Results from a new Pew survey show that Jews are the most knowledgeable among America’s religious communities about world religions, while only half of American Catholics know what their own Church teaches on core principles such as communion.
According to the survey, exactly 50 percent of Catholics in the United States correctly answered a question about Church teaching on transubstantiation – the belief that during Mass, the bread and wine become the actual flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.
“The other half of Catholics incorrectly say the Church teaches that the bread and wine used in Communion are just symbols of the body and blood of Christ,” and a small percentage are not sure, the study found.
Only 71 percent of Catholics showed knowledge of the Catholic concept of purgatory as a place of purification for souls who have died before they reach heaven, which, while not a perfect score, significantly outweighs the number of Catholics who showed a correct understanding of Church teaching on the Eucharist.
Full story at Crux.
This is actually nothing new, I think if anything the persons getting the right answer is on the incline. In any case, we have much more work to do:
The biggest thing that we have to convey is that participation in the Eucharist is a participation in the very life and body of Christ and his redemptive unconditional love for ALL people, regardless of what doctrines they hold. By way of the Eucharist, we are the body of Christ, sent out into the world to announce healing and reconciliation for a God who loves us so unconditionally that he sent his Son to live among us, and his Spirit to dwell within us.
I believe we have to be “free of mortal sin” in order to receive the “Body and Blood of Jesus Christ”.
How can Jesus “Spirit” dwell in us if are engaging in sin and rejecting Him? Confess your mortal sins before receiving and make a decision to repent and sin no more. We all fall but no one who rejects Jesus through serious sin should receive.
Socialism may have replaced faith in our church. A woman said to me the Corpus Christi homily was on climate change. The media reports on the pope and bishops teaching immigration, income equality, sexual rights, preaching for lay people at Mass. Homilies should reflect the readings and the feast to instruct in the faith. Formation for priests, catechists, deacons should be on the faith. If a cleric has an agenda, he speaks his agenda instead. This is the time for the Benedict option, to gather with faithful Catholics to study and worship as Jesus taught, granting respect to leaders, but not following every lead.
“for we eat the Bread that ‘contains all sweetness within it, In the presence of the Eucharist, Jesus who becomes bread, this simple bread” from Pope Frances’s Corpus Christi homily. Is it any wonder Catholics don’t know their faith. BTW this position is anathematized by the Council of Trent, meaning one who holds it is no longer Catholic.
Jake,
You’re right. If the quote is correct, the Pope affirms transubstantiation but in reverse — Jesus destroys his divinity and becomes mere bread.
This is nothing but calumniation of the Holy Father. He never said that “Jesus destroys his divinity,” nor did he mean that in his homily. Ascribing falsehood to perfectly sound teaching from the Pope is disgraceful.
Jon,
I also question whether the Pope said this as I inferred previously.
Please answer the following question: Does the bread become Christ or does Christ become bread?
Trent states the former with the accidents of bread remaining. If the Pope said the latter, what exactly happens when Christ becomes bread? Is bread divine? Or is bread not divine?
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS, from the Vatican web site. “In the presence of the Eucharist, Jesus who becomes bread, this simple bread that contains the entire reality of the Church.” “The Eucharist teaches us this: for there we find God himself contained in a piece of bread.” No where in this homily does Pope Francis affirm the teaching that the bread becomes the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ and the substance of bread ceases to exist with only the accidents of bread. He constantly refers to it as bread. The best one could conclude from this homily is that the Pope believes in consubstantiation a position condemned by Trent and affirmed by the church until Pope Francis.If quoting Pope Francis in his plain meaning of the words he uses is calumny then guilty as charged.
Steve Seitz: There is nothing in Trent that condemns what the Holy Father has said. None of the Canons that the drive-by-anti-Francis -blogs were pointing to even addressed what the Pope said. Plus, your putting words in Francis’ mouth (“Jesus destroys his divinity”) is just plain calumniation and is sinful. You people should pay more attention to the Pope’s earlier words in that same homily: “God’s people love to praise, not complain; we were created to bless, not grumble.” God bless the Holy Father!
Jon,
I never said that Pope Francis made that quote. Consequently, you’re engaged in calumny against me.
Also, with the expanded quote by Jake, it looks like the Pope is guilty of the heresy of consubstantiation — if, of course, the quote is accurate.
A faithful Catholic is obligated to defend the Pope from this most unjust accusation from “Jake” and “Seitz”. The Holy Father has not uttered heresy. It is totally legitimate to speak about the Sacred Species using phenomenological language, referring to Their accidents/appearances as the Pope did. All four Evanglists including St. Paul, Popes JP2, Benedict, and many others have often used this same type of language. PLUS, defense of this type of language to describe, among other things, the Real Presence has come from Leo XIII in “Provedentissumus Deus”. MOREOVER, the Holy Father clearly believes in transubstantiation as evidenced in his many homilies espousing the orthodox Catholic belief. I mean, just read his Angelus message that same day he gave this homily in question!
