Apostasy continues.

Madrid -- The decline of the Catholic faith since the seventies has continued in Spain. A new study says that fewer than half of Spanish youth consider themselves Catholic. The report entitled "Spanish Youth 2005" found that, 10 years ago, 77% of the young considered themselves Catholic. Today only 10% of young people say that they are committed Catholics; 20% are characterized by religious indifference, agnosticism or atheism. Another confusing poll indicates that while 80% of Spaniards of all ages consider themselves Catholic, only 42% believe in God, and 50% attend a Catholic church only for social occasions. Clearly there is something wrong with the polling questions.

Catholic bishops in Spain have blamed "erring" theologians--and the media that circulate their views--for what they say is the widespread secularization that has taken root in the Church in the 40 years since the end of the Second Vatican Council.

In Theology and Secularisation, a pastoral instruction issued at the end of March, 2006, the Spanish bishops say theologians have "disturbed ecclesial life and the faith of simple persons" through their dissent from the hierarchy, false teaching on the person of Jesus Christ, and negation of such "truths of our faith" as "the resurrection of the flesh, individual and final judgement, purgatory, and the real possibility of eternal damnation (hell), or eternal happiness (heaven)" (Tablet, Aug. 5, 2006).