Stephen Colbert tries to recruit Jimmy Carter to Catholicism

                               … and Carter says yes (with provisos) 

Comedian and self-professed Roman Catholic Stephen Colbert sat down with Jimmy Carter to talk about the former president's new book. Colbert said that he was going to conduct a tough interview -- but instead it became hilarious.

As I watched this interview, I recalled how I, as a young man, felt about Carter in 1980. In short, I campaigned against him in the 1980 primary. Philosophically, Jimmy Carter and I were diametrically opposed to one another. I did ultimately vote for him then because his opponent was anathema to everything that I stood for at that time -- and now.

However, Jimmy Carter has been the greatest ex-president in history. He has been a strong supporter of Habitat for Humanity and has worked in many humanitarian causes throughout the world. 

Colbert's interview was interesting since he immediately talked about religion, one of the topics of the book, and they both talked about their religions. Carter is a Southern Baptist, a religion that believes that the bible is literally true. Colbert is a Catholic who believes that the bible is figurative, which means that the stories provide a lesson for the reader. 

However, Colbert asked Carter is he would consider becoming a Catholic. Carter's response was surprising. "I have two provisos to becoming a Catholic. If Pope Francis stays on in office, and when a female Catholic priest asks me to join her church," Carter said. 

Colbert's audience -- probably populated by Millennials -- cheered loudly as Stephen reacted in a way in which he realized that the former president had upstaged him.

(The interview is halfway through this link):

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/26/jimmy-carter-tells-stephen-colbert-the-bible-is-misused-to-subjugate-women/

The former president knew that Pope Francis may last longer than he would since he is 89 -- although you would never know it. His mind is agile. So, that answer was not surprising although it is telling that so many outside the Catholic Church love Francis. 

The second proviso will not happen in the lifetime of either man, nor in mine, nor in100 years. While the Catholic Church in the U.S. is on the brink of extinction, it will not compromise on the issue of women priests. That will render the church to growth in only third-word countries. 

I am not kidding with this. Few seminarians are studying to become priests, and as such, many churches are closing. Look for this to continue in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in the next decade, resulting in fewer and fewer Catholics following the church. 

For instance, the statistics from Georgetown University paint a gloomy picture (http://cara.georgetown.edu/caraservices/requestedchurchstats.html). Today, only 3,694 men are enrolled in a seminary pursuing graduate studies in the U.S. Compare that to 8,325 in 1965. In 2013, only 511 ordinations to the priesthood were held in the U.S. One condition is important here in that the religious orders are ordaining priests at a higher rate than are the dioceses. 

The truth is that once the generation of priests who are 70-80+ have passed from service, many dioceses will have to shutter more churches in the country and in the A-J Diocese. 

Even more frightening are these statistics. In data compiled by the Pew Foundation, a reputable organization, 24 percent of those interviewed call themselves "Roman Catholic." That number is impressive, but not when the next question is asked: Do you practice your faith regularly? At that point, only 23 to 24 percent of those 24 percent admit to doing so. Most Catholics are nominal and do not practice their faith. 

One of the other interesting tidbits from Pew is that 10 percent of Americans identify themselves as fallen-away Catholics. Ten percent of everyone in the country! That is an indictment of our Catholic educational system. That is very sad.

The numbers will be worse in ten years since Millennials are generally very reluctant to follow a religion -- any religion. 

Here is what is even more unfortunate: Despite the shortage, the Roman Catholic Church will never ordain women. In addition, they will probably continue sticking to male celibacy, which will probably lead to a schism -- although not in my lifetime. 

Carter and Colbert spar somewhat over the role of women with Colbert taking the side of the women and Carter defending the Christian view of scripture.

Jimmy Carter knew that the church will not change over women clergy, so he will never leave his church. 

Unfortunately, the RC church will not change. 

That is sad, but thanks for Colbert and Carter for an interesting interview.