"And I beheld, and heard the voice of one eagle flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth.... [Apocalypse (Revelation) 8:13]
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
No ‘Springtime’ for Catholic Families
No ‘Springtime’ for Catholic Families
By: Mark Stabinski
Card. Bassetti unrealistically "assures us" of a new springtime for the Church & family ...
In an essay published on the front page of L’Osservatore Romano,
Card. Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia said that Pope Francis’ trip to
Latin America marks “a new season, an authentic springtime” for the
Church. This season, he noted, is taking place in nations at the “peripheries.”
The Cardinal had the courage to pretend that in this
supposed “springtime” we are seeing “the strengthening of the family”
along with the normal One World Order goals the Vatican has embraced
since Vatican II: the defense of human rights, the denunciation of the
Capitalism, etc.
Now, what family is Card. Bassetti referring to in his blasé exhausted
statement? Surely it is not the Catholic family. Never have statistics
been so bleak on the state of the Catholic family in America and around
the world. We refer here not just to the rising statistics on Catholics
who are divorced, unwed mothers, cohabitating and proponents, but also
to participants of homosexual “marriage.”
Further, inside the Catholic family there is abysmal ignorance about the
Catholic Faith and a shameful lack of practices of the Sacraments.
This is confirmed by a new study on the Catholic Family
by Dr. Mark Gray of Holy Cross Family Ministries released by the Center
for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. The
results are very far from representing a “springtime” for the Catholic
family and the Church.
Mass, Sacraments & ‘core beliefs’
The polled parents all identify themselves as Catholics, yet only 25%
say they attend Mass weekly. Fifty percent of the parents report
attending Mass at least once a month.
More than 34% of Catholic parents do not think it is important for their
children to make their First Communion, and a larger number (almost
40%) are unconcerned about Confirmation.
More than 68% of parents do not have any of their children enrolled in
Catholic religious education of any sort. Although this looks ominous,
it may be irrelevant since it is social teaching, not Catholic doctrine,
that is being taught in most of these classes.
Only 7 % of Catholic parents pray the Rosary once a week
Vatican II "Katholics" praying look more & more like Protestants
Are Catholic children learning that missing Mass on Sunday
is a mortal sin? Probably not, since this Commandment of the Church is
no longer being taught in catechisms or preached from pulpits since
Vatican II.
As for other “core Creed beliefs,” as the survey calls them, what are
Catholics parents believing? Better said, what are they rejecting?
15 % do not agree there is a Heaven;
18% doubt the Trinity, and the same for the existence of Angels;
21% do not hold that God is Creator of the universe, that humans
were made in the image of God, and that prayers are heard and answered.
25% do not believe in the Final Judgment, that Mary was conceived without original sin or there is a Devil;
29 % doubt there is a Hell.
These percentages of parents raise the question: How can a person call himself a Catholic and doubt these basic beliefs?
"Catholics" praying more like Protestants
As for prayer, Catholics parents in general still pray at times, the
study shows, but their prayer life and habits look more like those of
Protestants.
Most parents are “talking” to God personally rather than
saying traditional prayers. Only 33% of Catholic parents pray daily, and
about 25% say they pray once a week, 20% of them pray at least once a
month, 12% pray a few times a year and 9% never pray. These are bleak
numbers.
And how do those who pray, actually pray? Seventy five percent of
parents say they pray by themselves “talking” to God rather than with
family members.
How many pray the Rosary? Only 16% pray the Rosary at least once a
month; 7% percent at least once a week. The most common reasons for not
saying it: “It's not meaningful,” “It's old fashioned,” “I don't know
how to do it.”
The most common reason given by parents (80%) for prayer is the
well-being of their family. It is the same self-interest professed by
Protestants. Only 15% say they use standard religious devotional
prayers while praying.
Conclusion
It is the obligation of Catholic parents to raise their children as
Catholics, which necessarily involves teaching them Catholic doctrine
and prayers. Yet a majority of 21st century Catholic parents only assist
at Mass at least once a month. Most are not teaching their children the
tenets of the Faith or praying with their children. When they pray,
they usually don't say traditional Catholic prayers.
Many admit to being indifferent about children receiving First Communion
or Confirmation. How many children will leave the Faith or be serious
about it if they don't even have First Communion or become confirmed?
This study, appropriately subtitled Challenges for the Church of the 21st Century, reveals the secondary or non-existent role attributed to the Faith in Catholic family life today.
Is this what the Vatican is calling an “authentic springtime” for the Church?
What isn't being taught to Catholics today
Here is a sample from Baltimore Catechism n. 2 on the Commandments of the Church:
282. What sin does a Catholic commit who through his own fault misses Mass on a Sunday or holyday of obligation?
A Catholic who through his own fault misses Mass on a Sunday or holyday of obligation commits a mortal sin.
Keep you My Sabbath; for it is holy unto you (Ex 31:14).
66. What is mortal sin?
Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God.
Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent; for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee (Eccles 21:2).
67. Why is this sin called mortal?
This sin is called mortal, or deadly, because it deprives the sinner of sanctifying grace, the supernatural life of the soul.
Before man is life and death, good and evil; that which he shall choose shall be given him. (Eccles 15:18)
68. Besides depriving the sinner of sanctifying grace, what else does mortal sin do to the soul?
Besides depriving the sinner of sanctifying grace, mortal sin makes the
soul an enemy of God, takes away the merit of all its good actions,
deprives it of the right to everlasting happiness in Heaven, and makes
it deserving of everlasting punishment in Hell.
For the wages of sin is death; but the grace of God, life everlasting in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23).
Fr. Hesse explains why Vatican II is Not A Council of the Church
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