Worse than I Thought

I stumbled across this article today. Even though I knew there was a problem, I didn't actually understand the scope until seeing these statistics.

The unhappy truth is that Catholics are ignorant about their own faith. My experience through just casual conversations with fellow parishioners seems to confirm this fact. The survey is particularly shocking in the number of Catholics who have no problem with abortion, divorce, and adultery.

As a convert from the Brethren Church, the most striking difference I've noted, with some disappointment, is the fact that Roman Catholics focus all of their faith formation on the children. Adults, for the most part, either never actually learned anything in their childhood catechism, or have forgotten.

Although my childhood Protestant church certainly has plenty of flaws, one thing I think they understand well is that study of the faith is a lifelong endeavour. Sunday School, Bible Study, various men's and women's service groups, and unending pitch-in dinners build better understanding of the faith as well as strong connections between the congregants.

It's disappointing to see that young adults leave the church behind. There are many underlying reasons, I think:

Too few overworked priests, among whom too many choose to ignore Catholic values and teaching.

A public education system that is committed to driving faith and religion out of every child.

Popular Culture that hammers a secular "anything goes" message every hour of every day.

Political Correctness, which demands no one "judge" another's chosen behavior and "lifestyle choices".

The culture's successful effort to confuse people on the difference between tolerance and permissiveness.

The popular idea that the Church is a staid, stuffy, rules-obsessed institution full of phonies.

I think that a positive sign is in the young priests who are gradually working their way into the parishes. Many of these energetic young men have embraced the Church's foundational tenets and appreciate its history. Perhaps they are the best hope of revitalizing the Church in these difficult times.