The Demand for the Gospel

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

The Demand for the Gospel

THE prevailing religious indifference does not seem to be confined to any particular denomination or to any country. Even where the Roman Catholic Church has had full power, it does not appear to be able to retain its hold upon the people. The situation in France is thus stated:—

Allowing for Jews and other non-Christian sects, there remain [of a population of thirty-nine millions] about thirty-eight million nominal Roman Catholics; but the priests confess that not more than four millions can be said to be following their teachings. The people are drifting away from all belief in the church, and from the control of the priests. A religious census in the department of the Seine and Marne revealed the fact that less than two and one-half per cent attended mass. In villages of five hundred inhabitants, not more than ten attended mass.

As occasional attendance at mass is the only thing absolutely required to maintain standing in the Roman Catholic Church, the true religious condition of the people may be inferred when so few even attend mass. There is the same need of the gospel in Catholic France as in heathen Korea.