechized, lazy and worldly Catholics aren't aware that there's anything wrong.
What will it take for us to wake up?
Of all the hateful, disgusting things that might be posted here on FR, that is one of the worst. I suggest in the strongest of terms that you apologize to her, and request that the post be removed.
Ohhh. That’s wonderful, Judith Anne. You’ve brought tears to my eyes.
The meaning is clear and those words condemn anyone who believes in them.
If Rome doesn't mean it follows "another Christ" and if Rome doesn't pray to a "co-redeemer," then Rome should change its vocabulary to catch up to the rest of the English-speaking world.
Actually, I hope the post stays up there. I hope all lurkers see it.
Calvin is sick, and twisted.
I believe them. Are you saying I am condemned?
I believe Jesus Christ.
For by they words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." -- Matthew 12:36-37"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Then look in the mirror, and repeat the scripture.
We homeschool our kids. We’re enrolled here: http://www.classicalliberalarts.com/
Our kids are getting an amazing Catholic education!
"Specifically," it is the slant of the story that says the "collapse of cultural Catholicism" is a bad thing.
It's not. It's progress.
"Cultural Catholicism" elected Obama, applauded Ratzinger's "global authority" encyclical and excused pederast priests.
dot...dot...dot...
I just thank God that the OPC is going down the toilet, as we speak.
Do Roman Catholics use mirrors a lot? Part of the sideshow?
I know what those words of Christ mean. They mean there is no "alter Christus" nor is there any "co-redemptrix."
Men are justified by Christ on the cross alone which means salvation is unmerited, unearned and undeserved. No good works of men can warrant the free gift of grace. Therefore sinners are redeemed by God's grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.
Those words do not "condemn;" they echo the word of God. They are truth and life.
There's only one reflection in that mirror -- Jesus Christ.
Bless you and your late husband. The Church is the One True Faith, and those that follow an interpretation of a man one and a half millennia after the complete Revelation of our Faith are lost. May they be found.
Hey! My son was 98G and served in Korea, too. He was Elint translator and loved it. Sadly, Clinton was the president at the time, so he chose not to stay.
PS, 2nd ID, second to NONE!
When I look in the mirror, I see a sinner in need of Lord Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of Almighty God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I don't know how anyone looks in the mirror and sees Christ, unless they are deluded.
You should’ve made this a Catholic Caucus, it is an excellent article.
The RCC just couldn’t compete with the “Americanism” they openly despised for much of our history. Once the the flock left their respective ethnic ghettos and became happy assimilated white folks, neither the Novus Ordum hokum nor any “conservative” counter movement could bring them back. It doesn’t help that most Catholics by ancestry happen to be raised in regions of the country where religious fervor of any kind is frowned upon.
You misread the article. It favored such a collapse. Which is what all orthodox faithful favor.
A Korean ‘Goof’! He was SIGINT, as ELINT is strictly non-voice. When did your son go through Goodfellow AFB?
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