Msgr. Pope on Being More Faithfully Catholic in Response to Shrinking Numbers

"Numerous surveys have documented the steady decline of religious belief in the U.S. and the rest of the Western world. The category of people known as 'nones' consists of atheists, agnostics, and those who state that they are not affiliated with any particular religious denomination. There is little that unites them other than this lack of belief. In trying to bring others to the Catholic faith, we are not facing people with a single mindset but rather a bewildering and complex hodgepodge of stances and ideas; the 'nones' disagree with one another as much as they do with us Catholics.

"There is a simplistic perception that believers are losing ground to a united group of non-believers; this is not the case. We are losing ground, but to a host of disconnected groups/trends: atheists, agnostics, and the 'spiritual but not religious,' as well as those who embrace Eastern religions, yoga, reiki, Wicca, Santeria, Wicca, Santa Muerte, and Satanism. There are also people who follow a syncretic religion, incorporating aspects of two or more different religions into a unique new one. The people we are trying to convert represent a mishmash of confusing and self-referential 'movements,' some of which have a single member! Some who abandoned the Catholic faith did so in anger over a specific issue or teaching; others just drifted. Some oppose us intensely while others are merely indifferent. Almost nothing unites these groups except that none of them accept our faith.

"This can be consoling, but it can also make our task more difficult. The consolation comes from the fact that is this not some strong, united force arrayed against us. If anyone in this non-believing 'group' boasts, 'We now outnumber you,' I would point out that there isn't a lot of 'we' going on in their supposed movement! Little if anything unites them besides unbelief." 

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the importance of, in light of shrinking numbers, being ever more fully, faithfully, and joyfully Catholic. 

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit: 

Community in Mission: Being More Faithfully Catholic Is the Only Valid Response to Shrinking Numbers (2 SEP 19)