Pew – Good or Bad News??
theophilus February 27th, 2008
As most everyone probably knows by now, Pew just came out with a survey of 35,000 Americans detailing their religious practices. I was especially struck by the statistic that 10% of all Americans consider themselves ex-Catholics.
I am a political junkie and often like to dive into the particulars of a poll or survey to determine the reliability of the questions asked and the population surveyed. Usually, the poll/survey is slanted to the cause or point of view of the entity doing the poll/survey.
So, I decided to look at the particulars of this survey. And then I stopped myself.
I decided to take the survey at face value – assuming for the moment that the questions were objective and the population representative of all Americans.
I decided to do so, because it really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things if the survey was slanted towards a subjective point of view.
Whether you consider yourself Catholic or not is dependent upon certain beliefs. Others have made this point and I think it is the crux of the issue. You either believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist or you do not. You either believe in the power of Confession and the glory of the apostolic succession or you do not. You either believe in the Queenship, virginity, and Assumption of Mary or you do not. You either believe that the sanctity of life is non-negotiabable or you do not.
If you believe these things, you will be a practicing, devout Catholic – regardless of the real and perceived faults of the humans currently serving the Church. If you do not believe these things, you will probably not ”get” the Mass, the Sacraments, and the traditions, and will find yourself seeking something else, somewhere else.
All I know is that Mass attendance is outstanding at my parish - which is equaled by an intense dedication by the laity to join in the ministry of the parish. We are also welcoming a score of RCIA candidates this Easter – all of whom are going through a discernment and educational process that ensures Catholicism is where they want to be. I have no doubt that twenty and thirtysomethings will find a home again in the Church as they realize there is real meat to dig into when one considers the Real Presence, Mary, the communion of saints, the apostolic succession, the healing powers of reconciliation and the other incredible mysteries that continue to be revealed by the one, universal, Catholic Church.
We have work to do – but we will get it done. The Church has gone through so much in its 2,000 years – suffered through periods where the Holy See was in danger of being relegated to the forgotten head of a lost civilization. But our Church has survived. Some of our brethern may have fallen away because of modern-day secularism, abuse, neglect, arrogance and apathy, but the Church has come through much worse.
I happen to believe that our Church is thriving today. We just need to continue to have faith – to live our lives in the way Christ intends for us - and to be a perfect example to those who have fallen away or are looking for something more for their lives.
Christ has each of us on our own journey to him. We just need to make sure we are walking his path for us and helping others walk his path for them.
