How Many Catholics Actually Believe Like We Do?

[southern california guy]

In the past I've been the oddball evil "conservative" on other Catholic and Christian internet forums, but here it seems that there are other pro-life old fashioned Catholics.

We're anti-abortion, don't believe in divorce, are opposed to homosexual behavior, don't believe in birth control, have big families, wait till we get married to have sex, and don't live together outside of marriage. But what percent of the Catholic church is still like us?

Are we the minority? What percent of the Catholic church still believes the way that we do?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='southern california guy' post='1855672' date='May 2 2009, 04:19 PM']We're anti-abortion, don't believe in divorce, are opposed to homosexual behavior, don't believe in birth control, have big families, wait till we get married to have sex, and don't live together outside of marriage. But what percent of the Catholic church is still like us?[/quote]

Most adults I know who go to Catholic churches, whether ordinary or extraordinary form, whether Latin or Eastern, all believe in the immorality of sodomy, artificial contraception, fornication, cohabitation, etc.

[jeffpugh]

Unlike Ressurexi, I can't tell you how many I know who really follow The Church's teachings. I only know a handful of young people who want to for some reason or another cause they desire an encounter with Christ. I know a few adults who see thatway too. Then there's here.

Edited May 2, 2009 by Sacred Music Man

[CatherineM]

It seems like more in the older, and younger generation. My generation is hit and miss. It's one of the reasons I started an apologetics course for our Catholic Women's League. Part of the problem is inadequate catechism.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1855673' date='May 2 2009, 02:22 PM']Most adults I know who go to Catholic churches, whether ordinary or extraordinary form, whether Latin or Eastern, all believe in the immorality of sodomy, artificial contraception, fornication, cohabitation, etc.[/quote]
I wish that were the case here in the East Bay Area, but most of the people I know dissent on one or more of those moral issues. Some of the dissent even comes from priests.

The priest, during the homily at a Mass I attended that celebrated the feast of the Holy Family, spoke of family in all its many forms, e.g., single parent families, gay and lesbian families, etc., it was truly sad to hear.

Edited May 2, 2009 by Apotheoun

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1855758' date='May 2 2009, 06:25 PM']The priest, during the homily at a Mass I attended that celebrated the feast of the Holy Family, spoke of family in all its many forms, e.g., single parent families, gay and lesbian families, etc., it was truly sad to hear.[/quote]



Weird.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1855783' date='May 2 2009, 04:45 PM']

Weird.[/quote]
It is the standard viewpoint at several parishes near my house. One of the parishes even posts its homilies on the web.

[Apotheoun]

One of the worst homilies I read was delivered by a woman at the parish, and she was referring back to the previous weeks homily, which had been delivered by a teenage parishioner.

[MissyP89]

Phatmass exists in a vacuum.

[Dr_Asik]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1855796' date='May 2 2009, 07:59 PM']One of the worst homilies I read was delivered by a woman at the parish, and she was referring back to the previous weeks homily, which had been delivered by a teenage parishioner.[/quote]Why do you even stay at that parish? I'd had left it long ago.

[TotusTuusMaria]

I believe.

I actually know a great deal of people who do. Almost everyone on my facebook (100+) friends believe that way...

I do think we are a minority though...

the faithful have always been a minority...

Edited May 3, 2009 by TotusTuusMaria

[Nihil Obstat]

I know very few people who are consistently in line with the Church on everything.
Unfortunately.

[eagle_eye222001]

Nearly every family in my local parish has two kids.

Now some do have three....and a few have four, however a large majority have two kids.

That will tell you what most of the parishioners think of birth control.

I don't even want to speculate on the other issues. Too depressing.

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[Resurrexi]

They could have serious reasons for using NFP. Or they could be practicing celibacy in mariage, like St. Louis and his wife did

[jeffpugh]

[quote name='Dr_Asik' post='1856061' date='May 2 2009, 10:58 PM']Why do you even stay at that parish? I'd had left it long ago.[/quote]
He did. He is a Byzantine Catholic now.

[eagle_eye222001]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1856236' date='May 3 2009, 01:09 AM']They could have serious reasons for using NFP. Or they could be practicing celibacy in mariage, like St. Louis and his wife did [/quote]

Right. 85% of a parish practicing NFP in a rich suburban neighborhood .

Sorry but the percentages don't work in that favor.

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[Resurrexi]

You never considered that they might be practicing celibacy

[eagle_eye222001]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1856273' date='May 3 2009, 01:34 AM']You never considered that they might be practicing celibacy [/quote]

Believe me....85% of these two kid families.....are not practicing celibacy......this is a fairly upper middle class suburban area. The parish is not "Catholic" enough for 85% to be practicing celibacy. Mass attendance is poor....confessions are offered 45 minutes every week and not many go to that. I'm sorry but that theory doesn't reflect other areas of the parish.

I could write paragraphs on the lack of Catholicism in the parish and my experience in the local parish school.

It would be hoo of me to think most of those people are being celibate.


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[Angel*Star]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1856236' date='May 3 2009, 01:09 AM']They could have serious reasons for using NFP. Or they could be practicing celibacy in mariage, like St. Louis and his wife did [/quote]
While I try not to judge other people's reasons for things, they look at me like I have four heads when I am expecting "again"! Their children get cars at 16 (and other if they wreck it), they go to Catholic high schools which are at about $10,000 a year and college is paid in full. They have all the latest and greatest. A television in their room (which they don't have to share and is in a house that my house would fit inside of), is a norm, of course they have a Wii and probably Play Station, ipod, cell phones are about as common as tennis shoes. When they vacation, it is Hawaii, a cruise and of course they fly. Again, I try not to judge, but they have all the material stuff. Then the parents ask me why my children are so well behaved. Well, I stay home with them and when we go out to eat it is a treat. My older four children all have jobs. If they want something extra, guess who pays for it.

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone said to me "I would have more kids, but...." Basically the reason comes down to financial. They have to have the latest and greatest. The moms have basically told me so. "How can you afford to send them all to college. The cell phone bill alone...." Well, guess what. My if my children want a cell phone, they pay for it. We live in an upper middle class area. The houses on "the other side of the main street" belong to doctors who work at the nearby hospital. So basically, we live on the wrong side of the tracks. But, still, we manage. It may have something to do with the car that has 250,000 miles on it which we drive. Yes, we have another one with only 70,000!

I try not to judge, I try to be charitable....Now some of the moms are telling me they wish they would have had more children. Yes, it is scary having lots of children and providing for them. It comes down. Do I believe in God or do I believe in myself?

[AdAltareDei]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1856273' date='May 3 2009, 01:34 AM']You never considered that they might be practicing celibacy [/quote]


haha, thats a little naive.
You go to the EF Mass which usually attracts serious Catholics.
Most OF Masses attract "Cultural Catholics". I'm not meaning to generalize, but surveys show that most Catholics, even those that attend Mass regularly, don't accept all the teachings of the Church.

I think nearly 45% of the people in the pews don't even believe in transubstantiation. I could find the source if I tried.