The hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestants

Any other institution that lost one-third of its members would want to know why.....

We all have heard stories about why people leave. Parents share stories about their children. Academics talk about their students. Everyone has a friend who has left.

While personal experience can be helpful, social science research forces us to look beyond our circle of acquaintances to see what is going on in the whole church.

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has put hard numbers on the anecdotal evidence: One out of every 10 Americans is an ex-Catholic. If they were a separate denomination, they would be the third-largest denomination in the United States, after Catholics and Baptists. One of three people who were raised Catholic no longer identifies as Catholic.

Any other institution that lost one-third of its members would want to know why. But the U.S. bishops have never devoted any time at their national meetings to discussing the exodus. Nor have they spent a dime trying to find out why it is happening.

Thankfully, although the U.S. bishops have not supported research on people who have left the church, the Pew Center has.

Pew’s data shows that those leaving the church are not homogenous. They can be divided into two major groups: those who become unaffiliated and those who become Protestant. Almost half of those leaving the church become unaffiliated and almost half become Protestant. Only about 10 percent of ex-Catholics join non-Christian religions. This article will focus on Catholics who have become Protestant. I am not saying that those who become unaffiliated are not important; I am leaving that discussion to another time.

Why do people leave the Catholic church to become Protestant? Liberal Catholics will tell you that Catholics are leaving because they disagree with the church’s teaching on birth control, women priests, divorce, the bishops’ interference in American politics, etc. Conservatives blame Vatican II, liberal priests and nuns, a permissive culture and the church’s social justice agenda.

One of the reasons there is such disagreement is that we tend to think that everyone leaves for the same reason our friends, relatives and acquaintances have left. We fail to recognize that different people leave for different reasons. People who leave to join Protestant churches do so for different reasons than those who become unaffiliated. People who become evangelicals are different from Catholics who become members of mainline churches.

The principal reasons given by people who leave the church to become Protestant are that their “spiritual needs were not being met” in the Catholic church (71 percent) and they “found a religion they like more” (70 percent). Eighty-one percent of respondents say they joined their new church because they enjoy the religious service and style of worship of their new faith.

In other words, the Catholic church has failed to deliver what people consider fundamental products of religion: spiritual sustenance and a good worship service. And before conservatives blame the new liturgy, only 11 percent of those leaving complained that Catholicism had drifted too far from traditional practices such as the Latin Mass.

Dissatisfaction with how the church deals with spiritual needs and worship services dwarfs any disagreements over specific doctrines. While half of those who became Protestants say they left because they stopped believing in Catholic teaching, specific questions get much lower responses. Only 23 percent said they left because of the church’s teaching on abortion and homosexuality; only 23 percent because of the church’s teaching on divorce; only 21 percent because of the rule that priests cannot marry; only 16 percent because of the church’s teaching on birth control; only 16 percent because of the way the church treats women; only 11 percent because they were unhappy with the teachings on poverty, war and the death penalty.

The data shows that disagreement over specific doctrines is not the main reason Catholics become Protestants. We also have lots of survey data showing that many Catholics who stay disagree with specific church teachings. Despite what theologians and bishops think, doctrine is not that important either to those who become Protestant or to those who stay Catholic.

People are not becoming Protestants because they disagree with specific Catholic teachings; people are leaving because the church does not meet their spiritual needs and they find Protestant worship service better.

Nor are the people becoming Protestants lazy or lax Christians. In fact, they attend worship services at a higher rate than those who remain Catholic. While 42 percent of Catholics who stay attend services weekly, 63 percent of Catholics who become Protestants go to church every week. That is a 21 percentage-point difference.

Catholics who became Protestant also claim to have a stronger faith now than when they were children or teenagers. Seventy-one percent say their faith is “very strong,” while only 35 percent and 22 percent reported that their faith was very strong when they were children and teenagers, respectively. On the other hand, only 46 percent of those who are still Catholic report their faith as “very strong” today as an adult.

Thus, both as believers and as worshipers, Catholics who become Protestants are statistically better Christians than those who stay Catholic. We are losing the best, not the worst.

