Disbelief in Jesus Not a Hindrance to Being a Faithful Christian, Say Catholics

Belief in Jesus no longer necessary, say many Catholics.

NEW YORK – Belief in Jesus Christ is not a prerequisite to being a committed Christian, according to a majority of Roman Catholics in a new TIME/CNN news poll.

In the poll, which was released yesterday, 86 percent of Roman Catholics stated that faith in Christ is “not necessary” to living a faithful Christian life or being a “good” Christian.

“I mean, when it comes to being a Christian, believing in Jesus might be icing on the cake, but to be a follower of Christ, you really only have to be a good person,” said Anna DiNario, an 8th grade religion teacher at St. John Bosco Catholic School in Chicago. “And to be honest, I am not always that good of a person, so I am not sure what the requirements are.”

Father Dwight Vesillio, of Holy Family Parish in Nashville, Tenn., said he gave a homily just last week on ‘What Does It Mean to Be a Good Christian?’ “Being charitable is the cornerstone of our religion,” said Vesillio. “Jesus said some pretty harsh stuff. If you really believed in him and did what he said, would you really be perceived as Christian by the average person? I don’t think so.”

Sister Diane Montague, a CCD at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cullman, Ala., said that belief in Jesus Christ is too exclusionary a requirement. “Any person in any religion is a Christian if he is trying to be a nice, tolerant person, regardless of whether he believes in Christ,” she said. “That’s what I tell my third graders.”

For Third Year, "Ashes" Named Favorite Catholic Sacrament

For the third year, ashes comes in tops as favorite Catholic sacrament.

BOSTON -- For the third year in a row, the ashes received during the Ash Wednesday service was listed in an ABC-News/Washington Post poll as most Roman Catholic's favorite sacrament, topping both communion and baptism.

"There is just something about receiving those ashes that makes me feel, well alive," said Katie Stanbury, a lobbyist with Phelps/Dawson Public Relations. "I miss mass quite a bit, but I never, ever miss this service."

Fr. Allen Bannion, of St. Peter Claver Church in Boston, said that the Ash Wednesday service is always standing room only. "People just love that service, as well as the one for Palm Sunday. We always have more people there than any other time of year," he said. "Yeah, people come on Sunday for communion, but at these services they get a little something extra. It is sort of like Bonus Days at the Clinique counter, when you not only get the perfume you went in to purchase, but a kick-ass red lipstick, as well. Or so I've been told."

Maggie Oliver, a retired schoolteacher, said her favorite sacraments are baptism and confirmation. "It's a great chance to take some pictures and see relatives I haven't seen in awhile. Oh, plus we all go out to eat afterwards, which is fun," she said.

Other favorite sacraments listed, in order, included: 2) baptism, 3) "that day when we get to bring in our pets for blessings" 4) communion (if viewed as a symbol only) 4) annulment 5) Confirmation and 6) marriage.

According to the poll, Roman Catholics have different interpretations on what the word sacrament means. Responses given included: "a symbol," "something that makes you feel happy, blessed or relieved," "a church function or practice" or "a tradition."

Kenny Daniels said he thinks so much of the Ash Wednesday service that when he arrived late last night, he simply left. "I could have stayed for communion, but I came for the ashes," he said. "So, I just went to Starbuck's instead. Oh well, there's always next year."

Pope Partial to Catholics, Say Most Americans in New Poll

Does Pope Benedict Play Favorites?

ALLENTOWN, PA. -- Could the Holy Father have a soft spot for Catholics? That is the belief of the majority of Americans surveyed in a new TIME Magazine/CNN poll released today.

In the poll, of 3,058 people surveyed, 95 percent of respondents said they believed Pope Benedict XVI is "partial to those of the Catholic faith", and 83 percent of those surveyed said they believe the Pope "spends too much time thinking about, praying for, and dealing with Catholics."

"The poll results are pretty stunning," said Dan Wright, senior religion editor at TIME magazine. "According to most Americans, he comes across as being pretty obsessed with Catholics. People want to know what the deal is."

According to the poll, some are upset about the favoritism. "He always seems to be interested in their issues,"said Peter Knight, a Boise, Idaho, Mormon apologist and writer. "He could write an encyclical to us if he wanted. I mean, we had that whole polygamy episode and everything. That was pretty newsworthy. I haven't heard any rumblings of that, though. What do I have to do, become a Catholic?"

"I'm pretty offended," said Roger McNelty, senior art director for Hoffman/Turner Advertising Agency in Allentown, PA. "I'm a lapsed Episcopalian bisexual with Attention Deficit Disorder, and I have yet to hear the Pope mention anything about my specific needs in any of his speeches."

George Fitzpatrick, a religious analyst in Wichita, Kansas, has been tracking data on Pope Benedict since he was elected to the papacy. "If this trend continues the Pope may find his following restricted primarily to Roman Catholics."