The head of the Roman Catholic Church here believes local Catholics are losing their religious values.
Bishop Gabriel Malzaire is raising several questions, as Catholics observe the season of lent.
“Has the atmosphere or the environment in which we live, has it changed? Has there been a change of tempo? … The festivities that are being organized for the enjoyment of people, have those things changed?” Bishop Malzaire questioned.
He said Catholics must examine their faithfulness to the teachings of the church.
“I think more often than not people go with the flow. The entertainment things are advertised and we go with it, no matter what time. I think people are losing a sense of religion; they are losing a sense of purpose or why we are here on earth, why we are here as Christians trying to live up to what Christ has called us,” Malzaire stated.
He underscored that peoples’ consciousness of religion appears to be depleting “year after year”.
DNO CORRESPONDENT.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church here, believes Catholics on the island are losing their religious values Bishop Gabriel Malzaire is raising several questions, as Catholics observe the season of lent “Has the atmosphere or the environment in which we live, has it changed? Has there been a change of tempo? … The festivities that are being organized for the enjoyment of people, have those things changed?” Bishop Malzaire questioned. He said Catholics must examine their faithfulness to the teachings of the church. “I think more often than not, people go with the flow. The entertainment things are advertised and we go with it, no matter what time. I think people are losing a sense of religion; they are losing a sense of purpose or why we are here on earth, why we are here as Christians trying to live up to what Christ has called us,” Malzaire stated. He underscored that peoples’ consciousness of religion appears to be depleting “year after year”.
No. But now i will. Thanks for that.
Less people in the pews,less money in the collection.Hmn
The environment has changed. When we see the amount of crimes still being done by the Church. If we look at Europe and the scandalous things that are coming to light with regard to sex crimes and violence in the church. One must ask themselves a question. Religion divided the World but does the church think that we are so ignorant to let things happen without being noticed.
I look at the church at present with disgust and look forward to seeing what they see as a proper punishment for the many crimes that are coming to light in the church.
SHOULD WE ASK OURSELVES WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH??????
The bishop is speaking here to “bring back the fold” to his religion of choice here. He probably sees less attendees at the weekly services. Less zeal to participate in church activities. Whatever it is, he thinks it is time that catholics reassess their loyalty to the church and in so doing they may return to the fold.
But is the fact that there are increasingly less catholics necessarily a bad thing? Does one need to be a catholic to be happy? No. I myself left the “church” at 17 after picking up the bible and reading it for the first time. And I have not been happier. I could simply “go with the flow” and remained with the church of my mother. But I desired more than this church delivered. The bible asked for more than this church delivered.
Now he mentions the loss of religion and the loss of sense of purpose. One does not need religion to be happy. That is a fact. One does not need religion to have purpose. That is another fact. We live in a bubble here in the bible belt of the world and think that the entire universe believes in our god and worships him. There are entire nations which are secular (with a population largely lacking any belief in a god whatsoever). These nations do just fine. In many cases these nations have the most purpose driven people. They have lower crime rates and better social schemes to take care of their people. In many cases, these “godless” nations are better off than those nations that are “under god”.
I ask again: is this necessarily a bad thing that people are leaving the catholic church? Is this a bad thing that people are becoming less religious?
I for one think we all could do with a bit of de-conversion from the dogmas, bigotry and closed-mindedness that religion propagates and perpetuates. I am sure, we would all be better of for it. Out nation would be better for it.
Information is readily available today. With that a lot of questions are getting asked. Things are coming out and being exposed. Not just in one particular religion, but in all. For it is said “with knowledge they shall be like gods”. Nothing lasts forever except the truth. God is truth and His will shall be presented as He has described it.
Things are getting bad. That is obvious. The Good Book said it shall be so. We can try all we like. So it is written, so shall it be done.
Iagree with “gary” catholic church has been so responsive to its parishoners that it is a bloody shame. Bishop be bless to be a black man and to be in your role. What are you doing to better Dominica so the people can rally behind the catholic church for moral-spiritual and support.
Sure, Bishop Malzaire should worry, not because of the concern of people loosing religious values but because of the choices people are making and they the church is loosing their grip to control and dominate people after doing for so for many years, the veil is coming off, Yes, that is what it boils down to, control and domination of the new generation, they are loosing that control and they are worried and afraid.
Bishop Malzaire is asking Catholics to examine their faithfulness to the teachings of the Church., Why should People examine their faithfulness to the teachings of the Church, it is not the Church and it’s teaching that people should examine their the faithfulness to, but to God, The world we live in now has changed, people are waking up, claiming their God given right to think, and have their own thoughts, be themselves and not to be dominated and be told what to believe and what not to believe.
things are being bought into the light now. The divine plane is one of freedom, bondage to Church teachings and dogma is not God ordained, freedom is the birthright of every living soul.
Many people have lost faith in the church.
Many find the church leaders have become un focused,
too political…….
Some church leaders need to examine themselves first and try to unlock some reasons.
Having said that……..things are changing and most times not for the better.
A lot of Catholics in Dominica are practicing obeah which is based upon a merging of the beliefs and religious practices derived from Central African and West African origins with either Roman Catholic Christianity, Protestantism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodox.