POOR CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 11

POOR CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Sir—Since the fairly recent reference in your leading article to poor church attendance I have made it my business to attend several churches in town and country on Sunday mornings and evenings. In towns, apart from the Catholic churches, the attendances, as I. saw them, were in almost all cases poor. In the country towns I noticed the attendance at Catholic churches was splendid, whilst the other churches were shockingly ignored for the most part. Although I am not a Catholic I think it only fair to state that whilst other churches and citadels were well-nigh empty at their principal services, the Catholic churches, which have increased rapidly in number apparently lately, were full to overflowing—several times in some cases each Sunday. What is the cause of our empty churches? Not dogma, because the popular Catholic Church of to-day and centuries has a really, elaborate dogma system, I understand. Is it through psychological or historical or epicurean causes as stated by Bishop Sprott? No, at least not altogether. It is through intricate causes such as lack of clear teaching and the so-called “reformation,” which, judging by the full Catholic multiplied churches and the nearby empty Protestant churches and citadels, has been a gigantic failure. Time will see these failing churches out, and’judging from present dissensions, as in the Waikato, Barnes, Ingram cases, it won't be long.— I am, etc., R. A. WISE. Wellington, July 27.