Number of Catholics at record high

Doctor DooM wrote: »

Does it matter what they identify as when they don't believe in any of it or partake the rituals other than the basist of lip service?

Which one is he, and why is he so important

Doctor, all that can change in an instant - I'm so sick of being fed what people are 'doing' here or there or anywhere else - and for some reason I should see this as indicative of myself. These 'stats' that reflect the most 'modern' perspective on all things...whether it sways one way or the other...I don't care really. Who actually does? Stats are only numbers, and playing tennis with them is......meh!



I do what I do, I go to Mass because I want to, I know members of my family who say they 'would' go, but they are too lazy at the moment, and I don't beat them up because I've been there myself....

I say the odd thing here and there and trust quite simply.

They say they are 'Catholic' they 'trust' Christ, but they are a little lazy at times about saying it and indeed proclaiming it...that does not mean that they are atheist or even indeed agnostic, I don't know their hearts - it just means they need a good wake up, and we've failed thus far to a certain extent us 'Catholics' and 'Christians', but I can sincerely say that if I came back anybody can.....because I ridiculed so badly that it makes me shamed so badly now to see it.

...so I tend not to disown the tepid who are alive and kicking and dealing with life in general, neither to judge them because that's not my place. My place is to know that my pride is only at his feet, on that Cross, and to love my neighbour in sincerity, and not for myself or my gain, but to know the weapon that love is, that it cuts through the hardest steel, the hardest heart.

There is a 'thing' going on though...there are people visiting out of hours in the Churches that are left open ( unfortunately these days they need 'cameras' to dissuade theft, indeed hostility and protection of people, even the very old need protection sadly...and this is very new to them, but they still come defiant as ever..lol.. ) when Mass is not on, but the Church is present and looming, they approach slowly -

I was one of them for a long time. I looked, but I didn't see them properly God forgive me - I thought I was better, when I wasn't.

I see them coming through the door......tentative - but with hearts that have a vacant spot that they have not filled with other things - they're looking to the source intuitively, and it's the most honest thing ever too!

I see people everyday going in to light a candle and spend a moment - even very hairy big mature muscly men the unexpected! I have seen them kneel...

...and they would kneel to no other, but I have seen them kneel quietly...while I was in a corner on my own or spending a moment rather than pass by.

Does this mean that ALL Catholics are cool with God and great people...No!

Does this mean that the Church as an institution as looked on from the outside, and tendered in the media as rather cold - is full of coldness and nothing more, that Christ is on the 'decline'? No! Oh no.


Does this mean that people are entirely said and led by only 'highlights' and selling pieces and stats......Thank Goodness..No! No they aren't, they are not told what to think thank goodness.

They enter because they want to; despite everything, they look at the Cross because they 'want' to understand and at least pray to understand and when they fall to their knees they see better..and start out on the road...it is not laden always with hardship, but it makes the hardship easier - that's not a 'reason' to trust, but it's quite simply my and others experience of doing so..a testimony.

A person passes by without seeing because THEY want to. It's as simple as that.

Another passes by and drops in to say an honest prayer or to ask for help because they believe ultimately that Christ is present for them, but they are not always present for him, and they trust in his presence, because THEY feel the need to.


Indeed a person passes by with 'distain' because they choose to have it -

-and not because they have distain for Christ, but because they put their hope in people, and never saw him in anybody - and that is not their problem but ours to answer for. That's our problem, our fault..because we often times fail to be what he called us to be..

Juza1973 wrote: »

There are no Catholics and if there are someone cheated on their poll and if nobody cheated on their poll they are not attending and if they are attending they don't really believe and if they believe they don't believe enough and the Churches are empty and I know because I don't go there for twenty years now...

But if somebody shows any sign to be an Atheist or anything that is still not Catholic there is no argument and should not be investigated further.

Does it sums it well?

Not really, for me anyhow. I don't get what you're trying to say...?

Juza1973 wrote: »

That some people want (for political reasons rather than religious one, where the number of adherents does not matter at all) to reduce the number of Catholics in Ireland, so they change the notion of who is "worthy" to be deemed Catholic whenever the number is higher than what they like.

This is a problem for somebody who wants to speak for "all" so that they cannot accept that maybe things are different, even by a little bit.

Thanks, but that actually raises more questions than it answers, tbh.

Who wants to reduce the number of Catholics in Ireland? And how can they change the notion of who is worthy to be deemed Catholic? Surely that's up to each individual to decide for themselves?

And who wants to speak for all, and cannot accept that things are different? And what are the things that are different?

Onesimus wrote: »

Oh no. The ''Poll''. Every atheists ''Bible''.

Go to a Church Joseph on Sunday and go to each Liturgy from morning to afternoon. I see each one full on the hour in my parish churches.

Does you parish still have the same number of masses? The reason I ask is because the 1130hrs Sunday mass in my home parish is quite busy. Now, the cynical might say, well that is because the have cancelled the 0900 & the 1015 Sunday masses, as well as the Saturday evening mass, plus that fact that some of the surrounding smaller parishes have had their masses cancelled all together or only have one every other week, so parishioners travel the main one on the weeks they don't have a mass.

So, yes, it is fair to say that the 1130hrs mass on a Sunday in my home parish is pretty packed but when you consider how many masses have been cancelled and condensed into this one mass it becomes meaningless.

The catholic church is dying, unfortunately it just isn't happening fast enough.

MrP

Yes that's right TT hahahahaha. I love it. Looks like Mr Pudding just got a spoon of his own poison :P

philologos wrote: »

I still get confused every time I read that claim.

What evidence do you have to back up the claim that the Roman Catholic church existed since the first century?

As far as I can tell there's not much pre-Constantine to show this. Surely it was simply the Christian church that existed since the first century. I find whenever most Roman Catholics on this forum have made this argument they use it as a yardstick to claim that other Christians aren't as "Christian" as they are despite seeking to follow Jesus more and more in daily life.

Nice vid by Jimmy Akins.

It doesn't matter how convinced one's opponent is if a certain position. We argue (at least, partly) for others, the people are less sure of their postion.