Vatican II and its Fruits

URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP

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"Thirty-seven years after the end of the only church council of the 20th century, the jury has come in with its verdict: Vatican II appears to have been an unrelieved disaster for Roman Catholicism." (Buchanan)

"It was believed that after the council a sunny day in the Church's history would dawn, but instead there came a day of clouds, storms and darkness." (Pope Paul VI, 1972 A.D.)

"Unless we are blind, we must even state bluntly that what we see looks less like the hoped-for regeneration of the Catholicism than its accelerated decomposition." (Fr. Louis Bouyer) 

Item

Desirable Direction

Direction After Vatican II^*

Ability of Church to Crush Heresy 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Heresy abounds in various parts of the Church, even at highest levels. It is greatly fostered by the poor catechesis received by many Catholics. Prelates do not seem to recognize heresy, and seem unwilling to issue condemnations (or they may issue them very weakly). Furthermore, the Church almost seems unable to punish offenders.

"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul, Ti. 3:10-11)

"[I]gnorance...is the food of heresy" (Liturgical Year)

"A faint faith is better than a strong heresy." (St. Thomas More)

"Heresy...can but lead the people to eternal ruin" (Liturgical Year)

"[E]very true Christian detests heresy, and all that savors thereof!" (Liturgical Year)

"The toleration of heretics is more injurious than the devastation of the provinces by the barbarians." (Pope St. Gelasius I, 5th century A.D.)

"[I]t is a greater thing to employ spiritual arms in defending the faithful against the errors of heretics and the temptations of the devil, than to protect the faithful by means of bodily weapons." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

Click Here for More 'Heresy / Heretic' Reflections

Ability of Faithful to Recognize Error

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: The faithful have been so poorly catechized that many of them do not recognize error, even errors which endanger their salvation (e.g. the majority of Catholics today have adopted Protestant errors with regard to the Holy Eucharist - they no longer believe in the Real Presence, despite St. Paul's admonition in 1 Cor. 11:29: "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.")

Acceptance of Church Teaching 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Many Catholics today seem to believe they can pick and choose which teachings they wish to believe. For example, consider that the majority of Catholics reject Church teaching against contraception. Although the Church teaches this practice is a grave sin against God, many Catholics have continued to engage in this sinful activity - they may simply discard the Church's official teaching as "wrong". Not only do they therefore jeopardize their eternal souls, but many of them proceed to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist while guilty of a grave sin.

Adoption of False Views by Laity 

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Catholics are so poorly catechized today that they often hold false views regarding matters of faith. Should one try to correct them with the Church's orthodox, official teaching, they are likely to simply disregard the correction in favor of their own personal views. 

Anarchy

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: With the rampant proliferation of 'lay ministers', known dissident groups, 'empowered' laity, poorly catechized Catholics, etc., anarchy reigns in many parts of the Church. The people also see the bad example of various prelates (even bishops & cardinals) disobeying the pope. Usually, few to no steps are taken to stop the spread of anarchy in the Church or to punish offenders.

Appreciation / Respect For Previous Tradition

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: In a radical breach with the Church's previously unrelenting regard for tradition, the moderns of today have swept away traditions of the past as if they were dirt on the floor.

"Be zealously affected to command that in all the churches the pure tradition be held." (St. Agatho I, 680 A.D.)

"It is unlawful to alter the established customs of the Church... Remove not the ancient landmarks which the fathers have set." (St. Peter Damian, Doctor of the Church) 

"The best advice that I can give you is this. Church traditions - especially when they do not run counter to the faith - are to be observed in the form in which previous generations have handed them down" (St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)

"It is absurd, and a detestable shame, that we should suffer those traditions to be changed which we have received from the fathers of old." (Decretals, as quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"A small thing is not small when it leads to something great; and it is no small matter to forsake the ancient tradition of the Church that was upheld by all those who were called before us, whose conduct we should observe, and whose faith we should imitate." (St. John of Damascus, Doctor of the Church)

"But for Catholics nothing will remove the authority of the Second Council of Nicaea, where it condemns those 'who dare, after the impious fashion of heretics, to deride the ecclesiastical traditions, to invent novelties of some kind...or endeavor by malice or craft to overthrow anyone of the legitimate traditions of the Catholic Church' ...Wherefore the Roman Pontiffs, Pius IV and Pius IX, ordered the insertion in the profession of faith of the following declaration: 'I most firmly admit and embrace the apostolic and ecclesiastical traditions and other observances and constitutions of the Church'." (Pope St. Pius X, "Pascendi Dominici Gregis", 1907 A.D.)