Some of the common explanations of why people leave do not pan out in the data. For example, only 21 percent of those becoming Protestant mention the sex abuse scandal as a reason for leaving. Only 3 percent say they left because they became separated or divorced.

If you believed liberals, most Catholics who leave the church would be joining mainline churches, like the Episcopal church. In fact, almost two-thirds of former Catholics who join a Protestant church join an evangelical church. Catholics who become evangelicals and Catholics who join mainline churches are two very distinct groups. We need to take a closer look at why each leaves the church.

Fifty-four percent of both groups say that they just gradually drifted away from Catholicism. Both groups also had almost equal numbers (82 percent evangelicals, 80 percent mainline) saying they joined their new church because they enjoyed the worship service. But compared to those who became mainline Protestants, a higher percentage of those becoming evangelicals said they left because their spiritual needs were not being met (78 percent versus 57 percent) and that they had stopped believing in Catholic teaching (62 percent versus 20 percent). They also cited the church’s teaching on the Bible (55 percent versus 16 percent) more frequently as a reason for leaving. Forty-six percent of these new evangelicals felt the Catholic church did not view the Bible literally enough. Thus, for those leaving to become evangelicals, spiritual sustenance, worship services and the Bible were key. Only 11 percent were unhappy with the church’s teachings on poverty, war, and the death penalty Ñ the same percentage as said they were unhappy with the church’s treatment of women. Contrary to what conservatives say, ex-Catholics are not flocking to the evangelicals because they think the Catholic church is politically too liberal. They are leaving to get spiritual nourishment from worship services and the Bible.

Looking at the responses of those who join mainline churches also provides some surprising results. For example, few (20 percent) say they left because they stopped believing in Catholic teachings. However, when specific issues were mentioned in the questionnaire, more of those joining mainline churches agreed that these issues influenced their decision to leave the Catholic church. Thirty-one percent cited unhappiness with the church’s teaching on abortion and homosexuality, women, and divorce and remarriage, and 26 percent mentioned birth control as a reason for leaving. Although these numbers are higher than for Catholics who become evangelicals, they are still dwarfed by the number (57 percent) who said their spiritual needs were not met in the Catholic church.

Thus, those becoming evangelicals were more generically unhappy than specifically unhappy with church teaching, while those who became mainline Protestant tended to be more specifically unhappy than generically unhappy with church teaching. The unhappiness with the church’s teaching on poverty, war and the death penalty was equally low for both groups (11 percent for evangelicals; 10 percent for mainline).

What stands out in the data on Catholics who join mainline churches is that they tend to cite personal or familiar reasons for leaving more frequently than do those who become evangelicals. Forty-four percent of the Catholics who join mainline churches say that they married someone of the faith they joined, a number that trumps all doctrinal issues. Only 22 percent of those who join the evangelicals cite this reason.

Perhaps after marrying a mainline Christian and attending his or her church’s services, the Catholic found the mainline services more fulfilling than the Catholic service. And even if they were equally attractive, perhaps the exclusion of the Protestant spouse from Catholic Communion makes the more welcoming mainline church attractive to an ecumenical couple.

Those joining mainline communities also were more likely to cite dissatisfaction of the Catholic clergy (39 percent) than were those who became evangelical (23 percent). Those who join mainline churches are looking for a less clerically dominated church.

There are many lessons that we can learn from the Pew data, but I will focus on only three.

First, those who are leaving the church for Protestant churches are more interested in spiritual nourishment than doctrinal issues. Tinkering with the wording of the creed at Mass is not going to help. No one except the Vatican and the bishops cares whether Jesus is “one in being” with the Father or “consubstantial” with the Father. That the hierarchy thinks this is important shows how out of it they are.

While the hierarchy worries about literal translations of the Latin text, people are longing for liturgies that touch the heart and emotions. More creativity with the liturgy is needed, and that means more flexibility must be allowed. If you build it, they will come; if you do not, they will find it elsewhere. The changes that will go into effect this Advent will make matters worse, not better.

