Posted on 12/28/2013 3:59:04 PM PST by NYer
According to recent demographic surveys, it seems there are presently 30 million people in the U.S. who identify themselves as “former Catholics.” That figure is both surprising, and, for Catholics, disheartening.
Over the past 50 years or so, a profound change, other than that effected by Vatican II, has taken place in the Catholic Church. It might be described as the phenomenon of “vanishing Catholics.” The Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor, has identified four major challenges facing the Church today. First on his list is the exodus of young adults from the Church. According to recent demographic surveys, it seems there are presently 30 million people in the U.S. who identify themselves as “former Catholics.” That figure is both surprising, and, for Catholics, disheartening. It represents a little less than 10 percent of the total population of this country. It also means that had those persons remained Catholic, approximately one in three Americans would be identified as Catholic. Only two religious groups represent a larger percentage of the U.S. population: Protestants (cumulatively) and current Catholics.
This phenomenon is disheartening not only for bishops and priests, but also for faithful Catholics generally. Many older Catholics are saddened at the sight of their children and grandchildren abandoning the Church.
Questions naturally arise. What has caused such a massive defection? How might one account for this phenomenon? It hardly seems possible that any single factor could explain a phenomenon of such magnitude. Various reasons for people leaving the Church are well-known. Many of them have been operative from the earliest times of Christianity. In his first letter to Timothy, St. Paul reminds him that “The Spirit has explicitly said that during the last times some will desert the faith and pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines …” (1 Tm 4:1-7). In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul speaks of dissensions and divisions among the faithful (1 Cor 1:10-16).
From the first centuries up to modern times, there have been doctrinal differences (heresies) which led to great numbers separating themselves from the Roman Catholic Church. Many others have left the Church for what can be described as practical reasons, rather than doctrinal differences.
Among the latter, there are many who separated themselves from the Church because of marriage problems. There are those who left because they became greatly dissatisfied with inadequate preaching, uninviting liturgy, and minimal hospitality in their parishes. It seems worth noting that expecting church attendance and public worship to be therapeutically satisfying often leads to disappointment and eventual alienation.
Not a few have left the Church because of real or perceived mistreatment by bishops or pastors. Reactions have a way of becoming overreactions. An overreaction to clericalism and paternalism in the Church resulted in autonomy becoming absolute. Evelyn Underhill offered a helpful analogy in this regard. She likened the Church to the Post Office. Both provide an essential service, but it is always possible to find an incompetent and annoying clerk behind the counter. Persons who expect all representatives of the Church to live up to the ideals proposed by the Church will typically become disillusioned and leave. Persons with such expectations would have left the Church of the Holy Apostles.
Most recently, a cause for many leaving the Church is the scandal of clergy sexual abuse. This has been a stumbling block not only for those directly affected, but for Catholics generally. Because of the questionable role played by a number of bishops, their moral authority is diminished. The time when bishops could command is past. Now, they can only hope to persuade and invite. Loyalty to bishops had been widely identified with loyalty to the Church. As the former loyalty diminished, so did the latter.
Clearly there are times when the Church is more of an obstacle than a help to faith. At Vatican II, the Council Fathers pointed out that the Church is always in danger of concealing, rather than revealing, the authentic features of Christ. Often enough, members of the Church’s leadership have been guilty of a sin typical of many religious teachers—namely, being more concerned about preservation of their authority than about the truth.
While specific reasons can be cited, it is helpful to recognize several underlying attitudes that are operative. (1) There is an anti-dogmatic spirit which is suspicious of the Church’s emphasis on fidelity to traditional teachings. (2) There is the widespread belief that one can be free to ignore, deny, or minimize one or more received doctrines without feeling compelled to break with the Church. (3) There is also the belief that, guided by their own conscience, regardless of how that matches—or fails to match—generally accepted Catholic teaching, persons can develop their own understanding of what it means to be Catholic. Someone has coined a phrase that describes persons with those attitudes, calling them “cafeteria Catholics,” i.e., those who pick and choose what to accept of official Catholic teaching and ignore the rest.