Availability of Sound Teaching

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: It is not uncommon nowadays to find that a parish's religious education is misleading, contains doctrinal errors, or is otherwise offensive (e.g. sex education). It is known that parents have had to pull their children out of diocesan religious education to protect their faith. 

Beauty of Churches 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Modern churches are generally barren, and may even be quite ugly. They are usually egalitarian and less able to raise the mind to God. Existing churches may have been "wreckovated" so that they are also barren / ugly / egalitarian. Note that these "wreckovations" have come at a high cost and have involved the destruction of priceless works of art.

Belief in the Real Presence 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: It has been reported that around 70% of Catholics today no longer believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Not only is this a chief tenet of our faith, but failure to believe in it has serious consequences. As St. Paul warns in 1 Cor. 11:29: "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself." This loss of belief in the Real Presence is hardly surprising considering that the Church (via the Novus Ordo Mass) has implemented (or permitted) the very changes instituted by the Protestant 'Reformers' in the 16th century - changes which they purposely implemented to destroy the faith of Catholics.

Bewilderment Among the Faithful

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Faithful Catholics everywhere seem bewildered over the state of things in the Church today. This is greatly fostered by poor catechesis they have received (e.g. from poor religious instruction or homilies), bad advice of priests, bad example of prelates, etc.

Blatant Scorn for Church's Past 

Desire Eliminated

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

"[These] 'positive-thinking' progressives are brimming over with criticism of the Church. When it comes to the 'Church of yesterday' (which somehow is still around today), they shed their sheep's clothing and proffer judgments that express contempt and scorn for the history of the Church. They cannot decry the Church enough for her 'narrowness,' her 'lack of charity,' her past 'triumphalism' (another fraudulent slogan) and her present 'out-of-dateness.' This irreverent, unjust (for they do not hesitate to falsify the record) and prejudiced criticism of the Church is considered to be - not 'negative', but 'constructive' and 'positive.' This inconsistency makes it clear that these terms are slogans - verbal weapons - and have nothing to do with rational analysis. They belong in the same class as the slogans of German National Socialism, Communism and the other mass movements and ideologies that attempt to evade the tests of truth and value." (Von Hildebrand)

Cases of Unworthy Reception of the Holy Eucharist

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Many people today receive the Holy Eucharist, even though they fail to avail themselves of the sacrament of Penance (and this despite the fact that they may frequently commit grave sin - e.g. contraception), and even though they don't believe in the Real Presence of Christ (despite St. Paul's warning in 1 Cor. 11:29: "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.")

"Certainly, then, the more a Christian is aware of the holiness and the divinity of this heavenly Sacrament [of the Eucharist], the more careful he should be not to receive it without great reverence and sanctity, especially since we read in the Apostle the fearful words: 'He who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgment to himself' (1 Cor. 11:29)" (Council of Trent)

Chaos

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Chaos abounds in various parts of the Church today, often with very little direction or leadership from prelates who should be working to correct the problem. 

Church's Impact on Society

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: While the Church formerly had a great impact on society, today it often seems She wields little influence (e.g. consider how little impact her teachings have had on contraception, abortion, divorce, etc.).

Clerical Disobedience

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Clerical disobedience is rampant in various parts of the Church today. Although bishops may be notified regarding disobedient clerics, they often tolerate their actions (especially if they are liberal). Even if the Vatican is aware of various acts of disobedience, they may only gently reprove - or may even "cave in".

Closed Churches

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

"Above all, do not allow - as some do, who are deceived under the pretext of restoring the liturgy or who idly claim that only liturgical rites are of any real value and dignity - that churches be closed during the hours not appointed for public functions, as has already happened in some places: where the adoration of the august Sacrament and visits to our Lord in the tabernacles are neglected; where confession of devotion is discouraged; and devotion to the Virgin Mother of God, a sign of 'predestination' according to the opinion of holy men, is so neglected, especially among the young, as to fade away and gradually vanish. Such conduct most harmful to Christian piety is like poisonous fruit, growing on the infected branches of a healthy tree, which must be cut off so that the life-giving sap of the tree may bring forth only the best fruit." (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator Dei", 1947 A.D.)

