Decline of religion

[Silver]

When I was younger, I always heard how great catholic schools were.

Now: "Yeah, if you want ro get piddled by priests."

[The Grand Nudger]

Depending on where and when you were a kid it may even have been true. Especially where dominionists have diverted public school funding to their pedo defense kitty.

[Fake Messiah]

It seems that the Catholic church in Philadelphia is planning to force lapsed Catholics into returning to church, counting that they are Catholics because they were baptized, but they don't realize that those people were baptized against their will.

Philadelphia archbishop launches ‘missionary hubs’ to reach the ‘missing 83%’

After the Archdiocese of Philadelphia found that 83% of baptized Catholics are missing from the pews in the archdiocese, Archbishop Nelson Pérez decided to launch a missionary outreach program in his archdiocese to “invite people home.”

The number of “missing Catholics” is based on Mass count attendance data compiled each year by the archdiocese. (The number relates only to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.)

Pérez is launching a 10-year missionary endeavor to bring Catholics back to the pews by implementing “missionary hubs” in many parishes in the area. The missionary hubs are designed to work with existing parishes and ministries by providing additional resources to minister to those who have left the Church.

Pérez recalled that one of the first questions he was asked when he became archbishop was “will you close parishes?”

“I didn’t come here to close parishes; I came here to build up the Church of Philadelphia,” Pérez said.

“The archbishop recognizes the urgency of reaching out to the 83% of baptized Catholics not regularly practicing their faith while continuing to serve more effectively and efficiently the 17% who do attend Mass,” Gavin told CNA.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/...83-percent

Meanwhile... would you buy a closed Catholic church and perhaps open a trans hair salon? It's only $650k

Want To Buy Sacred Heart Catholic Church, But At This Price?

Real estate is big business for the Diocese of Joliet and now that the Diocese closed down several of its Joliet area Catholic churches last year, the Diocese is working with real estate companies in hopes of selling off these empty church properties to generate more income for the diocese.

One such listing on the commercial website LoopNet is the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Joliet's South Ottawa Street. The Diocese is bundling three properties together for the asking price of $650,000.

Suburban Real Estate Services is promoting the listing, which suggests that the former Catholic church can be redeveloped as another church, a community center or a non-profit organization. The listing for 329, 331 and 337 South Ottawa includes the church, the rectory and the hall on the city's east side, not far from Interstate 80.

"Additionally, the property features a south-located parking lot with approximately 100 surface spaces, a cinder block wall, and a chain link fence for added security, offering ample convenience for future uses."

https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/sacred...sale-price

Or would you buy this Catholic school? I'm sure it will be on sale soon since it's closing.

Catholic elementary school closing in Palatine due to low enrollment numbers

The Archdiocese said it was left with no choice but to close St. Thomas of Villanova as enrollment numbers were just not where they needed to be.

After 61 years of operating and playing a critical role within the Palatine community, the decision has been made to shut down the St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School.

Father Kris Janczak issued a statement on the closure this week, saying in part, "Despite solid fundraising efforts, enrollment declined 17% this school year and the school's projected deficit has doubled and is now insurmountable."

The school is expected to shut down once the school year ends in May. Father Janczak said the hope is the rest of this school year will serve as a true celebration of the community.

https://abc7chicago.com/post/st-thomas-v.../15807786/

[Sheldon]

It seems that the Catholic church in Philadelphia is planning to force lapsed Catholics into returning to church, counting that they are Catholics because they were baptized, but they don't realize that those people were baptized against their will.

Philadelphia archbishop launches ‘missionary hubs’ to reach the ‘missing 83%’

After the Archdiocese of Philadelphia found that 83% of baptized Catholics are missing from the pews in the archdiocese, Archbishop Nelson Pérez decided to launch a missionary outreach program in his archdiocese to “invite people home.”

The number of “missing Catholics” is based on Mass count attendance data compiled each year by the archdiocese. (The number relates only to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.)

Pérez is launching a 10-year missionary endeavor to bring Catholics back to the pews by implementing “missionary hubs” in many parishes in the area. The missionary hubs are designed to work with existing parishes and ministries by providing additional resources to minister to those who have left the Church.

