The Independent News Source
NCR on Kindle - NCR classifieds - YouTube - Twitter - Facebook - Email Alerts - RSS
Printer-friendly version
PDF versionThe data on the 'had it' Catholics
by Maureen Fiedler on Nov. 10, 2010
Interfaith Voices this coming week will feature my interview with David Campbell of the University of Notre Dame, co-author of a new and widely-acclaimed study of religion in America called American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us.
The book is based on two very large surveys done in 2006 and 2007. Each had a sample size in excess of 3,000 -- very large by social science standards.
The book is full of surprising revelations, but the data on Catholics is among the most startling. The authors report that more than 60 percent (!) of Americans raised as Catholics are no longer practicing the faith. About one third have left the church entirely and another third remain only nominally Catholic.
You might expect that such a decline would be visible in the overall percentage of Catholics in the population (generally around 23-25 percent). But it is masked by the fact that those leaving are largely Anglo-Catholics and they are rapidly being replaced by Latino Catholics.
When I asked David Campbell to explain this downward trend among Anglo-Catholics, he pointed out that the departures did not “spike” at one give time, suggesting that this decline is not due overwhelmingly to the sex abuse crisis -- although that crisis is surely part of the picture. Rather, he pointed to church teachings with which the laity have long disagreed. Birth control, anyone? Married clergy or women priests maybe? And the list goes on.
Campbell also suggested that Catholic clergy these days might not be as “entrepreneurial” as their Protestant counterparts. Translated, that means that they are not inaugurating new and attractive parish programs that will bring people to the church.
These percentages are, in a word, whopping! I wonder: have the bishops even noticed?
These statistics have been
These statistics have been published recently in several sources, and I agree, they are staggering! Do the bishops care? A good question. I think that the bishops do care about accommodating the Latino population, but not fir retaining or relating to the departing Anglo members the church.
I am interested in the implications of the demographics of the trend of diminishing Anglo-Catholics being replaced by Latino Catholics. What are the implications for liturgy, devotions, and faith formation?
In my personal experience, I have noted that the non-Anglo immigrants and residents in parish life bring with them a large pre-Vatican II orientation towards saint cults and a return to more literal interpretation and understanding of scripture and traditions. For me, this "goes against the grain" of my Jesuit Vatican II education. They also (understandably) want liturgy in their vernacular (non-English).However, having been a teacher and school principal for many years, I know what limitd English speaking children and adults are up against and what their success rate is and will be in our society. I have changed parishes twice in my life to accommodate MY liturgical needs (in English, please).
Conclusion: For me, I go my own way to update my faith understanding. It won't be done in my diverse parish.
Do the bishops even care? B
Do the bishops even care? B XVI doesn't seem to.
An answer to your closing
An answer to your closing question comes from the agenda for next week's USCCB meeting. It presumably gives some indication of what matters are considered so important now that they require the valuable physical presence of all the nation's bishops. It is difficult to see the situation you mention reflected in their public agenda. Perhaps they haven't noticed.
The "pre Vatican 2, saint
The "pre Vatican 2, saint cult" Latinos will only be a 20-30 year bandaid at most. Their kids will grow up and raise the same questions as the current crop of Anglo kids. Questions like those posed above regarding birth control and who can and can not be ordained, for which the Church offers no rational explaination based in reason and scripture.
Looks like the Bishop's if
Looks like the Bishop's if they read this study and do not react to it in some way apparently want a laity that really wants to go back into the middle ages. It will be interesting to see if this subject it brought up at the Bishops meeting in Baltimore. The bishops will need to study Spanish if they are to communicate with this new population.5
On a related subject,
On a related subject, although something like 80-90 percent of Americans claim to be Christian, fewer than 25 percent bother with church on Sunday.
The "Catholic Come Home"
The "Catholic Come Home" campaign has enjoyed success in many dioceses, Seattle being one. Semianry enrollment is up in all dioceses inluding Boston where sixty one men are studying for the diocese.
It is obvious that Ms Fiedler is a "had it Catholic," yet she still is a member of the Church. (I think)
May I point out out that in the year 2009, only three demonimations showed growth, Mormon Church, Church of Christ and the Catholic Church.
This is not news. Mainline
This is not news. Mainline Protestant denominations have the same problem, as do mainline Jewish denominations. Denominations which are serious about maintaining an inviolable moral code don't do as well with Americans as denominations which allow you to choose your own morality.
