Survey finds 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving Church

Michie

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CNA Staff, Jul 9, 2020 / 08:15 am MT (CNA).- A survey released Thursday found that 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving the Church.

The poll, conducted by the research institute INSA Consulere for the Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost, reported that almost a third of respondents agreed with the statement “I am a member of the Church and can imagine leaving the Church soon.”

Researchers said July 9 that 54% of Catholics disagreed with the statement, 9% said they did not know, and 7% did not offer a response, CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner, reported.


The survey follows the release of official figures last month which showed that a record number of Catholics formally left the Church in Germany in 2019.

According to the statistics, 272,771 people exited the Catholic Church last year, a significant increase on the 2018 figure of 216,078.

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Survey finds 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving Church
 

thecolorsblend

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In my experience, it's about 10% of any Christian body (at least in America) that's truly committed to the faith. This is true across the board; Catholic, Protestant, whatever, it's all the same and the 10% number stands.

There are tons of reasons to "go to church". Devout religious belief is only one of them. The other 90% have agendas that run the gamut: looking for a potential spouse, a general (and generic) sense of belonging to something, making new friends, networking/career opportunities, free coffee, etc.

To put it another way, 54% of German Catholics claim they can't imagine leaving the Church. If that's actually true then the German Catholics have got significant bragging rights.
 
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rturner76

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Is there a theory about why? Local bishop controversial or was there a rise in pedo reporting? Are they at odds with Pope Francis ie upset Benedict (German) is no longer Pope? Personal reasons or found another church more exiting?

I could see any of these being an issue for people. Plus European culture is atheist/agnostic. I have been to Catholic Churches in Germany, France, and Holland. They are freezing cold, drafty, and full of echos, and dark. I remember barely being able to concentrate because I was so distracted by my discomfort.

Not to mention, in most European countries, if you go to Mass or church on Sundays you are seen as a religious zealot. Even if you never talk about it at work or school, just knowing that you go regularity, they act like you worship Santa's elves or something. Most of them see The Bible as a book of fairy tales that we take literally so we are seen as gullible and less intelligent like cult members.

Christianity has been dying in Europe since the French revolution and "enlightenment."
 
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Gnarwhal

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CNA Staff, Jul 9, 2020 / 08:15 am MT (CNA).- A survey released Thursday found that 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving the Church.

The poll, conducted by the research institute INSA Consulere for the Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost, reported that almost a third of respondents agreed with the statement “I am a member of the Church and can imagine leaving the Church soon.”

Researchers said July 9 that 54% of Catholics disagreed with the statement, 9% said they did not know, and 7% did not offer a response, CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner, reported.


The survey follows the release of official figures last month which showed that a record number of Catholics formally left the Church in Germany in 2019.

According to the statistics, 272,771 people exited the Catholic Church last year, a significant increase on the 2018 figure of 216,078.

Continued below.
Survey finds 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving Church

Considering who they have for bishops, I'm surprised it's only 30.

But then... the remaining 70 are probably just like the bishops and believe they can change doctrine.
 
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Radagast

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In my experience, it's about 10% of any Christian body (at least in America) that's truly committed to the faith. This is true across the board; Catholic, Protestant, whatever, it's all the same and the 10% number stands.

I don't think that's true at all. This measures something different, but it demonstrates clear differences between different branches of Christianity:

FT_15.11.16_congregationalInvolvement.png
 
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chevyontheriver

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I don't think that's true at all. This measures something different, but it demonstrates clear differences between different branches of Christianity:

FT_15.11.16_congregationalInvolvement.png
I'm not sure I'm buying the high/medium/low thing. Does 'low' mean they never show up at services? Does 'medium' mean they pray once in a while in addition to believing the creed and showing up at services? I would hope they defined all of that in their study. But I'm more prone to thinking that the 10% thing has some real truth to it. Ten percent really committed for the Lord and the rest with varying degrees and motivations less pure. And I'd say that although it may vary a bit by kind of group, it's more or less consistent.
 
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Markie Boy

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I think there are about 30 Million ex-Catholics in the US, so we probably are not far off here either. Yet they keep doing the same thing over and over.

I have read multiple articles, some written by Catholics, stating the RCC has forgotten that it's mission is the salvation of souls. It has made the mistake many businesses have made - and forgotten it's purpose is to server people, but instead acts like it's purpose is to perpetuate itself.

I saw this first hand when I attended a liturgy meeting and there was discussion on music and hymnals. It was all worldly, and I want what I want. When I stated that the church exists for the salvation of souls you could hear a pin drop!

It was like they never really thought about that. I got no support, even from the attending priest. I think that was the point I lost what little hope I had for Catholicism.

The RCC is loosing two kinds of people for sure:

1. Liberals that don't like teaching on marriage and sexuality.

2. Dedicated conservatives that just don't see the RCC as actually supporting and teaching truth. Those who want more, but feel they are not fed or supported.

I went to bat for what should be real Catholic values with two different priests and the bishop - and was rejected by all of them. Basically told there is no problem, I'm just too conservative. Or told that it bothers me because I know the truth, but it's OK for most people because they don't know the truth. That's moral relativism - multiple truths are OK???

I heard it best put like this - the Catholic Church in the US is like the Titanic, and the clergy's main concern is re-arranging the deck chairs.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I think there are about 30 Million ex-Catholics in the US, so we probably are not far off here either. Yet they keep doing the same thing over and over.
The German establishment differs from the American one in that the German hierarchy has mostly gone off the deep end in what they believe. Broad swaths of the German episcopate really have ceased to be Catholic and are wading deep into apostasy. In the USA we have a much less apostate hierarchy but they are very ineffectual. We have evil prelates like McCarrick and company. A list of names at this point would be quite long. But we have so many bishops who should be speaking loudly who don't. We have some bishops who do speak loudly, do have spines, do know the faith. Such bishops are available here, though it is painful when your bishop is not one of those. Germany has a few such bishops left, but not many. We have more, but not all of them. The majority seem not willing to rock the boat, just as you described. And then there are the evil ones. The ones that make me want to vomit.

The German situation differs in that you register your religious affiliation with the government and the government provides some of your taxes to the Church. It's a sick system which makes German Catholicism rich with cash but unresponsive to the concerns of Catholics. The only way to not support awful programs is to officially declare to the government that you are no longer Catholic. Here one can just withhold contributions to a bad ministry and redirect them to a good ministry. There you are stuck. If I were German I would be sorely tempted to officially be a nothing and unofficially attend and contribute to a good priest or parish.
 
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Wolseley

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"Let no one deceive you by any means; for the Day of the Lord will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. Do you not recall that while I was still with you I told you these things? For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work."
(2 Thessalonians 2:3,5,6.)

It's interesting and more than a little frightening to see these things being unfolded right in front of your eyes.....
 
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thecolorsblend

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I don't think that's true at all. This measures something different, but it demonstrates clear differences between different branches of Christianity:

FT_15.11.16_congregationalInvolvement.png
Wow, this is actually a really good point!

So let's see. If I've got this right then if we change the entire subject of what I was talking about to something else completely, why, it's obvious that I was wrong.

Thanks a lot, much appreciated. I stand corrected. (You know, in that not at all kind of way.)
 
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