“Lapsed” Catholics…

Michie · #1 12th April 2012, 12:16 PM

In 2007, a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life study reported that one-third of Americans were raised Catholic but slightly less than one-third of those (~11% of all Catholics) stopped practicing their faith in the sense of “stopped attending Mass.”

That raises the question, “Why are those people not attending Mass?”

A USA Today article discussed a recent study of 298 people—67% of whom were women—who stopped attending Mass in the Diocese of Trenton (NJ). The study indicates they did so for three reasons:

personal reasons: “the pastor who crowned himself king and looks down on all,” “the Church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal,” “divorced and remarried Catholics are unwelcome at Mass”;
political reasons: “eliminate the extreme conservative haranguing”; and,
doctrinal reasons: “don’t spend so much time on issues like homosexuality and birth control.”

Nearly 50% of the respondents offered negative comments about their parish priests, whom they described as “arrogant,” “distant” and “insensitive.” Some also called for better homilies, better music, and greater accountability on the part of parish staff. And, despite the fact they no longer attend Mass, nearly 25% of the respondents still consider themselves Catholic which, in fact, they are. They’re just “lapsed” Catholics.

Continued- http://the-american-catholic.com/2012/04/09/lapsed-catholics/

Elvisman · #2 12th April 2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Michie

In 2007, a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life study reported that one-third of Americans were raised Catholic but slightly less than one-third of those (~11% of all Catholics) stopped practicing their faith in the sense of “stopped attending Mass.”

That raises the question, “Why are those people not attending Mass?”

A USA Today Article discussed a recent study of 298 people—67% of whom were women—who stopped attending Mass in the Diocese of Trenton (NJ). The study indicates they did so for three reasons:
personal reasons: “the pastor who crowned himself king and looks down on all,” “the Church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse scandal,” “divorced and remarried Catholics are unwelcome at Mass”;

political reasons: “eliminate the extreme conservative haranguing”; and,

doctrinal reasons: “don’t spend so much time on issues like homosexuality and birth control.”

Their loss . . .

Luke 10:16
Whoever listens to you (the Church) listens to me. Whoever rejects you (the Church) rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

AMDG · #3 12th April 2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Michie

“don’t spend so much time on issues like homosexuality and birth control.”

That always has me wondering what parish they went to? My parish doesn't talk about homosexuality and birth control--bible study and maybe helping one's neighbor is frequently spoken about and at least once a year they'll be a talk on the Annual Appeal and the Greyer Lay Missionaries, plus the Easter and Christmas basket programs.

Same with the "the Catholic Church is too unfriendly". My actual non-Catholic son-in-law says that the Catholic Church is too friendly (and that's why he doesn't want to go.)

It all has to be in the "eye of the beholder" IMO. Lapsed Catholics all have different reasons for being lapsed and all we can do is pray for them.

Mikey123 · #4 12th April 2012, 04:59 PM

I am thankful that my Pastor frequently talks about the tough subjects. he even let me (Stewardship Director for the parish) talk after mass and tell everyone the "5% of the gross is what's expected - not a nice gesture." Along with some other sort of in-your-face statements about money.