The death of Catholicism.

[Jehanne]

It seems that Catholicism is becoming more and more secular by the day.  With Francis' proposed decentralization of the Church and its declining numbers throughout first-world nations, how long does the Catholic Faith have left until it is abandoned completely?

[drfuzzy]

It seems that Catholicism is becoming more and more secular by the day.  With Francis' proposed decentralization of the Church and its declining numbers throughout first-world nations, how long does the Catholic Faith have left until it is abandoned completely?

Hard to tell.  I think it will hang on for a while.  Francis is extremely popular, you know.  I think the dwindling supply of priests, celibacy, scandals, and the subjugation of women will play a role in its near future.   Parishes are closing in the US at an alarming rate, because of the lack of available priests.  Three churches in my area have gone to larger buildings and fewer weekly Masses, because there weren't enough priests to cover the services.

[Minimalist]

Now that Europe has turned increasingly secular and American catholics don't pay much attention to it if it is the least bit inconvenient they are making an effort to spread to Africa/Asia.  Religion always thrives where ignorance is strong but there are lot of competitors for a decreasing share of a market.

I suspect that the church will be unrecognizable in 50-100 years.

[CapnAwesome]

Yeah, in the first world not long. I was raised Catholic and most of my parish were elderly women. Catholics in the US are literally dying off. The religion makes no sense and plus it's boring. The 500 most boring experiences of my life were all going to church.

In Latin America however the church is still very influential and young people are still religious. It's hard to see it being gone from Latin America any time soon.

[vorlon13]

At some point some variety/sect of Islam is going to lob a nuke at the Vatican.

As to what happens afterwards, Idunno.

[abaris]

Catholics in the US are literally dying off. The religion makes no sense and plus it's boring.

I've heard quite the opposite, with Latinos streaming into the country and already making up a considerable minority.

[brewer]

Die? Probably not. Morph into something else is more like it.

[dyresand]

Now that Europe has turned increasingly secular and American catholics don't pay much attention to it if it is the least bit inconvenient they are making an effort to spread to Africa/Asia.  Religion always thrives where ignorance is strong but there are lot of competitors for a decreasing share of a market.

I suspect that the church will be unrecognizable in 50-100 years.

There is a lot of christian persecution in Asia no abrahamic god is wanted there.
They pretty much know how the abrahamic religions are and want nothing to do with it.

[dyresand]

At some point some variety/sect of Islam is going to lob a nuke at the Vatican.

As to what happens afterwards, Idunno.

I doubt isis would get there hands on a nuke no one is going to leave a nuke sitting around.
I really doubt they would be able to get one without us noticing.

[GUBU]

It seems that Catholicism is becoming more and more secular by the day.  With Francis' proposed decentralization of the Church and its declining numbers throughout first-world nations, how long does the Catholic Faith have left until it is abandoned completely?

The thing you've got to remember about the Junta pope is that he's more pr savvy than what preceded him, but theologically little difference exists, between him and, say, pope Nazi. You have to look not at what he is saying to the secular western media, but what he says to people he securely believes are true followers. What he is telling them are the same messages peddled by the rcc since the 1860's. Look at what he said when in the Philippines a few years ago, his message was misogynistic and homophobic baiting, or even his hour long chat with your one who wouldn't do her job and issue marriage certs to gay couples.

He's clever enough to know that if he lays on enough smaltz and doublespeak the western media will be too lazy to investigate his true message.