Catholic Numbers Down in Boston
'The Boston Globe' on March 5 reported some news from the Boston archdiocese in an article titled, "Deep Cuts Loom in Spending by Church." Here are some details stated in the article:
1. "In 2002 alone, the ranks of active diocesan priests in the archdiocese dropped by 10 percent, due largely to the removal of those who were accused of molesting minors. That leaves the archdiocese with less than half the number of active priests it had two decades ago."
2. "The archdiocese's annual parish-by-parish head count shows a substantial drop in Mass attendance since the scandal broke. The annual survey, taken in October, showed a 14 percent decrease from a year earlier in the number who attend Mass. That puts weekly Mass attendance below 300,000 in an archdiocese that claims 2.1 million Catholics."
3. "In 1981...the archdiocese had 1,072 active diocesan priests within the archdiocese -- not including priests who are retired or disabled. That number is now down to 505...A year earlier, it was 555."
4. It is projected that 30-40 parishes may have to be closed.
In the past year, God has clearly demonstrated for all to see the false nature of Romanism. Please keep praying daily that our Lord exposes the inherent wicked nature of the Roman religion, and that He frees many from its bondage.
May our Lord's Spirit use all this to grant many Catholics the grace to repent of the sin of Catholicism, and to receive Christ by faith ALONE.
1. "In 2002 alone, the ranks of active diocesan priests in the archdiocese dropped by 10 percent, due largely to the removal of those who were accused of molesting minors. That leaves the archdiocese with less than half the number of active priests it had two decades ago."
2. "The archdiocese's annual parish-by-parish head count shows a substantial drop in Mass attendance since the scandal broke. The annual survey, taken in October, showed a 14 percent decrease from a year earlier in the number who attend Mass. That puts weekly Mass attendance below 300,000 in an archdiocese that claims 2.1 million Catholics."
3. "In 1981...the archdiocese had 1,072 active diocesan priests within the archdiocese -- not including priests who are retired or disabled. That number is now down to 505...A year earlier, it was 555."
4. It is projected that 30-40 parishes may have to be closed.
In the past year, God has clearly demonstrated for all to see the false nature of Romanism. Please keep praying daily that our Lord exposes the inherent wicked nature of the Roman religion, and that He frees many from its bondage.
May our Lord's Spirit use all this to grant many Catholics the grace to repent of the sin of Catholicism, and to receive Christ by faith ALONE.
posted by Robt. B. at 4:37 PM
<< Home