[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

I'm curious about these statements. Please attach links.

During Kennedy's run for the Presidency, there was some interest and/or concern regarding his Christian denomination (Roman Catholicism). At that point in time, Roman Catholics comprised 22 percent of the U.S. population.

Fast forward nearly 50 years and the percentage has remained relatively the same.

I once heard that Vermont was the most Catholic state at nearly 48 percent due to the French influence. Connecticut and Massachusetts, at 45 percent, are about twice the U.S. average.

As I mentioned, it's pretty interesting.

The Graduate Center, CUNY (http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm - broken link)

If you scroll down to # 10 "State and Faith", it says 32% of CT residents are Catholic, larger than any other group. Interestingly, the second largest group was "No Religion" at 19%.

I didn't realize how much the Catholic population has dropped in the past few decades.

[brasscitybluenwhite]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

When I spent many months in North Carolina, people would ask me what parish I belonged to rather than what neighborhood I lived in. Nice people, but after awhile it became annoying. My personal beliefs aren't really anyone's business, and telling a prying stranger this information leaves plenty of room for surface judgment. No thanks!

hmm...

but arent u supposed to be proud of religion? Trust me, I lived in the south and I was judged a lot less than me leaving waterbury and having people judge me based on the high school I graduated from or the street I lived on.

Personally, I think that people in the north are more judgemental, in all categories. But I can imagine that catholics would be outnumbered in the south

[brasscitybluenwhite]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

I'm curious about these statements. Please attach links.

During Kennedy's run for the Presidency, there was some interest and/or concern regarding his Christian denomination (Roman Catholicism). At that point in time, Roman Catholics comprised 22 percent of the U.S. population.

Fast forward nearly 50 years and the percentage has remained relatively the same.

I once heard that Vermont was the most Catholic state at nearly 48 percent due to the French influence. Connecticut and Massachusetts, at 45 percent, are about twice the U.S. average.

As I mentioned, it's pretty interesting.

umm...

well we have to see the basis of the argument. I dont think that the northern states are "less religious" simply because they are "less catholic". I think it has more to do with the fact that many people here dont vote with their religion. Although im not catholic, I was surprise to see that the church, being the largest in the state, did not send anyone to UCONN to advocate voting "yes" for the question at last year's election. I asked friends that were catholic, and they said "they didn't care". In the south, this would never be the case.

[JViello]

I'm going to post there here along with starting another thread:

Legislative Attack on Connecticut’s Catholic Church Poses Threat to All Churches

Legislative Attack on Connecticut’s Catholic Church Poses Threat to All Churches (http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/news/legislative/detail/548358.html - broken link)

“This legislation violates both the First Amendment, by intervening in the internal affairs of the Church, and the Fourteenth Amendment because it singles out the Catholic Church for discriminatory treatment. Moreover, it will chill freedom of religion and free speech, because it sends a message to all religious leaders that they will now have to consider whether what they say will subject them to government interference and intimidation,” Anderson explained.

“The power to impose structures that grant or take away authority of church leaders at the discretion of government officials is the power to intimidate and ultimately to destroy,” Anderson concluded.

There is a rally at the state capital today March 11th at 12pm. If you can't go, write or call your representative. Regardless if you are religious or not, we can not allow government to shred the constitution like this as it will affect us all in one way or another. Get involved.

Connecticut General Assembly - Find Your Legislator*

[LaMadden]

Originally Posted by JViello

I'm going to post there here along with starting another thread:

Legislative Attack on Connecticut’s Catholic Church Poses Threat to All Churches

Legislative Attack on Connecticut’s Catholic Church Poses Threat to All Churches (http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/news/legislative/detail/548358.html - broken link)

“This legislation violates both the First Amendment, by intervening in the internal affairs of the Church, and the Fourteenth Amendment because it singles out the Catholic Church for discriminatory treatment. Moreover, it will chill freedom of religion and free speech, because it sends a message to all religious leaders that they will now have to consider whether what they say will subject them to government interference and intimidation,” Anderson explained.

“The power to impose structures that grant or take away authority of church leaders at the discretion of government officials is the power to intimidate and ultimately to destroy,” Anderson concluded.

There is a rally at the state capital today March 11th at 12pm. If you can't go, write or call your representative. Regardless if you are religious or not, we can not allow government to shred the constitution like this as it will affect us all in one way or another. Get involved.

Connecticut General Assembly - Find Your Legislator*

I couldn't believe what I was hearing in church Sunday before Mass started. I would expect that in a communist country not here. Scarey stuff.

[Smallville]

Socialism does lead to communism.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

I'm curious about these statements. Please attach links.

Usmcfamily beat me to it, apparently the Connecticut Catholic statistics I stated at 50% has dropped to 38%; I'll just include the paragraph from her link:

The Catholic population of Connecticut has fallen from 50 percent to 38 percent of the population over the last 18 years, a wide-ranging study on American religious life released today has found.

If you read the Trinity College press release, it cites the growing latino population in California for the reason the Catholic population has increased there:

Trinity College (http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/News_Events/trinity_news/030909_Religion.htm - broken link)

“The decline of Catholicism in the Northeast is nothing short of stunning,” said Barry Kosmin, a principal investigator for the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS). “Thanks to immigration and natural increase among Latinos, California now has a higher proportion of Catholics than New England.”[/SIZE][/SIZE]


I'm still not taking this survey as the gospel though, since only 54,000 Americans out of millions were surveyed.

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

hmm...

but arent u supposed to be proud of religion? Trust me, I lived in the south and I was judged a lot less than me leaving waterbury and having people judge me based on the high school I graduated from or the street I lived on.

Personally, I think that people in the north are more judgemental, in all categories. But I can imagine that catholics would be outnumbered in the south

Hey Brass, glad to see you here! Personally, I don't think by asking someone where they worship is judging anyone. I think some people get defensive about anyone asking about their religion. I can't help but wonder why?

Too funny, because I am "church" shopping for one closer to home and if the right opportunity presents itself or church comes up in a conversation, I ask people about their church and what it's like. Everyone has been very happy to tell me about their churches.

[KH02]

Usmc - where are you looking for a church in what area? I have a few good one's friends of mine attend.

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by KH02

Usmc - where are you looking for a church in what area? I have a few good one's friends of mine attend.

Hi! I live in Monroe. Currently, attending church in Fairfield, but finding the distance a hindrance for activities (other than attending service), such as youth groups and bible studies. I know it's not that far but our schedules are so hectic. I have a church here in town that I like because of the community (people) that attend but the service itself isn't as dynamic as we are used to. I have 2 more recommendations to check out.

But, ideally I would like to stay close to my own community so no further than Trumbull or southern Newtown. We love contemporary worship music and need an active youth group and love small group bible study. The denomination doesn't matter could be Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.

Any recommendations?