Damned atheists

[fredd bear]

Canada set to lose 9,000 churches in the next decade, roughly a third of all faith-owned buildings in the country

In rural areas, congregations are shrinking as members age or move away. In cities, the increasing secularization of society coupled with new spiritual practices has cut into traditional Christian church attendance. Even rising immigration hasn't been enough to offset the trend. With fewer people in the pews, and less money in the coffers, rising maintenance costs on old buildings have overwhelmed many congregations.

In eastern New Brunswick, for example, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese has predicted 20 of its 53 parishes will likely close if congregations can't find a way to generate more money.

Likewise, more than 30 of 54 Catholic churches near Montreal were slated for closure in a 2018 report by the Diocese of St-Jérôme, with local congregations now crunching the numbers to determine their fate. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/losing-ch...-1.5046812


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Welcome news.

The Catholic Church has been undergoing the same level of losses here. It's now common here for one priest to service several parishes.(ahem)

I think the  member increases in Africa and South America especially give a false impression of Christianity generally.

Imo, the damage the child sex scandals have caused the church cannot be over estimated. From what I've read, this this damage seems especially noticeable in Ireland.

Of course ,Ireland has always been a special case.They have another scandal festering away; that of priests' families. In Ireland many allegedly celibate priest have a defacto wife and  children. Typically, the Catholic Church  has ignored the problem hoping it will just go away,. The shortage of priests means this issue can no longer be ignored.

I found the article linked below very interesting


https://cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and-ire...with-kids/