Originally Posted By: StuartK
Quote:
Sadly, only about 30% of latin rite Catholics believe in the real presence.


A highly misleading statement, since the manner in which the question was posed revealed nothing more than who could state the formal Latin doctrine of the Eucharistic presence ("real" presence bothers me; what other kind of presence is there?), and not whether they believed the Bread and Wine are truly the Body and Blood of Christ.

I could answer that question in a manner entirely consonant with Eastern Christian theology, and would be marked down as "denying" the real presence.


even if the word "real" is a bit wishy-washy, the sad fact is that many latin rite catholics don't understand what the eucharist is and don't understand the mass as a sacrifice. In my limited experience in parish ministry, i've seen this more times than what would apper to be coincidence. My generation (now turning 40), grew up right after Vatican II, when catechesis became very poor about basic doctrines. I don't think that the problem is an active heretical denial of the "real" presence more than it is ignorance and spiritual atrophy as generation of Catholics raise the next generation without a clue of their faith.