garrisonjj Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Im my part of the country (NE. PA.) the local Diocese bishops are closing catholic churches left and right. A priest shortage, parishoners dwindling, outstanding debt and huge buildings to heat were the reasons offered. Schools were closed by the dozen last year. I wonder if anything has to do with a rise in agnosticism/atheism? Are you observing similar trends in your area? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraphicsGuy Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I wish...too much damn money being piled into the churches here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japedo Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Im my part of the country (NE. PA.) the local Diocese bishops are closing catholic churches left and right. A priest shortage, parishoners dwindling, outstanding debt and huge buildings to heat were the reasons offered. Schools were closed by the dozen last year. I wonder if anything has to do with a rise in agnosticism/atheism? Are you observing similar trends in your area? Thanks. Score one for the good guys. Not sure that would be the reason, I think people for the most part still believe themselves to be xitain. I see no closing of churches here, but then again I'm not really paying attention. New England is a strong Catholic area as well. Do you see any rise in numbers with the evangelicals? Seems to be growing to me. Although, I could be wrong and just paranoid.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouroboros Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I think it rather has something to do with the amount of statutory rape lawsuits. They need billions of dollars to pay them off so I suspect they close and sell the least visited and least financially solid ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Captain Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 It seems like more of a denominational shift rather than a wider religous one... If the diocese isnt raking in the cash its scaled down, Catholics have good business sense. Its like a frigging holy chain church franchise. Theres a rise of agnosticsm/atheism in America? Really? Wow that makes my day... I knew Europe was largely going that way, but from where Im sitting (Central Texas) xianity doesnt seem to be in a recession. Is it really that different on the East Coast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstarter Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 My sense is that the mainstream churches aren't drawing people in anymore, but the scarey fundy churches are growing like crazy. In my neighbourhood there are at least three fundy churches in the midst of building expansions. And I don't live in a very religious area. The Catholic church is also really suffering from antiquated celebacy rules. Who the hell would sign up to be a priest in this day and age? I don't think a whole lot of boys are getting that calling anymore. Heather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godlessgrrl Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Catholic churches have been having similar troubles in parts of this state too. But it isn't because of a lack of warm butts to fill the pews. It's because the Spokane diocese housed, supported and protected some long-term child molesters in their priesthood, and they're finally getting the shit sued out of them by justifiably outraged survivors. Despite the diocese declaring bankruptcy, they're still facing some $48 million in compensatory payouts. They simply don't have the money anymore to maintain their infrastructure, because it's all being poured into legal expenses. Serves 'em right, says I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twincats Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Yup, sounds like a catholic money problem to me. In my neck of the woods, we get loads of strip-mall churches which gets around the whole heating and cooling of large spaces problem. I'm watching for the catholics to follow suit any day now... Our Lady of Circle K, anyone? We here in America seem to have too much time and money on our hands along with too much free-floating guilt to close down too many churches, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 NE PA? You're not far from me then and they headlined in the news today how Catholic Charities is having a hard time this year. They closed and consolidated a LOT of Catholic churches in the Buffalo area in the last year. These are older stories, from October... http://www.wben.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=08542 http://www.wben.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=08543 The general consensus is that RC church membership is declining due to both scandals and a lack of interest in more traditional religion by the younger generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Catholics have good business sense. Its like a frigging holy chain church franchise. Church's Churches? (As in Church's Chicken) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I think the Xians are just changing name. Catholics are having a hard time, but I'm seeing more churches spring up around different denominationals. A lot of factories have been closing here in the NE ohio area and its leaving some massive buildings behind that are doing nothing. Thus arises a new megachurch in our area. I don't know if its THE megachurches, but the building they are renovating for it used to be a FACTORY. I'm thinking about going to one of its sunday services to see what its like. I hope for moderate church mongers, but if you're drawing that large of a crowd then you are looking for desperate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garrisonjj Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Im my part of the country (NE. PA.) the local Diocese bishops are closing catholic churches left and right. A priest shortage, parishoners dwindling, outstanding debt and huge buildings to heat were the reasons offered. Schools were closed by the dozen last year. I wonder if anything has to do with a rise in agnosticism/atheism? Are you observing similar trends in your area? Thanks. Score one for the good guys. Not sure that would be the reason, I think people for the most part still believe themselves to be xitain. I see no closing of churches here, but then again I'm not really paying attention. New England is a strong Catholic area as well. Do