January 10, 2007 (CWNews)
- France should no longer be considered a Catholic country, according to a survey published by Le Monde des Religions.
The survey showed a steep decline in the number of French people identifying themselves as Catholics: from 80% just 15 years ago to just over one-half-- 51% today.
The survey showed a steep decline in the number of French people identifying themselves as Catholics: from 80% just 15 years ago to just over one-half-- 51% today.
Over the same period the number of professed atheists rose from 23 to 31%.
Among the respondents who did identify themselves as Catholics, only 10% attend church services regularly, the poll showed.
Among the respondents who did identify themselves as Catholics, only 10% attend church services regularly, the poll showed.
More remarkable, only half of the self-identified Catholics say that they believe in God.
Some respondents indicated that for them, Catholicism involves a social or cultural identity rather than a religious commitment.
Dubeity and the silence of God are traditional Catholic features in a spiritual progress.
Dubeity and the silence of God are traditional Catholic features in a spiritual progress.
But French Catholics do not appear to be suffering the long dark night of the soul.
They appear to have reinvented themselves as Episcopalians, a religion of being nice and multicultural tea parties.
“Catholicism will remain the most important religion,” said Frederic Lenoir, the editor of the survey in Le Monde des Religions, citing the fact that the Catholic Church still claims many more adherents than any other faith. However, he said, “In its institutions and in its mentality, France is no longer a Catholic country.”
[Hat tip: Carine]
It is simply not possible to have a Catholic mentality without God.
“Catholicism will remain the most important religion,” said Frederic Lenoir, the editor of the survey in Le Monde des Religions, citing the fact that the Catholic Church still claims many more adherents than any other faith. However, he said, “In its institutions and in its mentality, France is no longer a Catholic country.”
[Hat tip: Carine]
It is simply not possible to have a Catholic mentality without God.
A Catholic mentality begins with a disposition to God, either in or out of one's life.
If God is not in the mix, then, whatever you are, you are not Catholic.
The French are brave enough to walk away from the obligations of belief, but not honest enough to do without comforts and support of the Church.
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