Concessions to False Religions

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, all sorts of concessions have been made to those of false religions. A perfect example of this is the Novus Ordo Mass, a Mass which is pleasing to Protestants and tends to incorporate many of their practices / concepts (e.g. 'meal concept', Communion in the Hand, Protestant terminology, Protestant songs, etc.). 

Conflict Within the Church 

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Conflict in the Church is widespread, and this is further fostered by "empowered" laity, 'lay ministers', dissident groups, etc.

Confused Laity

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Catholics today are often very confused, and this confusion is greatly fostered by poor catechesis. They may not be able to go to priests for orthodox answers, and their Catholic friends may all believe differently. Even approved religious instruction texts may further the confusion, as it is known that they may teach doctrinal error. 

Confused Role of Priest

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: The role of the priest today may be confused as many see him as simply a layman, with no special powers. He may be seen as a 'social worker' or a 'buddy'. Rarely is his awesome power considered by the faithful, and rarely is he seen today as an 'alter Christus'. Should a priest behave as the shepherd he is called to be (e.g. by warning about sin, hell, judgment, etc., by rejecting people from Mass who are dressed inappropriately, by refusing Holy Communion to those known to be living in sin, etc.), parishioners may stop coming to his parish and may even report him to his bishop.

Consistency of Teachings

Desire to Maintain

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Not only may teachings be inconsistent from parish to parish, but some teachings appear to be "opposite of what the Church has always taught" (e.g. religious liberty, ecumenism).

Continuity With the Past

Desire High

Greatly lower since Vatican II.

Note: In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, an unprecedented number of changes have been implemented in the Church. In fact, not just external practices have changed since this revolutionary council, but the entire orientation of the Church has changed. Clearly, the Church after the Council has clearly presented a "new face" to the world. Note: Click here for more on this topic.

Control of the Church by Hierarchy

Desire Strengthened

Greatly weakened since Vatican II.

Note: It appears today that the hierarchy has completely lost control of the Church. This is evidenced by wayward prelates, numerous dissident groups, factions in the Church, disobedient laity, etc. 

Degradation of the Sacred

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, it appears as if there is no longer any distinction between the sacred and the profane. Altar rails were removed, lay persons are allowed to touch the Holy Eucharist, the priest is treated as one's 'buddy', people turn their back on Christ in the Holy Eucharist to shake their neighbor's hand, the Holy Eucharist is housed in a tabernacle that may be exceptionally plain or ugly, altars are destroyed, etc.

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Devotion to the Blessed Virgin may be ignored or discouraged. If it is 'allowed', it may be so altered as to almost remove its Marian character.

Devotions / Acts of Piety

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Those who practice certain traditional devotions and acts of piety are often looked upon with disdain by moderns.

Disagreement

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Formerly a Catholic could be relatively certain that he and his fellow Catholics agreed on doctrine and morals. Nowadays, a Catholic can no longer be certain he agrees with any other Catholic on any point of doctrine or morals.

Dissension

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: There is much dissention in the Church today as many Catholics wrongly think the Church should be changed to suit their preferences.

Disunity Among Catholics

Desire Decreased

Widespread since Vatican II.

Note: Catholics are no longer unified in matters of doctrine or morals. And further, many do not accept the teaching authority of the Church. 

"Doctrinal Indifferentism"

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Not only is 'doctrinal indifferentism' apparent within the Church, but many in the Church appear to be indifferent regarding the false creeds of other religions, in contrast to the constant teaching of the Church against heresy (click here for some examples).

