In the largest survey of American Catholics ever conducted, a huge number of believers cited Communion in the hand, exceptional Eucharistic ministers, and priests as the most likely reasons for disbelief in the Eucharist. “Homosexuality'' is cited.
Tuesday, Real Presence Coalition (RPC) released The results of the July 2024 survey sought to determine where American Catholics place the blame for their lack of faith in the Eucharist.
According to LifeSite News, “Surveys show that carried out In collaboration with national polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, the survey received nearly 16,000 responses, including 14,725 lay Catholics in the United States from every Latin diocese in the country. 780 responses were submitted by attendees of the National Eucharistic Conference of U.S. Bishops in Indianapolis. ”
The Catholics surveyed were not the type of “nominal Catholic” one would typically expect to find who have lost faith in the Eucharist. Instead, 97 percent of respondents said they were Catholic, attended Mass at least once a week, and believed in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The majority (84%) identified themselves as Catholic “from an early age.”
These devout Catholics left no doubt as to what they felt was the primary cause of declining faith in Catholicism's most important sacrament.
Of those surveyed, nearly 58% said receiving Holy Communion in the hand was the main cause. Following the survey results, more than 56% of respondents condemned priests who publicly pardon sinners who “obstinately reject Catholic teachings.” More than 70% blamed the use of special Eucharistic ministers (laity) to distribute Holy Communion as the main or biggest reason for the decline in respect for the sacrament.
64% of respondents believe that the cancellation of the ad orientum, in which the priest faces east, the direction in which Christ will return, is another significant loss of respect. Almost 67% cited altar rail removal as another reason.
63% of respondents only participate in TLM or at least regularly.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, survey respondents also believe that a return to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), or an increase in the number of parishes offering TLM services, would greatly benefit Eucharistic adoration. I believe it.
But even among those attending the Novus Ordo (the new order of the Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969), where Eucharistic servers and Communion take place, 65 percent would rather receive the Eucharist from a priest or deacon. He said he prefers receiving it from a priest or deacon. An extraordinary minister.
“RPC is open letter “We called on the U.S. bishops to consider the findings ahead of the November General Conference,” LifeSite News report.
