Posted on 09/17/2015 12:42:53 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Over 50 percent of Americans raised in the Catholic Church say they've left the faith at some point in their lives, according to a Pew Research survey on religion and public life.
The data further revealed that among the 52 percent who left the Church, about six out of 10 have returned at some point.
Two-thirds of the group that left the Church now consider themselves ex-Catholics and no-longer identify with the faith.
Around 13 percent, however, still identify as Catholic, but no longer practice the religion.
For those who are still practicing, around 73 percent said they've been in the Church their entire life, and seven out of 10 said they could never imagine leaving it.
Aside from membership, Pew Research also uncovered surprising beliefs held by Catholics pertaining to families.
The survey found that a "strong majority" of Catholics said children being raised in unconventional families with unmarried parents living together, same-sex couples or single parents, is acceptable. Around 90 percent, though, preferred that children be raised with a married mother and father. Forty-three percent said it's acceptable for a gay couple to raise a child.
"Nine-in-10 U.S. Catholics say a household headed by a married mother and father is an ideal situation for bringing up children. But the survey shows that large majorities think other kinds of families — those headed by parents who are single, divorced, unmarried or gay — are OK for raising children, too," noted Pew in the analysis released just days before Pope Francis' first U.S. visit in which he'll encounter a national Catholic population largely supportive of family units not advanced or encouraged by Church teaching.
The survey also found that: "A sizable majority (85 percent) think it's acceptable for a man and a woman to live together as a couple outside of marriage, including more than half (55 percent) who say cohabitation is as good as any other living arrangement for adults. And [seven]-in-10 Catholics say married couples who opt not to have children have chosen a lifestyle that is as good as any other."
And while many Catholics hold progressive beliefs when it comes to issues involving families, the Church seems to be maintaining its traditional views, despite the change in tone from Pope Francis when it comes to divorce and homosexuality.
The Pope did, however, make changes to the Church's annulment process, loosening restrictions on Catholics who wish to remarry. The Vatican is also expected to host a meeting in October with Catholic leaders worldwide where they will analyze recommendations on family issues, including divorce and marriage.
but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
So the NT was not necessary? The OT was sufficient?
Oh good grief.
Stop.....no proof of this.
I think this says pretty much everything one needs to know about the "modern day" Catholics.
I was raised Catholic and married in the Catholic church and would've NEVER imagined thinking any of the above was acceptable. I will say that attitudes like those above combined with what I viewed as being weak leadership in the local archdiocese were major contributing factors in my and my wife's decision to leave the Catholic Church. (The issue that pushed us over the edge and out the door was the sexual abuse scandals, one of which happened in the parish we belonged. I do not wish to re-hash any of that discussion.)
It's really disturbing to me to see the transformation of the Catholic Church, driven by the cafeteria Catholics and weak leadership in the church.
These are my own opinions, and I do NOT mean to offend Catholics here on FR. I just happen to hold the opinion that those who are sincere and steadfast in their Catholic faith are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the "cafeteria Catholics" who pick and choose what to believe in. It's sad, really.
Apparently you need education. Where did you get the idea that evangelicals cling to the Bible alone, as if Scripture alone being the supreme and sufficient standard (in its formal and material aspects) as the wholly inspired word of God, means external helps, incld. oral preaching and any other revelation is excluded?
Where did you get the idea that reformed teaching holds that SS was fully operative before Scripture was all written?
Where did you get the idea that reformed teaching holds that SS was fully operative before Scripture was all written, or was essential? (But God giveth more grace, and leaves man more accountable.)
Where do you get the idea that the RC alternative, sola ecclesia (with the infallible magisterium alone says being the supreme standard for truth and obedience), was operative in Scripture, and the beginning of the NT church?
Where do you get the idea that Scripture was not the supreme standard for obedience and establishing truth claims in the OT and NT church?
Where do you get the idea that OT Scripture did not provide for recognition of a canon, without an infallible magisterium and thus for SS (rightly defined, which does not exclude the Lord's leading, the Biblical magisterial office, teachers etc. )
Where did you get the idea that church of Rome gave us the Bible, or even provided an infallible, indisputable canon which Luther dissented from?
Yawn...you bore me and so does your tagline (which I didn’t read).
Your cult sends more people to hell than actually saves them ,because it doesn’t arm them with the Lord’s Truth in His Holy Scriptures.
Tell me Verga...Have you accepted Christ into your life and do you believe Him when He says He’s the ONLY WAY? (John 14:6)?
Do you believe Him in John 6:29?
What about what Paul says in Romans 10:9-10?
If not, there’s hardly hope for you. RCC or not.
“along came the revolutionaries and decided to change the rules.”
If your religion followed the Holy Bible (rules) and not the made up man made rules of the catechism no change would have been required.
Mark 7:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Satanism has survived since the beginning also so that automatically makes it right? Your idea of surviving and being right really need some serious adjustments. Your religion by Scripture will be until the end of this age, but not for the reasons you think.
Revelation 2:18-29 King James Version (KJV)
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
So was I brother. Two decades to be exact. You wouldn't believe what we do here. 😂😇😀😆😎😄
RWC, if you really want to know, I will have to freep mail you. 😃😆😂
Thank you, Margaret Sanger.
Not like it is today. Preaching the Word is one thing. Bombasticism is another. St. Stephen followed Christ's example of Jesus and forgave his murderers, he didn't revel in the idea that they might be going to hell for it. The early Christians were of one mind. Yeah, 2.1 billion people can't all agree on everything. We get that. But with a couple thousand plus splinter groups, and millions of people who just go off and do their own interpreting, well, best not to throw stones. The "evangelicism" we see here is nothing but mockery and and vanity.
Simply giving our wheat a chance to grow, with non Catholics who are willing to discuss civilly and exchange beliefs in a Christian manner.
Posters who complain because Catholics (and the ethnic groups that are primarily Catholic) "reproduce" as if somehow we were animals that should be neutered or exterminated: chaff.
Illicit birth control, abortion and all, we Catholics somehow continue to reproduce. Deal with it. I can't change the way you feel.
That, my friend, is your struggle.
" statements that their church is superior "
The really vicious detractors either don't belong to a church, or refuse to acknowledge that they do. Keeps them under the radar. Like kids who throw rocks, them run and hide.
Wow! Some folks need an extra room in their house to accommodate their ego.
Kind of like Biblical self-interpreters.
You folks never cease to amaze me at how low you can go.
And just think, you left it all for... Ummm, what again? A cheap David Letterman routine?
That explains a lot. If you knew as much about Catholicism as you think you do, you'd still be with us. One becomes bitter afterward, as demonstrated so often here.
So bitter.
You, your ilk, and this thread are making me nauseous. I've not seen the bitterness, pride, arrogance, self-righteousness in a long time. Why don't you go preach where you're all needed- out in the world- or is it just easier to sit at a keyboard and snipe?
Later, people, when/if the Bible-thumpers grow up. Off to a more civilized forum.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.