Two questions arise in the face of the phenomenon of “vanishing Catholics.” One question is of a more theological and ecclesial level: are those departed to be considered heretics or schismatics? A second question arises at the practical level: how can those who have left be reunited with the Church? Regarding the first question, it is worth noting that, while speaking of dissension and division among the faithful, and of separation from the community of believers, the New Testament does not make a distinction between heresy and schism. Since the definition of the Pope’s primacy of jurisdiction, it is difficult to see how there can be a schism that is not a heresy.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (§2089), heresy “is the obstinate, post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is, likewise, an obstinate doubt concerning the same.” Schism is “the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff, or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” The Theological Dictionary, compiled by Karl Rahner and Herbert Vorgrimler, defines heresy as “primarily an error in matters of faith. The heretic takes a truth out of the organic whole, which is the faith, and because he looks at it in isolation, misunderstands it, or else denies a dogma.” “Schism occurs when a baptized person refuses to be subject to the Pope, or to live in communion with the members of the Church, who are subject to the Pope.”
In any case, given the variety of reasons for people leaving the Church, the degree of separation, and especially assuming good will on the part of those leaving, it is difficult to classify them as heretics or schismatics. Church authorities have the right and the duty to take measures against heresy and schism when those become evident. Clear denial of a dogma cannot be tolerated. But between this and a purely private, material heresy, there are many shades. Not every challenge to accepted theology is heretical. There are many partial non-identifications that endanger faith and unity but do not rise to the level of schism. Nor does every act of disobedience to human laws in the Church imply schism.
While speculative questions about heresy and schism are significant and need to be addressed, they pale in comparison to the practical question of how those departed can be reunited with the Church. That question is as complex as are the reasons for people leaving the Church. That question is further complicated when one addresses the question of the underlying attitudes that are operative.
Obviously, the Church must work at removing any obstacles to reunion. With Vatican II, that work was begun. The Council recognized the Church is semper reformanda, always needing to be reformed. The actual return of individuals requires something more than an adjustment in Church practices or new programs. It is a matter of God touching the individual with his grace.
A final question that can prove troubling is how the massive defection from the Church is to be reconciled with God’s providence. This is simply one of many instances in which we are challenged to believe in an omnipotent God, who is also a loving, provident Father. Providence is not an occasional, intrusive, manipulative presence, but one that is with us both in tragedy and in joy, in the joy that consists not so much in the absence of suffering, as in the awareness of God’s presence. To find the strength to experience calmly the difficulties and trials that come into our lives is a tremendous challenge. If, however, we are able to do that, every event can be “providential.” In a sermon on the feast of the Ascension, Pope Leo the Great said: “For those who abandon themselves to God’s providential love, faith does not fail, hope is not shaken, and charity does not grow cold.”
There can be a very subtle, almost imperceptible temptation to think we know better than God how things should be. We can be like the naive little girl, who, in her prayers, told God that if she were in God’s place, she would make the world better. And God replied: “That is exactly what you should be doing.”
And just who gets to decide that? Some anonymous internet poster? Some lay Catholic?
Where did I say I blame you, I am simply making an observation.
I didn't say you blamed me. Why did you presume it?
However it seems to have pricked your conscience, might be worthy of further consideration.
No, it didn't. But that little Freudian slip of presumption tells me all I needed to know.
Wow! Do you really believe that? I have had people tell me that whenever they come to my Catholic parish they are so edified by the quality of the sermons.
I am old enough to recall, however, that prior to the past 7 years or so, the older priests were not such good homilists. The quality of the new clerics in preaching, in teaching, and in general pastoral care is much higher than it was 30 years ago or so.
I think it is because after the scandals of priestly sexual abuse, and bishops being negligent in handling of these cases, the seminaries were totally restructured with more care in selection of candidates for the seminary. Now the young priests are there because of true vocations, and not simply looking on it as just another job. I feel that when I’m around the new priests, I am around holy men, not just another Tom, Dick or Harry.
That just isn’t true, close to 10% of Protestants are ex-Catholics, we see Hispanic Catholics converting to Protestant and becoming republican voters, switching denominations is a major reason of people leaving the Catholic denomination.
That should please you, it would be sad to think that all of the people who leave the Catholic church have been turned sour on God, and that isn’t the case.
If this is happening to the Catholic Church, you can bet that other churches are feeling the same thing.
Actually, the fastest growing segment are those who claim no affiliation. Much the same in politics. Uncertainty, little trust, and commitment.
