Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 4/20/24

• Majority of U.S. Catholics Express Favorable View of Pope Francis

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 75% of U.S. Catholics view pope Francis favorably. That’s down 15 points from his peak favorability rating of 90% in early 2015. There’s no doubt that many conservative Catholics are fed up with Bergoglio’s doctrine-bending, progressive reforms. While it’s significant that a sizable percentage of U.S. Catholics don’t like their current “Vicar of Christ,” we note that the genuine Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone can’t be found in either conservative or progressive Catholic camps. The survey also revealed 6 in 10 U.S. adult Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

• Catholics show lowest attendance of any US faith in survey

Roman Catholics are obligated to attend mass every single Sunday under threat of eternal damnation. However, a recent Gallup poll revealed 50% of U.S. Catholics seldom or never attend Sunday mass. Only about 1 in 4 U.S. Catholic adults attend mass each and every Sunday as they’re required to. Truant Catholics ask themselves why they should adhere to the Sunday mass obligation when the pope and the rest of the Catholic clergy teach that all non-Catholic religionists and even “moral” atheists can also hopefully merit Heaven if they are “good.” Credulous Catholics rave about the transformational experience and ecstasy of consuming the “transubstantiated” Jesus wafer. One would think 100% of Catholics would be queued up at the church door at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings to “receive Jesus.” But the vast majority of Catholics stay home. They know a mass-produced bread wafer when they eat one.

• Pope Francis recovers the title “Patriarch of the West”

This article states, “Pope Francis reinstated the title ‘Patriarch of the West’ for the first time since 2006 as an ecumenical gesture to the Orthodox Church…In the Orthodox Church, the pope is seen as just one more among the patriarchs, rather than a superior figurehead.” Pope Francis is constantly working towards reunification with the Eastern Orthodox and undiscerning Protestants.

• Anti-Semitism on the rise among conservative/traditionalist Catholics

This revealing article from a Catholic source notes that conservative/traditionalist Catholics are becoming increasingly enamored with the anti-Semitic vitriol of Irish Catholic priest, Denis Fahey (1883–1954).

• Chuck Swindoll stepping down as senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church

Decades ago, Chuck Swindoll was one of the leading personalities on Christian radio with his popular “Insight for Living” show. Swindoll was an outspoken admirer of Catholic priest/mystic Henry Nouwen and a passionate advocate of Catholic Contemplative Prayer (see here). Other popular “evangelical Protestant” pastors who pushed Catholic Contemplative Prayer were Rick Warren and Tim Keller.