France's Catholic Church in decline as Pope visits

Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected in the French Mediterranean city of Marseille for Pope Francis's two-day visit, but the once dominant faith is in a long decline in France.

Just 29 percent of French people aged 18-59 said they were Catholic in a 2019-20 survey by statistics authority Insee.

That was a steep plunge from the 85-percent rate in 1962 and France's centuries-old status as "the eldest daughter of the Church".

The Argentina-born Francis, himself from the southern hemisphere, "obviously doesn't think France is a priority," said Bernard Lecomte, a journalist and author of "Tous les Secrets du Vatican" ("All the Vatican's Secrets").

His failure to visit since becoming pope in 2013 has made for "disquiet among French Catholics, who are already quite upset" at becoming "just another minority", Lecomte added.

In a controversial move for the head of the secular French republic, Macron will attend the pope's mass on Saturday although he has insisted "I am not going as a Catholic but as president of the republic, which is secular".

Although Macron was baptised as a Catholic at his own request aged 12, he is now seen as an agnostic albeit with a deep interest in spiritual matters.

He has also called for securing the right to abortion in France's constitution, after the US Supreme Court overturned nationwide protection last year.

https://news.yahoo.com/frances-catholic-...24052.html

(September 23, 2023 at 9:56 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote: In a controversial move for the head of the secular French republic, Macron will attend the pope's mass on Saturday although he has insisted "I am not going as a Catholic but as president of the republic, which is secular".

Macron is pushing for pro-choice legislation and doesn't take communion, which makes Catholics upset in France. 

Biden is pushing for pro-choice legislation and does take communion, which makes Catholics upset in America.

Go figure.

(September 23, 2023 at 10:01 pm)LinuxGal Wrote: Biden is pushing for pro-choice legislation and does take communion, which makes Catholics upset in America.

Go figure.

President Biden has attended church more than any president in modern times, yet Christian Conservatives still overwhelemly prefer a guy who was found guilty of sexual assault, makes fun of disabled people, and is facing 91 felonies.

Christians, especially in the American South, have a tendency not to consider Catholics to be Christian.

It was a hard-learned lesson for me to keep my Catholic upbringing quiet.

They would prefer nearly anyone to a Catholic.

(September 23, 2023 at 10:17 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: Christians, especially in the American South, have a tendency not to consider Catholics to be Christian.  

It was a hard-learned lesson for me to keep my Catholic upbringing quiet.

They would prefer nearly anyone to a Catholic.

I never considered being Catholic to be the same thing as being Christian and I still don't. Protestantism is Christianity, Catholicism is something else.

(September 23, 2023 at 10:47 pm)Ahriman Wrote:

(September 23, 2023 at 10:17 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: Christians, especially in the American South, have a tendency not to consider Catholics to be Christian.  

It was a hard-learned lesson for me to keep my Catholic upbringing quiet.

They would prefer nearly anyone to a Catholic.

I never considered being Catholic to be the same thing as being Christian and I still don't. Protestantism is Christianity, Catholicism is something else.

A nun at Holy Rosary Convent School asked her students what they want to be when they grow up.

Little Suzy declared, "I want to be a prostitute."

"What did you say?!" asked the nun, totally shocked.

"I said I want to be a prostitute," Suzy repeated.

"Oh, thank heavens," said the nun. "I thought you said `a Protestant!`"

(September 23, 2023 at 10:17 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: Christians, especially in the American South, have a tendency not to consider Catholics to be Christian.  

It was a hard-learned lesson for me to keep my Catholic upbringing quiet.

They would prefer nearly anyone to a Catholic.

Mom was 7th day adventist and I didn't know cathy-licks were christers until I was in high school, and that was in the PacNW.

The earliest distaste for religion was discovered while exploring two distinct sects in my small town. As much as they professed their devotion to god, their behavior toward those of differing faiths was not christ-like.

(September 24, 2023 at 1:44 pm)Foxaèr Wrote: The earliest distaste for religion was discovered while exploring two distinct sects in my small town. As much as they professed their devotion to god, their behavior toward those of differing faiths was not christ-like.

Christ-like:

Mark 7

[26] The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

[27] But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

(September 23, 2023 at 10:12 pm)Fake Messiah Wrote:

(September 23, 2023 at 10:01 pm)LinuxGal Wrote: Biden is pushing for pro-choice legislation and does take communion, which makes Catholics upset in America.

Go figure.

President Biden has attended church more than any president in modern times, yet Christian Conservatives still overwhelemly prefer a guy who was found guilty of sexual assault, makes fun of disabled people, and is facing 91 felonies.

Biden is a corrupt, senile piece of shit, and Camel toe Harris is as dumb as a bag of hammers. Everyone in DC needs to be run out of town and be replaced.