Catholic nuns and monks decline

BBC 2/5/08

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7227629.stm

The Vatican has reported a further dramatic fall in the number of Roman Catholic monks and nuns worldwide.

Newly published statistics showed that the number of men and women belonging to religious orders fell by 10% to just under a million between 2005 and 2006.

During the pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II, the number of Catholic nuns worldwide declined by a quarter.

The downward trend accelerated despite a steady increase in the membership of the Catholic Church to more than 1.1bn.

However, correspondents say even this failed to keep pace with the overall increase in world population.

Dramatic fall

On the back page of its official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican published on Monday new statistics revealing that between 2005 and 2006 the number "members of the consecrated life" fell by just under 10%.

The number of members, predominantly women, some engaged only in constant prayer, others working as teachers, health workers and missionaries, fell 94,790 to 945,210.

Of the total, 753,400 members were women, while 191,810 were men, including 136,171 priests and 532 permanent deacons.

The figures were published next to a report of Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with nuns, monks and priests from many countries gathered in St Peter's Basilica in Rome last weekend.

The BBC's David Willey in the Italian capital says the accelerating downward trend must have caused concern to the Pope.

The Roman Catholic Church has an aging and diminishing number of parish and diocesan clergy and this latest fall is quite dramatic, our correspondent says.

The number of Catholic nuns worldwide declined by about a quarter during the reign of Pope John Paul, and this further drop shows that new recruits are failing to replace those nuns who die, or decide to abandon their vows, he adds.

_________________

Desert, thanks for the post.
I agree with what Alysia had written.
However I question the actual reasoning for the downfall of the statistics of the RCC.

There have been a number of things, which have happened over several years now. Even some of the opening of the secret teachings out of their vaults has startled the world a bit into disbelief of the uprightiousness of their belief. I know opening of these documents led to spark the common interest in media to start to talk about the Illuminatie, Temple Ritter, Masonary etc. and of course last but not least "the afterlife as known by churches" openly...especially when the Pope decided to give a Press Conference Quote: "that it is no longer a sin to contact the afterlife as long as mediums, fortune tellers etc. are not  involved".. Heck in germany there were lots of TV shows, and Aaaaahs and Ooooohs when that happened.

That blew me away Desert, as I began to question the validity of the initial law and order of their belief. Hmmm   ...I thought..Why would a Pope after all these hundreds of years pull such a religious law back out of exsistence`?

Clearly we are all heading into a spiritual entlightment, some one way, some the other.
For me to keep an open mind is very important to me.

Maybe the nuns are also beginning to understand that "love" has nothing to do with withdrawel from life, but rather implementing it into life on earth. Not saying that the nuns and monks never did anything for people on this earth, but rather saying that they themselves denied themselves consciously of a lot of "emotions" which are needed to experience "life".

I can seriously say that when the topics about perpetration of children had found its full force, I literally got sick at my stomache and was very angry...

I understand that the materialisation around us, has the ultimate deed to help us better understand that theres always a higher focus of the subject, but sometimes and in some cases, I can`t seem to grasp the higher meaning of things happening. Hinse that was one of the cases, I am referring to. When I saw the little boys whom confessed against the Priests I instantly began to feel very angry at the priests, it took me a serious while to get a grip on myself.

Hugs,
Nanner

Alan McDougall wrote on Feb 6^th, 2008 at 9:54am:


Alan,
why must you always label people? ergo: "dried up old crows" - "they are anything but sacred beings".

Maybe for their "souls view" of things, they may think that they are not "anything but sacred beings" and maybe they dont feel like "dried up old crows" either. I find they are people with soul missions of their own. Be it whatever it is.

How do you expect the "world" to change its face value in general when you yourself looking in the mirror this morning haven`t accomplished "not labeling things" honey. Does the "change of consciousness" not have its beginnings within ourselves for it to manifest on the outside and reflect?

Hugs,
Nanner

Oh dearest Alan,
I can tell that "this topic" goes much deeper than the skin with you. Its perfectly okay for it to do so. That is a sign that "this" is one package which you have been carrying with you for an awful long time and that your not completely ready to let go of it as a weight.

Let me explain sugar bump, as long as you catch yourself "labeling", then you`re not free of its weight. These nuns whom you called  "dried up old crows" and the priests whom you labeled as being "anything but sacred beings" have cut a wound a mile deep within your soul - as it still reflects to bleed years later, even though you`re no longer a part of the circumstance. Stating it as you did: broad spectrum though - makes "all" of them carry that cross of burden, which not all of them deserve to have to carry.

Sweetie, all I am trying to tell you is: be free. Be free of all that anger and the hurt you seem to claim as being yours alone. Forgive. You are not a victum of circumstance Alan, you my dear ~ are a survivor ~, which means that you should be able to forgive those people and advance to becoming a leader teaching others "how to forgive and advance". 

It the essence of "love" Alan. The greatest triumph you could have is to go and hug one of those nuns whom must have hurt you emotions badly or even hug one of the priests and tell him I forgive you and really mean it. That adds to "your" benefit of souls advancement.

