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Noteworthy post - does anyone dispute the statistics? :
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/catholic-church-resurgence-credited-with-popularity-of-pope-francis/story-fni0xs61-1226762282074
Catholic Church resurgence credited with popularity of Pope Francis
AFTER years in decline, the Roman Catholic Church is experiencing a resurgence in popularity with Pope Francis credited with filling the pews again.
Catholics across the globe are apparently going back to church inspired by the charismatic Argentinian-born Pope Francis and his refreshing approach to modernise the church.
All stop.
Of course, we're aware the author (Charles Miranda) probably has NO CLUE
what is meant by Modernism. Nor would he care. Why should he? It is his
job to SELL COPY and coming out clearly with any correct description or
commentary about the Grand Sewer of All Heresies and
the religion of the
devil isn't going to advance his career one iota.
Be that as it may, we are left bemused with the principle being described: that
it could be
possible any approach to
modernize the Church can be
"refreshing." I seem to recall a particular example Our Lord gave us, of a certain man
buried in the depths of hell who begged for one drop of water to be
brought to his tongue so as to relieve him (read:
'refresh' him).
The Italian Centre for Studies of New Religion has branded it the "Francis effect" where in Great Britain, largely a Church of England nation, Catholic congregations alone have risen by 20 per cent.
............................ the "Francis effect"...............................
Similar support for the church is being experienced elsewhere in the world notably Italy, Spain, France, Latin American and the United States.
More than half the priests surveyed in Italy cited a rise in support for the church, similar reports too from Spain where the clergy is reporting an end to a decade long decline.
Do you think that for one millisecond the Menzingen denizens are not
looking at these observations with a hint of circuмspection?
Every time the 76-year-old pontiff conducts a papal audience in Rome, 85,000 people surge into St Peter's Square to hear him, numbers not seen, except for special events or festivals, for years.
Please show me an example of Bishop Fellay being entirely uninterested
in sharing this kind of popular appeal!!
Many church clergy in Europe have cited the pope's down-to-earth attitude in everything he does, from his shunning luxury papal accommodations to instead stay in a modest apartment, through to carrying his own bags as part of the church appeal. Luxury papal cars have been replaced by a Ford Focus.
We'll know +F is getting serious when he starts putting around in a
Ford Focus.
He has also sought to clean up the alleged corruption in the Vatican, a move said to have earned him a death threat from Italy's feared 'ndrangheta mafia group, publicly said he would not judge gαy people and is to consult the broader church on contentious issues such as sex before marriage and contraception.
For the record, this refers to the Jesuit-style questionnaire form that has
been distributed to interested parties, a thing that would seem to turn the
practice of the Holy See into some kind of democracy or parliamentary
conglomerate, as if the essence of morality is subject to popular vote!
The UK's Catholic Herald this week called on priests across the nation to follow his lead and his "electrifying effect on Catholics in the UK".
As for me, I'll just have to wait for TheRecusant to explain how and/or to
what degree the "Catholics in the UK" are being "electrified" by this.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has hailed the Francis effect saying: "God's love shone through the words and actions of Pope Francis."
The pope during his Sunday address joked he was liked a pharmacist.
I know, language is a living thing, but this is too much. "He was liked a
pharmacist," was he? How about
Standard English, if there is such a thing
anymore?
"I now want to suggest a medicine. 'What?' you ask, 'the pope is now a pharmacist?'" Francis said, shaking a box resembling a pack of tablets, after reciting the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer from a window overlooking the square.
Pope Francis shows a rosary in a box designed to resemble a packets of pills, during his traditional Sunday's appearance from his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square on November 17. Picture: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia Source: AP
Labelled "Misericordina, 50 Grammes for the Heart" and emblazoned with an image of the human heart, the box contains 59 threaded rosary beads.
The instructions, provided in several languages, say: "Can be used once a day, but in case of emergency can be taken as much as the soul needs."
Wait. Isn't this the same man who just said the other day that
people who recite memorized prayers are not really praying? :whistleblower:
"Don't forget to take your medicine, because it is good for the heart, the soul, the whole life," the pontiff said.
Francis has been talking to his cardiologist too much. Too bad
they don't have Obamacare over there. Then there would be a
government agent between the doctor and the doctored and so
maybe we would get a better report of what the doctor told him
to make him come up with this NOVEL CONCEPT.
And then again, maybe not.
The idea was not his, but came from followers in Poland. Promoting it on such a stage was exactly what the church has cited as the sort of refreshing approach that has made Pope Francis so popular worldwide.
More "refreshment" for the Masses.
This is despite the scandal of the church having turned a blind eye in the past to widespread abuse and pedophilia within the clergy. The Catholic Church in Australia two months ago admitted faults in its dealing with victims of abuse by priests including secrecy and lack of supervision of the dioceses.
There are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world - more than 40 per cent of them, or 483 million, living in Latin America.
These are troubled times.
We are called to a higher level of discernment.
How can 483 million Catholics all be wrong?
That's why Francis disseminated that Jesuit questionnaire.
Someone has to have the answers.
BTW: do you suppose they're reading all the answers to those Q&As?
I'm looking forward to the new VATICAN FAQ's.
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