Doctrinal Unity

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

"The doctrine taught and preached by the Church's ministers used once to be united with united voice. Now, however, it varies within the same country from diocese to diocese, within the same diocese from parish to parish, and within the same parish from preacher to preacher. Instead of being merely that difference in color, presentation or feeling regarding a single body of truth, which is right and inevitable when speaking on any subject, these differences represent an alteration of dogma, cloaked in a policy of adapting the presentation of the faith to the character and expectations of contemporary men. Private theorizings grow ever bolder. The doctrinal corruption of priests either precedes or follows that of the bishops. The latter, in turn, issue individual pronouncements that differ among themselves, and by generally tolerating or sanctioning the deviations of their priests, the bishops have allowed a general confusion to reign in the Church on matters of faith, and have thus caused a deplorable weakening of unity among the faithful. Doctrinal unity used to be a peculiar characteristic of the Roman Church and was recognized and admired by those outside; it was also a reflection of the internal processions with the Holy Trinity" (Amerio)

Doctrinally Sound Catholic Educators

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: It is well-known that many Catholic educators today may be of suspect orthodoxy. Many Catholics allow their children to be 'educated' by teachers who disagree with Church teaching in various important areas (e.g. abortion, contraception, etc.). Their 'Catholic educators' may not even believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist - a basic tenet of the Catholic faith!

"It is a miserable time when a man's Catholic profession is no voucher for his orthodoxy, and when a teacher of religion may be within the Church's pale, yet external to her faith." (Cardinal Newman)

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Doubts / Disbelief

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Many Catholics have doubts regarding fundamentals of the faith. For instance, it is well-known that about 70% of Catholics admit to their disbelief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist - even though St. Paul warns in 1 Cor. 11:29: "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Estrangement of the Faithful

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Not only did people leave the Church in droves right after the Second Vatican Council, but this exodus has continued. Some Catholics have become Protestants, others have simply fallen away from religion altogether. Little or no effort is made to bring them back, and those who consider returning may be repelled by the state of the Church today.

Evangelization of Jews

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: The Church today fails to give Jews a clear message that it is necessary for their salvation to convert. In fact, it has been wrongly - but explicitly - stated by high ranking prelates that Jews do not need to covert to be saved - that their covenant with God still exists. Do they not care that St. Peter said quite the opposite to the Jews at Pentecost, right after receiving the Holy Spirit? (see Acts, Chapter 2) Further, when the Church does issue a document reaffirming (even softly) the necessity of conversion, the Jews think that "progress" has been set back. 

Failure of Prelates to Perform Duties Pertaining to Their Office

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Not only do prelates often fail to perform their duties, but they may not even know what those duties are! Often, the actions they take seem almost unrelated to their office (for example, if a bishop in a diocese where 70% of the people fail to believe in the Real Presence & where sacrilege is rampant and where abortion and contraception are frequent, focuses on eliminating the death penalty for convicted criminals and obtaining 'justice' for illegal immigrants, he neglects to focus on what should be his most important concerns - matters that may mean the loss of eternal souls). Even priests seem to forget that their chief duty is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - "[T]he principal act of a priest is to consecrate the Body and Blood of Christ" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church"). Sadly, in the wake of Vatican II, they are often seen simply as social workers. 

Financial Strength of Church

Desire Increased

Greatly declined since Vatican II.

Note: There has been a great depletion of funds in the Church. This may be attributed to the many changes in the Church ushered in in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, the money spent on new committees and offices (e.g. for new Mass translations, ecumenical endeavors, etc.), money paid to lay persons to run parishes, etc. Much money was also wasted destroying priceless works of art and replacing them with plain (or even offensive) modern art. Reduced Mass attendance and payouts for sexual abuse scandals have furthered the depletion of funds. 

Fostering of Catholic Culture

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

"Not only has Catholic culture been threatened, but it may be argued that it has been almost entirely overthrown."

Frequency of Invalid Sacraments

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: In some churches invalid Masses have been celebrated for years.

Frequent Reception of the Sacraments

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Especially, it should be noted, has the Sacrament of Penance been neglected by the faithful. 

"The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth - all of which truth is taught by the Holy Spirit. Should the Church be able to order, yield to, or permit those things which tend toward the destruction of souls and the disgrace and detriment of the sacrament instituted by Christ? Those proponents of new ideas who are eager to foster true piety in the people should consider that, with the frequency of the sacraments diminished or entirely eliminated, religion slowly languishes and finally perishes." (Pope Gregory XVI, "Quo Graviora", 1833 A.D.)

