Give into the Zeitgeist? Not a plan of success:
Membership
Episcopal Church: - 18% (2002-2012)
United Church of Christ: - 20% (2005-2012)
Presbyterian (USA): - 22% (2006-2012)
Evangelical Lutheran - 12% (2009-2012)
Of course, the declines are likely explained by many other factors; many, if not all, these denominations were already on a downward trajectory, as their liberalizing trends didn't begin with endorsing a redefinition of marriage.
What's more, Catholics and others committed to an orthodox understanding of morality and marriage in particular should not take comfort too easily. When our Lord walked the earth, people walked away from him because of things he taught, and in the end, the crowd chanted "crucify him" instead of "my Lord and my God." So we should not expect to be popular when we offer the Lord's message.
But embracing an "evolution" of marriage didn't help, and almost certainly accelerated the decline.
Data from Alexander Griswold, "How To Shrink Your Church In One Easy Step," at The Federalist.
8 comments:
If the Catholic Church ever changes, I'll know that the end is near. That probably sounds strange and overly dramatic, but I really mean it.
"(T)heir liberalizing trends didn't begin with endorsing a redefinition of marriage."
I agree entirely with your article. I would extend your premise to affirm that the current re-redefinition of marriage is predicated on specific earlier actions—"liberalizing trends"—that redefined and harmed marriage.
The foundations for current actions to dismantle marriage were were set when the protestant communities accepted divorce (thanks, King Henry, for your part in destroying marriage!) and later contraception in the 20th C, beginning with Lambeth 1930.
The acceptance of divorce and contraception redefined marriage in the image of mere utility and hedonism, i.e., a breakable contract vs an unbreakable covenant, and "liberated" sexual intercourse from the procreative and the self sacrificial love necessary for the authentic physical union of a man and a woman.
I recently moved to Florida and on the night I arrived I saw a billboard for "Gay Divorce"
It occurred to me that here was another sign (no pun intended) that "gay marriage" could never be like traditional marriage.
In, time I think people will come to that realization.
Good post... (my previous comment had some typos so I repost it)
A billboard for "Gay Divorce"? As in, for a specialist "Gay Divorce" solicitor? Is there a legal difference between gay divorce and hetero divorce?(P.S. I'm from Australia, and gay marriage is not legal here at all - marriage is legislated at a federal, not state, level here. I don't understand how the U.S. laws work.)
You hit the nail on the head. The problem is that the Church will be under unrelenting attack until it offers the sacrament of marriage to same sex couples. Will our leaders be strong enough to do what it takes to stop this?
Or are their palaces and gold rings too important to them?
You don't mention the equivalent Catholic figures--or what part of the (I assume) growth is due to the prohibition of birth control and Hispanic immigration rather than people choosing based on doctrine.
Sevesteen:
That's because I'm simply summarizing what the linked article provided. If you go there, you can see he doesn't provide that.
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