“In one poll, 87 percent of American Catholics said they had a favorable impression of John Paul II. Yet 57 percent said the next pope should moderate the Vatican’s policies ‘to reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of Catholics today.'” – Peter Slevin, Washington Post
“68.3% Prefer ‘Buddy Christ’ from Dogma to a Crucifix – Morgan Gallup Reveals”
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Actually, Bush in great part won because of “unpopular” traditional stances that the Church has traditionally championed regarding marriage and family. So some may be voting with their feet (I don’t doubt that some are), but the response of the Evangelicals towards the Pope’s death suggests that the Church’s integrity is also drawing people towards it.
The fading of the mainline Protestant churches should also be a warning to those who would make the Catholic Church look more like the Episcopalian one.
Good job equating thinking that the Church should moderate its position to condemning Jesus to death.
And even though the Church isn’t a democracy, it does seem that the people are voting with their feet.
If the RCC were a democracy, I wouldn’t be very impressed with it, as I have been incredibly unimmpressed by the social club, democratic atmosphere of many other churches.
As for what John mentioned about folks voting with their feet: that comment almost seems to suggest that we should care whether our faith is popular or not. Come to think of it, a majority of U.S. voters chose George W. Bush last November — which tells me that democracy is certainly fallible; God’s Word, on the other hand, is not.
That’s a good point. I’m brainstorming a replacement that’s less extreme.
Regarding the voting with feet comment:
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.” – 2 Timothy 4:1-4
Well, on the bright side, 43% thinking the Church should hold the line (or perhaps even become more conservative) ain’t bad. Or they don’t have an opinion, which is nonetheless a wiser position than many.