Gimmicks / Experiments

Desire Eliminated

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Numerous instances of gimmicks / experiments have been documented since the Second Vatican Council (including clown Masses, polka Masses, etc.). Since the Novus Ordo (New) Mass itself has been called "banal" even by high ranking prelates, it is believed that some priests have resorted to such antics in an attempt to interest bored Catholics.

Harmful Innovations / Novelties

Desire Eliminated

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Contrary to the Church's continual position rejecting novelty, there has been an incalculable number of harmful innovations / novelties since the Second Vatican Council, with no sign of abatement. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen has said, "When one lives by novelty, there will always have to be a new novelty."

"Let them innovate in nothing, but keep the traditions." (Pope Saint Stephen, c. 254-257)

"Far, far from the clergy be the love of novelty!" (Pope St. Pius X, "Pascendi Dominici Gregis", 1907 A.D.)

Health of Female Religious Orders

Desire Strengthened

Seriously weakened since Vatican II.

Note: It is heart-wrenching, and almost unbelievable, to discover the sad state of many female religious orders today.

"Usually summed up today as 'the spirit of Vatican II', this body of neo-modernist opinion has penetrated deeply into the Church. It represents the substance of the new theological 'liberal consensus', which is shared even by some prelates. Liberation theology and process theology are among its expressions. But nowhere has its impact been greater than among Catholic women religious, where its poisonous spiritual fruits include rabid feminism, goddess-Wicca and New Age thought. When women religious understood themselves as brides of Christ, their consecration expressed not what they did, but what they were. When they lost their faith, they were convulsed by a crisis of identity so profound that it threatens to destroy the very possibility of consecrated life. Their rapid disintegration has no precedent in the entire history of the Church." (Steichen)

Health of Religious Orders in General

Desire Strengthened

Greatly weakened since Vatican II.

Note: The general fate of religious orders today is so gloomy that their eventual extinction has been contemplated. [Note: By contrast, traditional orders have tended to experience growth.]

Healthy Fear of the Lord

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: There often seems to be little fear of the Lord among today's laity. Even many clergy seem to lack this fear. This is despite the fact that Scripture so clearly tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (click here).

"The loss of holy fear is the mischief of all mischiefs. For this fear is a special gift of the Holy Ghost, to be sought for by prayer and penance, by tears and cries, by patience and impatience, and by the very yearnings of an earnest and familiar love." (Faber) 

"Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down." (Sirach 27:3)

Homosexual Clergy

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: It is said that homosexuals have "infiltrated" the clergy. Not only have they become parish priests - and therefore responsible for many souls! - but they have also moved up the hierarchy where they may promote other homosexuals. Even the sexual abuse scandals have been overwhelmingly due to homosexual clergy. Also remember that a priest acts as an 'Alter Christus' ('Another Christ') and 'In Persona Christi' ('In the Person of Christ'). For these and for other reasons, homosexuals are not suitable for the priesthood.

"...the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture'. Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women. One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies." (Instruction of the Congregation for Catholic Education, approved by Pope Benedict XVI, 2005 A.D.)

Reminder: Homosexual actions are sinful, but an inclination to homosexuality that is not desired or acted upon is not sinful (although, as indicated above, it is not appropriate for the priesthood). Also remember that while we must hate sin, we must simultaneously love sinners. Do not inflict or wish harm on homosexuals.

Instances of Sacrilege

Desire Never

Numerous instances since Vatican II.

Note: Sacrilege has become rampant throughout the world in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Given that around 70% of Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence, this becomes much less surprising. Sacrilege is also greatly fostered by the use of 'lay ministers' (click here) and Communion in the hand (click here). 

Internal Divisions / Dissention

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Division and dissention are widespread throughout the Church on what seems to be an unprecedented scale. And, for the first time in history, it has become necessary for Catholics who remain 'in good standing' in the Church to 'label' themselves (e.g. as "Traditional" or "Conservative" Catholics) to give others an idea of their orthodoxy. 

Liturgical Abuse

Desire Never

Greatly increased since Vatican II

Note: Liturgical abuse has become so widespread since the Second Vatican Council as almost to appear to be the norm. In fact, various 'norms' in a Novus Ordo Mass were once abuses that the Vatican subsequently "caved in" on after widespread disobedience.