Second, thanks to Pope Pius XII, Catholic scripture scholars have had decades to produce the best thinking on scripture in the world. That Catholics are leaving to join evangelical churches because of the church teaching on the Bible is a disgrace. Too few homilists explain the scriptures to their people. Few Catholics read the Bible.

The church needs a massive Bible education program. The church needs to acknowledge that understanding the Bible is more important than memorizing the catechism. If we could get Catholics to read the Sunday scripture readings each week before they come to Mass, it would be revolutionary. If you do not read and pray the scriptures, you are not an adult Christian. Catholics who become evangelicals understand this.

Finally, the Pew data shows that two-thirds of Catholics who become Protestants do so before they reach the age of 24. The church must make a preferential option for teenagers and young adults or it will continue to bleed. Programs and liturgies that cater to their needs must take precedence over the complaints of fuddy-duddies and rubrical purists.

Current religious education programs and teen groups appear to have little effect on keeping these folks Catholic, according to the Pew data, although those who attend a Catholic high school do appear to stay at a higher rate. More research is needed to find out what works and what does not.

The Catholic church is hemorrhaging members. It needs to acknowledge this and do more to understand why. Only if we acknowledge the exodus and understand it will we be in a position to do something about it.

>>Am I to take this non answer as an admission that you and your denomination do not partake of the Lords Supper in any organized service and that your larger point is not that you personally find anything wrong with the Church withholding one of the species, just that you think you can use this as a gotcha?<<

Nope. I don’t “belong” to some “denomination”, I do partake of the Lords Supper, “organized service” is only a construct of “religion”, I do see error in not partaking of both the bread and the cup and correcting error is never a “gotha” as much is it’s a directive from scripture.

I did not say that the cup was removed from the mass entirely.

That charge could only have been made by reading more into my statement that it said.

I did specify within that post that the cup was not offered to the communicants, giving anyone with any kind of reading comprehension more than enough information to understand what I was talking about.

FWIW, it’s only the blood that procures forgiveness. It’s by His stripes, His broken body, which we are healed. The body is for our healing. The blood is for our forgiveness.

That is why they are not interchangeable.

You could air that out and fertilize the garden with it. Most of these people either want to contracept, abort their children, divorce and remarry, ordain women, or engage in aberrant sexual behavior. These people want God on their terms, not His.

Not trying to be sarcastic, but it seems the Catholic Church doesn't discipline anyone who knowingly, out right practices, and even heavily promotes any of these things. Look at how they give a blind eye to countless politicians who openly champion most, if not all of the things you mention on your list. This is so confusing to people, especially young people. It is truly a double message. Also, from what I have seen, it is easy for a Catholic to get an "annulment" and remarry. The Catholic Church may be good at giving at talk, but often doesn't do much about following through on what they say. That way they can have it both ways. They appease the more Conservative Catholic with the talk, and also the sinful, murdering Catholic with none action concerning discipline. Be careful that you are not being played.

Find a Church that follows through with what it preaches about. Find a Church that preaches that Christ is central and that the most important thing you can do in your life is live for Him personally and keep God, Himself, on the throne of your heart, not any Church. Find a Church where you are able to serve Him corporately better than you can serve Him alone. A Church where you know The Spirit of God is there in power. Don't be satisfied with religiosity when you can have the real thing.

I think in an effort to pile on and obfuscate yours and our point about the blood being the payment for sin and the fact that, for the time we were there, the Catholic Church did not include the cup (which was representative of Christ's blood) for those who received the Eucharist. That was our point and it was a sidetrack to change the subject that the cup is now offered in the observance. The point all along was how coincidental it seemed that Catholicism downplays the efficacy of the once-for-all blood sacrifice for ALL sins and the absence of the cup of wine in the Lord's Supper observance.