you see any rise in numbers with the evangelicals? Seems to be growing to me. Although, I could be wrong and just paranoid.. True. While the catholic churches are closing, there is a large uprising of what I call the babble bangers. Many fundy churches with self appointed "pastors" are appearing here. I guess when they discover the nonsense of the babble, they will become disallusioned also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garrisonjj Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Catholic churches have been having similar troubles in parts of this state too. But it isn't because of a lack of warm butts to fill the pews. It's because the Spokane diocese housed, supported and protected some long-term child molesters in their priesthood, and they're finally getting the shit sued out of them by justifiably outraged survivors. Despite the diocese declaring bankruptcy, they're still facing some $48 million in compensatory payouts. They simply don't have the money anymore to maintain their infrastructure, because it's all being poured into legal expenses. Serves 'em right, says I. I agree, even here the number of pedophile priests was surprising and the bishops just transferred them around for years. The godamn collections here are still high despite the payouts! Yes, pray for vocations? Who in their right mind wants to study for 8 or more years and take a vow of celibacy? Good luck with praying for vocations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathGeek Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Not where I am at. The only time a church closes is when the old fogeys and farmers decide to drive into town as opposed to visit that lone icon of hope out on the desolate prairie. I'm sure the entire population of my own county wouldn't be enough to fill the pews in a megachurch. As for the scandal that has rocked the world of the Vatican, there was only one case out in Eastern ND and that was because the priest was a verifiable loon. Maybe being an agnostic/deist/pantheist in a rural environment is somewhat of a "blessing". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-COG Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 A few schools have closed in my city and county, but then again some others are opening up. I think it has to do with demographics; the new schools are located in mostly higher income suburbs/townships that have seen great growth due to people fleeing the city. The closed schools are in small towns or low growth parts of the city/county. We've had a tussel recently over the closing of one church/school ("St. X's") and the planned closing of another ("St. Y's", which is a rural parish with no school). The plan is for the parishioners to combine with St. Z's. St X's protested, but it was closed anyway, and its people seem to have gone on to other churches. Not so with St. Y's; they are putting up a fight. In addition to a letter writing campaign to the bishop, and what ever other "official" roads are neccessary to appeal decisions within the Catholic Church government, they have come up with unique ways of protest. Instead of tithing, many of them are putting IOU's in the offering, to be paid upon the announcement that St. Y's will remain open. And some are even threatening to join the Methodists if the church is closed! Much of the problem comes from the accusation that St. Z's, which is land-locked by a surrounding neighborhood, wants to rebuild elsewhere, and by closing other small churches St. Z's will gain more members (and thus money) to support their building project. This was all in a write up in my local news rag, where a representative of St. Z's said negative things about the actions of St. Y's parishoners, so I kind of doubt many of St. Y's people will go along with the officially endorsed plan of action if they are closed. Just think...all of this going on in the heart of Mid-West Catholicism, the home of Notre Dame and the Touch Down Jesus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RC23 Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Same here. 2 large catholic churches have closed, and several protestent churches have had large scandals (the psator of one church running away with his mistress etc...) This seems to be a large, and growing trend amongst the people across the country. Hopefully it continues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ranman87 Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I live in North Carolina and the only thing that seems to be going on is the building of MORE churches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hereticzero Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 More churches go up in particular areas because they have been targeted for evangelism. Apparently too many godless heathens per capita. Some churches canvass areas and take polls in order to determine if a church can be supported after it is built. Some preachers have a job of being temporary pastors at these new churches. They run the operation until a permanent pastor can be hired. In South Carolina they are swarming in order to counter a growing population of nonchurch people. The Christinazi religion thrives on numbers and new recruits. Protect your children by discussing the fascist movement and how to recognize it. Religion and politics equal fascism! Or RP=f. I don't answer pollsters on the phone or at the door for any reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. S. Martin Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I don't see churches being built or closing down in my neck of the woods. Just maintaining status quo, I'd say. Is that because I'm not looking or because most trends start south of the border and this one hasn't come north yet? Then again, as I was saying on another thread, in some of the liberal churches, you can be pretty flexible with what you believe and still be a member. I'm not sure where the line is between belief and unbelief. Meditation and contemplation of the abstractions of Life have been part of the human experience since time immemorial. If you stick God and Jesus and Holy Spirit on there, presto! you're a Christian. For me, I just didn't want to bother with that anymore--didn't see the need to do so if it wasn't "real." But many people do. It's the "story" they know and it's how they see the world. It's their identity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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