---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Catholic Church made a serious…"
description: "\"“The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.”\" — Michel Templet"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg"
---

#  The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they…

![“The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.” quote by Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg)

> ““The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.””

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Church focuses too much on numbers, neglecting deeper spiritual engagement.

**In simple terms:** Church values attendance over meaning.

Key Takeaway

Balance quantity with quality of worship.

Themes

religion attendance spirituality

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analysis commentary

When to use this quote

- church growth strategies
- faith outreach
- membership drives

Key Concepts

institutional priorities community engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- What measures truly reflect a vibrant community?
- How can churches foster deeper connections?

A Different Perspective

Numbers can mislead about true faith health.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-church/) [Catholicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholicism/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/wherever-the-bishop-shall-appear-there-let-the-multitude-also-be-even/)

[Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/)

> [“Bells and incense!” scoffs the Puritan, but God gave people ears and noses. Are those organs of perception too humble to bring into church?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gioia/bells-and-incense-scoffs-the-puritan-but-god-gave-people-ears-and/)

[Dana Gioia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gioia/)

> [When the problems in Northern Ireland started, it was not a question of Protestantism or Catholicism, because the Catholic church was the only church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harri-holkeri/when-the-problems-in-northern-ireland-started-it-was-not-a-question/)

[Harri Holkeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harri-holkeri/)

> [I wouldn't have known anything about Catholicism if I hadn't been dating Gert. In those days, Catholics were much less ecumenical than they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/i-wouldn-t-have-known-anything-about-catholicism-if-i-hadn-t-been/)

[Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/)

> [“It is most certainly not the function of the Holy See to introduce Church reforms. The first duty of the Pope is to act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-ferrara/it-is-most-certainly-not-the-function-of-the-holy-see-to-introduce/)

Christopher A. Ferrara

> [Judge the Catholic Church not by those who barely live by its spirit, but by the example of those who live closest to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/judge-the-catholic-church-not-by-those-who-barely-live-by-its-spirit/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [“One of the good things about a Catholic church is that it isn't respectable," she had told Richard. "You can find anyone in it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-godden/one-of-the-good-things-about-a-catholic-church-is-that-it-isn-t/)

[Rumer Godden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-godden/)

> [“Hence it's funny to read in the New York Times that liberal Catholic activists are pushing for a change in Church teaching on issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zmirak/hence-it-s-funny-to-read-in-the-new-york-times-that-liberal-catholic/)

John Zmirak

> [For how shall we fill people with blind faith in the correctness of a doctrine, if we ourselves spread uncertainty and doubt by constant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-how-shall-we-fill-people-with-blind-faith-in-the-correctness-of-a/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [“For indeed, the Church is divinely constituted and lives by her own right, not by privilege. Who ever would have granted her such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-veuillot/for-indeed-the-church-is-divinely-constituted-and-lives-by-her-own/)

[Louis Veuillot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-veuillot/)

> [Catholicism is more than a religion, it is a political power. Therefore I'm led to believe there will be no peace in Ireland until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/catholicism-is-more-than-a-religion-it-is-a-political-power-therefore/)

[Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/)

> [Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/such-then-in-number-and-importance-are-the-precious-ties-belonging-to/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/we-are-not-some-casual-and-meaningless-product-of-evolution-each-of/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [We have the means of evangelizing our country, but they are slumbering in the pews of our churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/we-have-the-means-of-evangelizing-our-country-but-they-are-slumbering/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [When will we realize that one of the greatest mission fields in the West is the pews of our churches every Sunday morning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/when-will-we-realize-that-one-of-the-greatest-mission-fields-in-the/)

[Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/)

## More by Michel Templet

> [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“To speak only one language is to do yourself a great injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/to-speak-only-one-language-is-to-do-yourself-a-great-injustice/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“There is no such thing as a victimless crime, and people should be allowed to do as they please with their own bodies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-victimless-crime-and-people-should-be/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Presidents are not elected anymore; they are hired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/presidents-are-not-elected-anymore-they-are-hired/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“We have a problem when the same people who make the law get to decide whether or not they themselves have broken the law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/we-have-a-problem-when-the-same-people-who-make-the-law-get-to-decide/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“I find it significant that most military veterans become pacifists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/i-find-it-significant-that-most-military-veterans-become-pacifists/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“We live in a nation where education and free thought are tantamount to treason, and I have to ask, under these circumstances, is treason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/we-live-in-a-nation-where-education-and-free-thought-are-tantamount/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Patriotism is racism for the modern era.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/patriotism-is-racism-for-the-modern-era/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Obama's plan for "change": Let's do everything Bush did, only with more suck! Because it just didn't suck badly enough the first time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/obama-s-plan-for-change-let-s-do-everything-bush-did-only-with-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Always remember, if you have been diagnosed with PTSD, it is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is proof of your strength, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/always-remember-if-you-have-been-diagnosed-with-ptsd-it-is-not-a-sign/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Why am I a socialist? Simple: Because I believe in freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/why-am-i-a-socialist-simple-because-i-believe-in-freedom/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“On 11 September 2001, a bunch of Saudis killed almost 3000 US civilians, which led to the construction of a monument in New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/on-11-september-2001-a-bunch-of-saudis-killed-almost-3000-us/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Is it morally acceptable to murder one hundred innocent people in the process of catching a serial killer who has murdered ten people? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/is-it-morally-acceptable-to-murder-one-hundred-innocent-people-in-the/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Barack Obama is an even worse president than George W. Bush, because an evil bastard who knows what he's doing is far more dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/barack-obama-is-an-even-worse-president-than-george-w-bush-because-an/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Presenting a rational argument to a person who has forsaken the use of reason is like asking a vegetarian to eat a cheeseburger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/presenting-a-rational-argument-to-a-person-who-has-forsaken-the-use/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

[Explore all 57 Michel Templet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

## More Catholic quotes

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/)

[Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/)

> [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

> [I'm the daughter of a Kenyan Catholic father and a Mauritian Hindu mother, and I have a Jewish husband who was born in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-kenyan-catholic-father-and-a-mauritian-hindu/)

[Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/)

> [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/)

[Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/)

> [I grew up with a religious background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-grew-up-with-a-religious-background/)

[Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/)

> [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/)

[Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/)

> [“Even at the tender age of twelve, when I knelt in front of the bishop for my confirmation, I had the sneaking suspicion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-edwards/even-at-the-tender-age-of-twelve-when-i-knelt-in-front-of-the-bishop/)

Megan Edwards

> [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/)

[Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/)

> [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/)

[Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/)

> [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/)

[John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/)

> [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/)

[Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/)

> [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/)

[Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/)

> [You can never completely get it - being a Christian - but I think I really got it when my first son was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/you-can-never-completely-get-it-being-a-christian-but-i-think-i/)

[Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/)

[Browse all 4,027 Catholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michel Templet"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mistake-when-they-started-caring/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Catholic"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mistake-when-they-started-caring/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/201/michel-templet-11969_catholicism_the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mista_1476922.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.” — Michel Templet",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michel Templet",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The Catholic Church made a serious...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mistake-when-they-started-caring/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mistake-when-they-started-caring/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