The non-Catholic Christian denominations with the greatest growth rates are those that preach a Gospel of Prosperity - if you're a good person, God will bless you with a new Jeep Cherokee.
This is at odds with the idea that we preach Christ and Him crucified.
Anglos who don't want to hear about being crucified cannot be retained by anyone, bishop or no. Hispanics, on the other hand, are used to crucifixion so they tend to understand what it takes to be Catholic better than Anglos do. This is further demonstrated by the fact that those second- and third-generation Hispanics who become Americanized and therefore reject the Cross (i.e., they embrace the Touchdown Jesus, not the Crucified Christ) also leave the Church in droves.
The Church is for those who wish to take up their Cross and follow Christ. It is not a real surprise that those who wish to take up their latte and follow the latest social justice fad, a la the Jesuits, don't really stick with the Church.
How funny (e.g. sad,
How funny (e.g. sad, reprehensible, pathetic) that you actually think the Church should change her teachings to please people. Accept the teachings or leave. Jesus let those who couldn't accept His teachings leave him (Jn. 6:66). He also asked if He'd find faith when He returned. He is telling us that the falling away of Catholics is, unfortunately, to be expected. It is not the Church's fault for teaching 'hard truths', but the fault of bad Catholics who can't accept these truths.
There is a world of
There is a world of difference between Jesus' teachings and those of this particular church.
To equate the two is to live a life of delusion.
Re: Your rejecting of Church
Re: Your rejecting of Church teachings on celibacy & 'women priests' - do you also discard scripture?
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided." ~ St. Paul, 1 Cor. 7:32-34
"Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing (what seemed to be) a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished." ~ Rv. 14:1-5
"Indeed, the spirits of prophets are under the prophets' control, since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God go forth from you? Or has it come to you alone? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord." ~ St. Paul, 1 Cor. 14:32-37
"It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." ~ St. Paul, 1 Tm. 2:8-15
The article makes reference
The article makes reference to the Church's teachings regarding married clergy and women 'priests', yet you claim that...
<< There is a world of difference between Jesus' teachings and those of this particular church.
To equate the two is to live a life of delusion.>>
Do you also discount Scripture, which says...
"An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided." ~ St. Paul, 1 Cor. 7:32-34
"Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. They were singing (what seemed to be) a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb. On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished." ~ Rv. 14:1-5
And...
"Indeed, the spirits of prophets are under the prophets' control, since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God go forth from you? Or has it come to you alone? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord." ~ St. Paul, 1 Cor. 14:32-37
"It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." ~ St. Paul, 1 Tm. 2:8-15
How can you find this (along with similar scripture references) to be a "world of difference" from what the Church teaches? Methinks you just don't like the teachings. Or do you allege that Scripture does not faithfully put forth Christ's teachings? Either way, who exactly is living a life of delusion? It's certainly not the Church or those who adhere to her teachings.
I think it is a little more
I think it is a little more than not accepting church teaching.
The lack of example of church teaching is what strikes the majority of us and
surely you don't need me to run through any examples of that, including what the Scripture warns us about do you?
The recent reference of Michelangelo's The Last Judgement based on scenes of Roman bordellos (brothel and whorehouse ect.) in the Sistine Chapel above the heads of those celebrating Holy Mass is a pretty good example.
Thomas Peters, the founder
Thomas Peters, the founder and author of the American Papist has 400,000 followers, all faithful Catholics. The majority of these Catholics are young and married, and they are passing the deposit of faith to their children. Perhaps most of the "had it Catholics" are remnants of the sevnties, and like Ms Fiedler in ten years will be eighty.
"The book is full of
"The book is full of surprising revelations, but the data on Catholics is among the most startling. The authors report that more than 60 percent (!) of Americans raised as Catholics are no longer practicing the faith. About one third have left the church entirely and another third remain only nominally Catholic."
Maureen, that is indeed an important reality, but I am not surprised. I recently attended a reunion of my old Catholic school. (We were instructed by nuns of the old--pre-Vatican II--school.) From my informal survey, I found one third still active in the Catholic Church, one third nominally active and another third worshipping in another church or no church.
Of the third who are no longer in the church, many left because of a teaching, scandal or some bad personal experiernce, but most slowly drifted away in young adulthood and never felt a need to come back. Our church is doing a better job with young adults than it did decades ago, but it still needs to do more.
Post new comment