Heres a hug from me, 
Nanner

Hi Cheeks,
"I am a counselor" Alan. You`ve uncovered me.. You sly little imp. 

And I find it very impairative that YOU NOT drop the issue at all, but rather take a serious look at it. The topic is not useless Alan, as the topic possibly "only" affects you briefly "here on this board" at times, however in your real life out there your eyes, ears and mind is confronted with it possibly every day. My objective: is for you to confront yourself and look at the past with all its gory details and then work it thru step by step, so to be able to free your real self of the "useless baggage" as you called it. You can`t free yourself of it when even clinging onto small memories okay. All the tears that you`ve held in so long over your versions of unjustice all these years have held you back in many ways, from shining your bright and beautiful light at fullest possible strength dear. The unjustice is NOT that it all happened to you, the unjustice takes place whereby no one has held your hand and walked you thru it still today. Guess whaaaaat? Whenever you are ready, just start an off topic thread and we`ll work it thru, one package at a time. It will end up as a thread where you spill your heart, and it will be a long one for sure. The beauty of it is, that your topic will help hundreds besides yourself.

If you read the other thread in which I answered to Rondele, you will have noticed that I had a pretty neat life so far. Just to click into one particular topic, the molestation. Hmmm that was a very hard one for me to over come. There was vivid hate present in my heart for many many years Alan. Anger that those around me did not protect me from such abuse as a small child. Therapy as a young adult seemed not to eleviate the pain I carried within my heart. After I finished my studies - I decided to buy my agressor a plane ticket and let him live in my house and I fixed breakfast for that booger for 30 days, every morning I sat infront of my agressor and the first coupleof mornings I wanted to carve his heart out with my butter knife.. however I had realised inside that "he wasn`t hurting inside, so I thought" until one morning I looked at him and said "I remember what you did and it hurt me a great deal, I want you to know that". And he almost choked on his toast. I told him "I forgive you now" and I want you to forgive yourself too. He got up from the breakfast table without a word, went downstairs in his bedroom and this almost 50 year old man must have cried for 6 hours straight.

I had come to realise that even though it was pittyfully sick what he had done to me, anger and hate would not heal my wounds, but rather "love" would and did. I am much more happier now Alan, of course he is too. I sent him back to the USA shortly thereafter and end is well - all is well.

I am not suggesting that you call up your perpetrators and invite them to your home and hug them, that was my only way - hinse I had tried everything else I knew of first.  What I am suggesting is to take a good look at what the "hanging on to the past, what type of manifastation has molded within your heart by your holding on to it and what its done to you personally". Maybe look at what the holding on to it has caused you to become inside of yourself and then realise that "the unjustice is no longer being done to you, as you are "now" an adult and have the choice of what you allow being done to you mentally as well as physically. You are a very quick learner Alan - I know this. And once you get past that obstacle you will feel much more "light" within, for that type of light needs place to thrive in and does not want to reside together with inner darkness, honey okay.

And now you may understand how come your butt ended up on this board. Everything in life has a reason Alan, everything dear and I know that you know this already, it merely a matter of fine tuning... and Alan you may "think" that you are an "old fella, but at heart I know that you are still 20!" and theres nothing wrong with that, you still have alot to give.

Give yourself a pat on the back - you`ve made a long haul and you`ve done great buddy!

Hugs,
Nanner

I had noticed Alan and thats why I tagged you like that.   I do and generally say nothing without a solid reason behind it. I am a very deep rooted person, sweetie.

I believe you had read me write once before that I am not "stupidified".. That doesnt mean stupid but rather means that I haven`t let others "make me that way".

I can assure you that there is not 1 issue that can not be resolved thru love Alan okay. And if you do not want to talk about it, getting one issue out at the time, then its okay too. Just get to the point where you say to yourself, okay, this is it, no more fear, no more of this "controlling" me inside. I am going to free myself of you little imps that take my rest at night in my subconcsiousness. Work it thru Alan dearest and then I promise you there wont be anymore of the state of manic depression. You will have to continue doing the homework though. And then let it go.

Rest assured no one here is interested in humiliating you, nor do they gain any self respect by means of ridicule - so therefor your fear will not come true. You have really found a bunch of wonderful people whom all seem to have found each other thu 1 common denominator: Bruce Moen.  

So I hope you have a good day and start feeling good about your accomplishments so far, like I said you`ve come a long haul and are a survivor.

Hugs,
Nanner

Ladies,
I cannot express adequately or even begin to understand a monster that would molest little children as you both were. If someone did such a heinous act to my beautiful granddaughter, I would want vengeance as that act would go beyond my capacity to forget or forgive...

How you plunged the depth of your souls searching for that tiny spark amazes me and is commendable beyond description. I who has a had a similar experience has been traumatized for life and can only remember the molester as some monster that vested me when I was alone separate from my parents.  Suspect who it was but cant believe this loving person could also be the nightmare of my childhood.

alan