I'm not even religious--I wish I were--but it sucks seeing the world you grew up knowing simply dissolve. I'm sure I'll get a ton of potshots here from the disaffected crowd, but whatever. I have no idea if people lack the feeling of being part of a community, but it's a good thing.

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the world you grew up in didn't know kids were being diddled in that building

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

So here's about the kind of response I expected....ah, the fucking morons of CFMB!

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I recall playing St Bede and Tommy More in grammar school sports.

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Elections have consequences.

The Archdioese has been compromised by the radical left.

Probably more comprised by less people attending and more importantly even less giving money.

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Elections have consequences.

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Yes it is. Neighborhood is also experiencing more gang violence in recent years.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Yup. St. Denis, too.

St. Denis isn’t having financial issues though.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

But the St. part is hotly debated.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

The comment Ike made is not moronic, and definitely has merit. That behavior happened, at St Bede's.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/6/24/ ... rchdiocese

The sense of community you felt was not shared by everyone else.

And it's part of the reason the churches are being consolidated.

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Different St. Deni$

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538 recently had a podcast discussing how for the first time the number of religious unaffiliated citizens outnumber people that identify with a church. Great discussion.

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Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

I would put more of the blame on the pedophile priests, the subsequent cover-up, and the racist right.

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Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

You can draw a direct line from the liberalization of the seminaries to those first two items.

There are conspiracy theories regarding the decline supported by facts.

However participatory religious decline seems to mirror secular institutional participation decline. Thomas talks about community. Church was certainly one community growing up in the 70s. An array of ethnic organizations were very popular and provided community as well. There were all kinds of clubs in the neighborhood depending on your interest. It didn't exist in my neighborhood but the corner bar also provided community.

I think people feel alone out there. You see how readily they jump at causes because they want to feel a part of something.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Jump to causes they don't even understand, or check the bona fides of.

Fear and loneliness are the two most prevalent emotions I run come daily all across the country.

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Actually the pastor when I was at St. Denis raped one of my classmates when he was in junior high. The guy ended up committing suicide a few years back. No idea what happened to the priest. Father Mayday at St. Bede's baptized most of my friends. Then you had the pastor in the late 90s at St. Bede who got caught stealing over a million after he was busted with a hooker.

Neighborhood change has played a big part in the closing of schools and churches. However, looking at the drop in enrollment of Queen of Martyrs and St. Christina makes me think it was only a matter of time even if those neighborhoods were the same as they were in 1990.

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How fluid are the neighborhoods? Growing up in the burbs people came and went (Although my particular one was a bit more stable) but my class from high school is scattered across the country and many of their parents have moved on to the point that they have very little reason to even visit the area unless business brings them in. My brother moved out east in 19 and its a bit weird being scattered like that, he told me the same when I was out in Montana.

Anyways, when I moved out here there was more continuity between generations and it seems as more of a community. But as the farms grow and the jobs left you see the younger generations not sticking around at all as there really is no reason too. I think losing those family ties, along with community (Be it a job, church or the immigrant societies that were out here) does lend to isolation. I say that as someone who is kind of in place that is between where I grew up and where I live now. I can be here till I'm 83, which would be about 3/4 of my life but will if ever be home? I don't know. Shared experiences are binders and they seem to be dwindling. Now.. Get off my lawn.

It's good to see people researching if religion is for them or not and choosing the option that works best for them. Thanks for the good news tommy!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

what a fucking depressing thread. child rape and suicide .... great way to start out the day fellas!