It is INDEED the blood that makes atonement for the soul and we have been redeemed by the price Christ paid on our behalf. That should NEVER be diminished by anyone, anywhere and the observance that we participate in - eating of the bread and drinking of the cup - is done in remembrance that we HAVE received Him, we have believed on Him, and we ARE saved. No one denomination has the corner on the purpose of this Christian tradition and to state that because there is not a special person to conjure up or confect the presence of Christ in the "elements" is not Scriptural. The redemption that is in Christ Jesus is available to ALL who place their trust in Him. No one is left out. God offers it to ALL because He so loved the world and whosoever believes in Christ HAS everlasting life.

...and all the Catholics who have replied sharing the faith.
We keep sharing what the Church teaches and everything we post is rejected and/or mocked.

message to Pelianito

June 3, 2012

2 Maccabbees 6:16
He never withdraws his mercy from us. Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon his own people.

“Be not afraid, my children! Is it more merciful to allow sinners to persist in sin, or to put an end to an age of sin through chastisement? Know and believe that your Lord is merciful above all and seeks to call all sinners to righteousness. IF THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH, THEY WILL LISTEN TO HIM IN CALAMITY. If The children of this age persist in darkness. But the darkness can never vanquish the light. Light always triumphs. Therefore—rejoice! I say it again—rejoice! For your Lord is near and he comes to rule the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.”

http://www.pelianito.blogspot.com

Here, perhaps this link will work, unless the National Catholic Register is also considered an anti-Catholic hate site.

Phoenix diocese to restrict Communion wine

http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/phoenix-diocese-restrict-communion-wine

Isn’t it amazing that there is so much information available that the communion wine was restricted and is in many areas yet restricted but we are excoriated for bringing it up and even accused of spreading falsehoods? It’s just one more instance of obfuscation when truth is plainly given. To me it’s just one more evidence of the importance of relying on scripture over any supposed “church leaders”.

The real blood of Jesus likely dropped to the ground, not becoming defiled, but rather purifying the earth concerning it's curse. Point being, it is/was impossible to defile the real blood of Jesus.

Catholics need to come to the understanding that Jesus died once for our sins and said "It is finished". What we do in communion is remember what He already did for us. Jesus has healed scars, not wounds, dripping with blood.

The first time I read Isaiah 49:15-16

Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence.

The first thing I thought of was when Jesus, in His glorified body after the resurrection, appeared before the disciples. He told Thomas to touch and feel the nail scars in His hands and to believe that He was truly there with them. Thomas fell down before Him and exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!". I think in heaven we will always be in the presence of Jesus our Savior and He will always have those scars on His feet and hands as a reminder to us of the great sacrifice He made on our behalf and we will never forget that we are there not because of what we did for Him, but what He did for us.

The observance of the Lord's Supper is a reminder to us while we are still here, but in heaven we will have Him before us as that reminder for eternity. The partaking of the bread and wine together with the body of Christ (fellow believers) was instituted just as all the other observances and memorials were - to keep things ever before us - so we don't ever forget. When the Israelites encountered amazing things on their journey through the wilderness, they stopped along the way and built memorials to commemorate the miracles the Lord provided along the way. Just as God says he will never forget us, we are given these things so we will never forget Him.

I did specify within that post that the cup was not offered to the communicants

You said it was removed and did not specify that the cup was still consecrated and drank by Priests which can mislead people who don't know the Catholic Faith to think the cup was completely removed

Perhaps next time you can be more specific in your posts,dear sister.

You said it was removed and did not specify that the cup was still consecrated and drank by Priests which can mislead people who don't know the Catholic Faith to think the cup was completely removed Perhaps next time you can be more specific in your posts,dear sister.

I disagree. Metmom, if you go back and read the exchange, talks about the cup being offered to the people. The comments those of us added reiterated that viewpoint and it was relevant to the discussion we were having about the blood being what cleanses us from all sin and it being omitted from the observance the people take part of. I remember very clearly that the priest drank the wine and wiped out the chalice (or whatever you guys call it) when he was done. It was NEVER offered to the "people" - which was the point.

This wasn't brought up for any other reason than to note the absence of the main thing that Jesus said symbolized the New Covenant.

FYI...Natural Law was told to leave the thread by the Religion Moderator. I didn't know if you were aware of that and it will be why he doesn't respond to your posts here.

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