Pray for the Bishops of those dioceses in which those politicians live. They are the ones who will formally excommunicate the abortion backers, contraception providers, etc.
Actually these pols have excommunicated themselves by not following the Commandments and Church teaching.
Did you know that the bishop in Sibelius’ diocese DID excommunicate her?
Why are you letting some politicians keep you from saving your soul?
The Church did not leave you. Christ is still waiting for you. Call a priest and arrange a time to sit down with him and get your questions answered.
YOU are the one with the free will.
Excuses — God knows what choice you are making.
metmom: I made no such claim that the Catholic Church was growing in numbers. My point, my overall point, was that there is trend towards secularism in this country. The Catholic Church’s % of the population stands around 22% and is largely holding steady due to immigration. Protestant Christianity is not growing either. When I here that hey my local First “Fill in the Blank with whatever” Protestant group you want is a growing church. The members are all from some other Christian confession. These Churches are not attracting secularist liberals and converting those types, what they are getting are folks from other Protestant confessions, for the most part, and some fallen away Catholics.
Simple Math tells you that if the % of Americans who express belief in God now stands at 74%, down from 82% just 4 years ago, there is a decline across the board, not just in the Catholic Church.
My point was to point out the data, not turn this into a polemical thread. If you want to do that, take that manure somewhere else, I am not interested in it.
That is because the force a literalism into it in which physically eating gives spiritual life, which is clearly contrary to Scripture and esp. John. As said, Jesus does not live by the Father by eating His flesh, but by consuming/believing His word, and thus doing His will is Jesus meat.
to the excellence of some really nice protestant messages, which are generally more motivating by miles.
With that admission you are in danger of being put on a TRC watch list.
We are desperate for spirit filled priests speaking to the spirit filled scrpture readings that are heard every Sunday.
You mean the typical 10 minute sermonette? Rare (and sought out by me) was the priest who could preach when i was a RC.
BTTT!
**the Catholic church I remember had very respected youthful priests with the one older pastor overseeing them all....
we had nuns in nun outfits....**
The young priests are being ordained and the younger sisters wear habits.
Praise God!
The Catholic denomination seems to be suffering the biggest losses, it is how we can import 10s of millions of Catholics, without ever changing the percentage.
The Catholic Church’s Mass is totally biblical.
It was just this year that Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden met with their Holy Father, and took communion at the Vatican, and we all know how gloriously Ted Kennedy was buried.
My bad. You were right and I did not address that.
I agree with you on that.
It is not only affecting the numbers in churches but the quality in churches. Entitlement mentality is running rampant among even those who profess faith of some kind.
Not necessarily welfare, government support kind, but directed at God. The name if and claim it theology. God owes you __________. (Good health, good relationships, pain free living, prosperity.... whatever. All you have to do is speak it and it's yours)
It's subtle and I daresay most believing that don't even recognize that they are thinking that way cause it's all dressed up in spirituality and a few Scripture verses.
metmom:
Fair enough. No harm no foul.
ansel112:
Do you are I know what Ted Kennedy’s soul, or the state of his soul was when he died? He did have lots of skeletons in this closet and warts, no doubt, but lets assume he expressed sincere contrition and repentance before he died, then under that scenario, to deny a Catholic Christian burial would have been wrong.
Now as for Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, that is a question up for debate. It is apparent that at this time, the Catholic Church is not going to go after lay people with threats of excommunication. Excommunications these days, sort of like the old days, are much more likely to be directed at wayward Priests or Nuns who promote heresy and refuse to recant from it.
For example, Roy Bourgeois, a former MaryNoll Priest was excommunicated last year because he was consistently promoting woman’s ordination from the pulpit. Recently, and Austrian Priest, Fr. Reynolds was excommunicated for the same reason. Bourgeois refused to recant and was laicized. Fr. Reynolds at this time I think is excommunicated and my guess is the Church hopes he will accept the teaching on the all male priesthood.
Now, will Pope Francis’s policy change hearts and minds? I don’t know, we shall see. His basic view is that he wants the Church to be “a hospital for the spiritual battlefield” sort of like a hospital for the physically sick.
Let see if that approach works and more fallen away Catholics return back to Confession and repent of any sins and return to regularly attending Sunday Mass/Liturgy.
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