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The Catholic Church can only "appeal to the masses" if it offers something the masses want or need.
The only thing it really offers apart from peripheral things (such as social networks) is eternal salvation.
If the masses don't want or feel the need for eternal salvation, then what else does the Church have to offer, really? To really follow the Faith in sincerity requires a change in lifestyle that most aren't willing to do. It's a cost-benefit thing. If people don't believe that the cost provides any benefit, why pay it?
The masses are getting eternal salvation from the Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. We don’t need the Catholic Church for that.
The question “is the Catholic Church dying” , is definitely a valid one on a Christianity forum.
Many of us, even those of us raised as Catholics, don’t have a detailed knowledge of church history - and don’t really want or need to know.
The fact is Catholic church attendances are definitely declining, and the cultural and societal impacts of the church are also declining.
The world in general has changed a lot in the last 50 years or so, certainly in my lifetime.
The Catholic Church has to do what it can to stay relevant, and appeal to a younger and newer generation.
This is where a lot of the problems lie, it simply doesn’t want to change on many things.
The “Catholic Charismatic Renewal” was one thing that came about, to at least try to compete with Pentecostalism. (this is one of the biggest rivals and rising movements in many traditional Catholic territories)
There are also many Catholic branded charities that are still going very strong too.
There’s no doubt the Catholic Church still needs to do a lot more though to appeal to the masses.
I didn't state that this shouldn't be in a Christianity forum. I'm saying that this discussion has veered off very heavily into history. Yes, history can be relevant to such a discussion but the question connotes a more current theme rather than centuries-old history.
While less people identify with an organized religion, more people are identifying with being spiritual (near 70%).
That's not necessarily bad as so many churches have become corrupt.
Ouch. Rather dismissive. Hardly offered in a generous spirit. Are you always so unkind, or are you making a special effort for just us, today?
We don’t need the Catholic Church for salvation. It’s simply an honest statement. Salvation doesn’t come from ANY earthly church. And when people imply that it does that are mistaken and misguided. Salvation comes from God the Father through his son Jesus neither of whom the Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Mormon, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Evangelical or Protestant own. God hears the prayers of all equally regardless of their denominational affiliation.
Evangelical and Pentecostal churches certainly do claim to offer eternal salvation.
If they're right, you'd certainly be correct.
I’ve never been in any Evangelical or Pentecostal church that claimed to offer salvation. They can simply lead you towards it. Salvation comes from God.
Unfortunately, it's true. We can't freeze anything in time.
There blind spot in this discussion - The Catholic Church is a bellwether! The Catholic Church will not die alone - all Christianity will die with it.
Take a good look around before you celebrate the death of Catholicism. The entire country is less religious and less Christian now!
The Catholic Church is probably not the bellwether in predominantly Protestant countries, like the US or the UK.
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