Pérez recalled that one of the first questions he was asked when he became archbishop was “will you close parishes?”

“I didn’t come here to close parishes; I came here to build up the Church of Philadelphia,” Pérez said.

“The archbishop recognizes the urgency of reaching out to the 83% of baptized Catholics not regularly practicing their faith while continuing to serve more effectively and efficiently the 17% who do attend Mass,” Gavin told CNA.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/...83-percent

Meanwhile... would you buy a closed Catholic church and perhaps open a trans hair salon? It's only $650k

Want To Buy Sacred Heart Catholic Church, But At This Price?

Real estate is big business for the Diocese of Joliet and now that the Diocese closed down several of its Joliet area Catholic churches last year, the Diocese is working with real estate companies in hopes of selling off these empty church properties to generate more income for the diocese.

One such listing on the commercial website LoopNet is the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Joliet's South Ottawa Street. The Diocese is bundling three properties together for the asking price of $650,000.

Suburban Real Estate Services is promoting the listing, which suggests that the former Catholic church can be redeveloped as another church, a community center or a non-profit organization. The listing for 329, 331 and 337 South Ottawa includes the church, the rectory and the hall on the city's east side, not far from Interstate 80.

"Additionally, the property features a south-located parking lot with approximately 100 surface spaces, a cinder block wall, and a chain link fence for added security, offering ample convenience for future uses."

https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/sacred...sale-price

Or would you buy this Catholic school? I'm sure it will be on sale soon since it's closing.

Catholic elementary school closing in Palatine due to low enrollment numbers

The Archdiocese said it was left with no choice but to close St. Thomas of Villanova as enrollment numbers were just not where they needed to be.

After 61 years of operating and playing a critical role within the Palatine community, the decision has been made to shut down the St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School.

Father Kris Janczak issued a statement on the closure this week, saying in part, "Despite solid fundraising efforts, enrollment declined 17% this school year and the school's projected deficit has doubled and is now insurmountable."

The school is expected to shut down once the school year ends in May. Father Janczak said the hope is the rest of this school year will serve as a true celebration of the community.

https://abc7chicago.com/post/st-thomas-v.../15807786/

One less "school" indoctrinating children into archaic superstition, sounds like something worth celebrating. My brother went to a Catholic school, he still doesn't like nuns.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Joshua's, in Paso Robles back in the late 70s/early 80s, was a high-falutin' restaurant/bistro the had been converted from an old Catholic church that had been sold off. They featured live music, and the acoustics were great. I had a buddy whose stepdad played solo jazz there, though I never got to hear him; I only took a date there in my senior year, a couple of years after the knucklehead had moved on.

The friend's stepdad did give me an early 50s Harmony H303 amplifier that I wish I still had.

[Fake Messiah]

Public trust in pastors continues to decline, Gallup poll finds

Public trust in pastors has dropped to a new low, according to the latest Gallup poll. The survey finds that only 30% of Americans rate clergy as highly honest and ethical, continuing a downward trend.

Gallup’s findings, released last week, place clergy in 10th position among the 23 professions measured. Clergy were ranked below auto mechanics (33%), judges (28%), but above bankers (23%) and nursing home operators (21%).

The poll, conducted Dec. 2-18, 2024, also revealed that 20% of Americans rate clergy’s honesty and ethics as low or very low, while another 42% see pastors as having average standards. Seven percent said they had no opinion about clergy.

“Previously, a broad majority of the U.S. held pastors in the highest regard,” Lifeway stated, recalling that 67% of Americans considered pastors highly honest and ethical in 1985. The figure briefly rebounded to 64% in 2001, coinciding with a wave of public support following the September 11 attacks.

However, reports of sexual abuse in religious settings, such as the 2002 investigations by The Boston Globe, appear to have eroded trust. Gallup described 2002 and 2018 as points in time that mirrored negative developments in the Catholic Church and other denominations, while Lifeway pointed to the “additional sex abuse reports in other denominations and Christian groups” as relevant factors.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/publi...finds.html