"It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many. A certain reaction against 'formalism' has led some, especially in certain regions, to consider the 'forms' chosen by the Church's great liturgical tradition and her Magisterium as non-binding and to introduce unauthorized innovations which are often completely inappropriate. I consider it my duty, therefore to appeal urgently that the liturgical norms for the celebration of the Eucharist be observed with great fidelity." (Pope John Paul II, 2003 A.D.)

Mass Attendance

Desire Increased

Greatly declined since Vatican II

Note: It is well known that before the Second Vatican Council, Mass attendance was high (and increasing). Now it seems to have reached historic lows. 

"The only statistically verifiable change in the religious practice of the faithful since 1969 has been an unprecedented and catastrophic decline in Mass attendance throughout the West." (Davies)

"Dr. Lothian is completely correct in claiming that the Vatican insists that a liturgical renewal 'has taken place and that the Church is all the better for it.' Pope John Paul II assures us that 'the vast majority of the pastors and the Christian people have accepted the liturgical reform in a spirit of obedience and indeed joyful fervor.' In reality the vast majority of baptized Catholics in Western countries do not assist at Mass on Sundays. Those who were not assisting at Mass before the Council have not been brought back to the practice of their faith, and millions who participated with joyful fervor in the unrenewed liturgy have now ceased attending altogether. In some European countries the percentage still assisting at Mass has collapsed to a single figure, and in the United States it is about 25% - i.e., 14 million out of 55 million Catholics." (Davies)

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Missionary Activity

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Some might say the missionary activity of the Church has been all but abandoned after the Second Vatican Council (possibly exchanged for mere 'social work'). This is despite the fact that Protestant sects may have stepped up their missionary efforts.

Number of Annulments 

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Before the Second Vatican Council, annulments were very rare. Since the Second Vatican Council their number has swelled to tens of thousands of annulments annually, leading many to think that they are a form of 'Catholic divorce'. The amount of annulments is considered scandalous and is often seen as an affront to Jesus' clear teaching regarding the indissolubility of marriage.

"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Lk. 16:18)

Number of Baptisms 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: While the number of Catholics has increased since the Second Vatican Council, the number of baptisms has decreased.

"Between 1965 and 2002, the number of infant baptisms decreased by 23 percent. There were more infant baptisms in 1955 than in 2002." (Jones)

Number of Catholic Marriages 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: While the number of Catholics has increased since the Second Vatican Council, the number of Catholic marriages has decreased. One statistic shows a 49% decline (Source: Jones).

Number of Catholic Schools 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: Jones shows a decrease since 1965 in Diocesan High Schools (50% decrease), Private Catholic High Schools (38% decrease), Parochial Grade Schools (37% decrease), and Private Catholic Grade Schools (24% decrease).

Number of Catholics "In Name Only"

Desire Decreased

Greatly increased since Vatican II.

Note: Many who call themselves Catholics today deny central doctrines of the faith, reject authority, fail to receive the sacraments, dissent on moral teachings, and even deny Christ's resurrection.

Number of Conversions

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: In addition to the "mass exodus" from the Church in recent decades, there has also been a significant decline in the number of converts. According to Jones, "Between 1965 and 2002, the number of converts (adult baptisms) decreased by 37%. There were more converts in 1945 than in 2002 [even despite the substantial population growth]."

Number of Ordinations 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

According to Jones: "In 1965 there were 1,575 ordinations to the priesthood, in 2002 there were 450, a decline of 350 percent. Taking into account ordinations, deaths and departures, in 1965 there was a net gain of 725 priests. In 1998, there was a net loss of 810."

Number of Priests 

Desire Increased

Greatly decreased since Vatican II.

Note: After the Second Vatican Council, many priests abandoned their ministry. Others were discouraged from becoming priests. According to Jones, in the priest to parishioner ratio, there has been a decline of over 45% since 1965. Further, the average age of priests is increasing, and more parishes are becoming "priestless". [Note that if parishes are truly "priestless", there will be no sacraments requiring priestly powers (e.g. Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick), and a 'Catholic' parish may become almost indistinguishable from a Protestant place of 'worship'.]