Jon,
Question: Can an unrepentant calumnist also be a faithful Catholic?
It’s true that here are solid Catholics who break into poetry regarding the Eucharist. The problem with Pope Francis is that he’s not solid. He intentionally plays loose with words and then backtracks but let’s the effects of his words spawn evil.
For example, there are people who are either not Catholic or who have ruptured their relationship with God but who are now “legally” receive the Eucharist in Germany. The Pope now seems to be loosening the discipline on clerical celibacy on a whim. But this issue resonates much more deeply within the Church than mere topical issues such whether candles should be beeswax or paraffin.
“Steve Seitz”: It is PLAIN what you wrote and everyone can read it; not only that but you have subsequently unjustly accused the Holy Father of heresy. Therefore your allegations of calumny on my part is bogus. It is you who seem to be backpedalling, not the Holy Father. God bless the Pope.
Jon,
Yes, everything is very plain to see. We are in agreement about that.
The frequent interviews with college students tell us a lot about the understanding of what happens on the Altar.
I have a friend, a cradle Catholic, who can give the answers to such theology questions as these. How? She remembers them from the Baltimore Catechism that she had to memorize when younger.. She is also a Biblical reader. The Baltimore catechism kept/keeps the answers “short, sweet and to the point, but gives Biblical references in the adult books. Such catechisms as the Baltimore and the Penny Catechism are invaluable for teaching the basics and hopefully lead to reading the longer one later.
One can still buy them for teaching children or adults.
I recommend the Baltimore Catechism as a quick guide and reference to help shore up faith foundation that then can be expanded by Bible reading and the Traditions of the church
Very good, Father. Reading the early church fathers is also an excellent way to learn about church doctrine. Some of their writings are contained in the Liturgy of the Hours, as I am sure you know, but others might not know For those who cannot afford the four volumes, their writings can be found free on certain Catholic websites. Many Catholic writers have written excellent books about the church fathers. Many of these books can be bought online, new or used, if one cannot get them at a book store. Most of the used books I have bought on line are like new.
Regarding my last post: the Penny Catechism does cost more than a penny, but nothing more than a few dollars that is well worth it.
LOVE the Baltimore Catechism— others are good, too! I think what the Church needs most, is a return to a full teaching and daily guidance in our Catholic Faith– just as they used to do! Evangelization can come after that.
The Religious Education Congress promotes such ignorance when workshops and Masses are about social justice instead of doctrine.
Good point, It promotes socialism, not justice, and failing to promote faith, it not only leaves attendees in ignorance, but making them more ignorant of Jesus and the faith.
I am so sick of socialism, and “Social Gospel” teachings, in our post-Conciliar Church– and involvement in secular politics! This is not what Christ taught! The Christ-centeted spiritual work of the saints– like St. Mother Teresa– is what He really taught!
In my travels I have encountered many people who know very little about world religions and Catholicism. However, many people, particularly poor people, are people of faith. They know who they are following, the Lord, although they may not know all of the doctrines. In short…it is who you know…and follow. ..not necessarily what you know.
All that we have comes from God. Any good we do comes by the grace of God. We must beware, though, that we are truly serving the Lord Jesus Christ and not some false messiah. We need to search for the truth and not to do so can be a serious sin of willful blindness.
May the Lord God open our eyes to the Truth.
This post of mine was meant in repy to FHK’s post right above at 9:37 pm, July 25.
I have found the book, On Being A Christian, very helpful for increasing my knowledge of Christianity in general and the Catholic faith in particular. It is an older book but is available on Amazon. God Bless!
The old latin “lex orandi, lex credendi” applies here: “As one prays, so do they believe”. Compare how Our Eucharistic Lord is treated in the pre-1962 Rite of Mass versus the Bugnini Rite. The latter expressly removed most of the rubrics (and prayers) that made it obvious Who was present on the altar.
Anon: the Catholic Church does not promote a “social Gospel” but it does teach the importance of corporeal and spiritual works of mercy. As Our Lord addressed both the spiritual and material needs of others – we are called to do the same. The Catholic Church established hospitals, schools, clinics and universities to promote the work of Christ and improve the lives of people.
Anon (cont): The Church does not promote socialism…or capitalism. It leaves these types of decisions to people living in the country or community. However, the Church has many beautiful documents and encyclicals addressing social matters such as rerum novarum, populorum progressio and pacem in terris along with many others. Check them out! You may be surprised how much thought and action the Church has given to social issues.
William Robert, there are many in today’s Church, who promote social welfare and social justice, from a more worldly and political viewpoint, not in a truly Christ-centered way– it is more “socialistic,” not necessarily religious. Democrats like Obama do this! St. Mother Teresa is a fine example of how to live Christ’s Gospel, and do good in the world– while remaining deeply rooted in Christ. Big difference!