Catholicism leads religion in UK

[gilberto_eire]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071223/tuk-uk-britain-blair-conversion-fa6b408_1.html

surprised to see the part about Tony Blair converting, have heard many stories about people changing from christianity to other faiths and vice-versa, but never changing between differant forms of christianity!

i always knew there was a decent number of engish people were catholics(even though a lot would think there all prodestants) but was shocked to see there been more catholics then prodestants(albeit for mass attendance)

[Poor Student]

It's not too unheard of. Tory MPs Ann Widdecombe and John Gummer converted to Catholicism from Anglicanism in the 1990's. Catholic intellects such as Cardinal John Henry Newman (the original rector of UCD) and Fr. Frederick Copleston (key historian of Philosophy) were also Anglican converts to Catholicism in the 18th and 19th centuries respectively. I don't know any celebrity converts in the other direction but I'm sure there's plenty.

The headlines are a bit misleading. The study says that more Catholics attend mass every weekend than Anglicans attend church. The study says 'Britain', I don't know if that includes Northern Ireland as well. It must also be noted that Catholic attendances are still decreasing just not as steeply as Anglicanism and the decline is arrested by immigrants from Catholic countries with a higher degree of religiousity like Poland.

[Lionel Ritchie]

...also worth chucking in that a higher emphasis is likely placed on attendance in Catholicism than some Protestant churches.

I believe I'm right in saying Widdicombe was one of those who didn't like the "modernist" trends as they'd see them (basic cop on as I'd see it) ...female clergy, gay clergy etc.. within Anglicanism and basically swapped for some stronger brew.

[Poor Student]

I believe I'm right in saying Widdicombe was one of those who didn't like the "modernist" trends as they'd see them (basic cop on as I'd see it) ...female clergy, gay clergy etc.. within Anglicanism and basically swapped for some stronger brew.

Same with Gummer. She's not happy that Blair waited until after he left office to convert. Whatever about his own convictions it reflects badly on the country that he felt he had to be out of office to do so.

[Not Brazil]

[url]
i always knew there was a decent number of engish people were catholics(even though a lot would think there all prodestants) but was shocked to see there been more catholics then prodestants(albeit for mass attendance)

There's not.

The Church Of England is not the only "prodestant" Church in England.

[GavinZac]

Any figures for those who don't choose any particular sky genie?

[Poor Student]

Any figures for those who don't choose any particular sky genie?

It's hard to quantify. Those who choose both none and unspecified are lumped together on the CIA factbook for the 2001 UK census, that figure is 23.1%. By comparison that stands at about 55% in the Czech Rep and I think 85% in Sweden.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Same with Gummer. She's not happy that Blair waited until after he left office to convert. Whatever about his own convictions it reflects badly on the country that he felt he had to be out of office to do so.

I'm inclined to agree that it reflects badly on the UK. I'm guessing the thinking is he can't be "serving two masters" ...the Queen on one hand and the Pope on the other ...when in day to day reality he "serves" neither and probably doesn't have his judgement on anything day to day affected by who heads his church for that matter.

[Poor Student]

I'm inclined to agree that it reflects badly on the UK. I'm guessing the thinking is he can't be "serving two masters" ...the Queen on one hand and the Pope on the other ...when in day to day reality he "serves" neither and probably doesn't have his judgement on anything day to day affected by who heads his church for that matter.

Sad state of affairs. That paragon of Catholicism J.F.K. got grief for his possible popish allegiances half a century ago. In fact Mitt Romney is under heavy scrutiny for being a Mormon. I think we're less inclined or not inclined at all to give a toss about a politician's religious beliefs or absence of than some of our more apparently secularised neighbours.

[pete]

There are clearly more Protestants in the UK but they spread across various churches whereas just one Roman Catholic church. I wonder what the numbers would be for practising church members given most people signed up before they can talk & don't take option to resign.

[Poor Student]

There are clearly more Protestants in the UK but they spread across various churches whereas just one Roman Catholic church. I wonder what the numbers would be for practising church members given most people signed up before they can talk & don't take option to resign.

It's narrow minded to think in terms of Catholic v Protestant. The issue is that the Church of England, the established church, is not the main active denomination.

[bennocelt]

Found it a bit sad that RTE had this as its main headline. I mean what the hell does it matter to us. So what!!!

[CollegeTillIDie]

Little referred to facts about the Penal Laws which ended in 1829 with the passage of the Emancipation Act proposed by Daniel O'Connell . Not only Catholics were affected. Non Anglican's , e.g. Methodists, Presbyterians, Unitarians etc were also outside the pale during that era. Point being there were Protestants and non-conformists during that era who were as out of favour as the RC's.

Anglicans were the Established Church and everyone else was outside the tent so to speak.

[sonofstan]

It's not entirely correct to call Anglicans/ Episcopalians 'Protestants' (or even 'Prodestants') ; many/ (most?) consider themselves to belong to a 'reformed' Catholic church.

see here

[CollegeTillIDie]

sonofstan

If Catherine of Aragon had given birth to a son who had survived, there would probably never have been an Anglican Church. Because she didn't or seemingly couldn't, Henry VIII wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, so he could have a son, the church refused to grant him a divorce, hey presto Church Of England!

Ironically Hank the 8th never had a son, who lived to any decent lifespan, so it was a completely wasted effort on his part.