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Sleeping Church Needs “Wake-Up Call” – From Mormonism

Tonga and Niue Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, one of the many decorative cardinals produced by Pope Francis, has said in an interview with Catholic Outlook (February 28) that the spectacular growth of Mormonism in Tonga is a “wake-up call” for the Church.

The Cardinal’s diocese counts less than 15’000 Catholics which, in many countries, is the size of an average parish. Since the King’s younger son, Prince Ata converted to Mormonism from Methodism in 2005, Tonga Mormonism experienced a dramatic growth reaching 60% of the total population.

Pointing to the consistency of Mormon outreach, Mafi believes that the Church can learn something from the Mormons' “untiring door-to-door home visitations and their charitable offerings to struggling families and individuals.”

Catholic organizations in Tonga, like Caritas International or the St Vincent de Paul Society, assist the marginalized with necessities and environmental initiatives including planting trees along shorelines.

The suspicion is strong that the religious and spiritual input coming from these Catholic initiatives is marginal.

Picture: Soane Patita Paini Mafi, #newsKavvvfcrlw