This sounds totally off-topic. But others have noted it. And I think it's germaine to Logos if only because 'but for the grace of God go we' (here in North America). It discusses Catholics, but the same issue is here in Sedona among Protestants (almost empty churches). Essentially we're talking 'Christianity'.
I was reading an AP article at http://azdailysun.com/news/world/europe/challenge-for-pope-in-europe-s-dwindling-church/article_e0fd8315-197f-5050-a0d0-2ef9ce17ca5d.html
Here's a snippit (I bolded the surprising part). What shocks me is the very short period. And I suspect it's similar in the US, judging from the shift in political acceptability of various issues just recently 'verboten'.
`'Across all four countries, a minority of Catholics say religion is very important in their lives," the Pew study found, going as low as 15 percent for French Catholics. Weekly Mass attendance continued to decline. Among Spanish Catholics, it sank from 31 percent to 24 percent between 2009 and 2011, and in Germany, Benedict's homeland, it fell from 23 percent to 16 percent over the same period. French Mass attendance slipped from an already low 10 percent to 9 percent. Pew said it had not routinely surveyed Mass attendance in Italy.
That decline in popular support has affected the standing of the church in society and politics and also undermined its strength from within. `'There was a short circuit between the church and the contemporary world. The church no longer has the structure it had a few decades ago," said Torfs. `'It has weakened more than public opinion realizes. It is even worse."
I suppose people point to recent events in the news. That might be true for example in Ireland. But looking at the shifts in public opinion in North America, my guess is 'Facebook' (e.g. social media replacing religion as the 'go-to').
We don't FB so I don't know. I do know we'll be at the church ladies luncheon later this week for some serious chatting. Out of date?
