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On the back page of its official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican published on Monday new statistics revealing that between 2005 and 2006 the number “members of the consecrated life” fell by just over 10%.
The number of members, predominantly women, some engaged only in constant prayer, others working as teachers, health workers and missionaries, fell 94,790 to 945,210.
Pope Benedict at the Vatican (2 February 2008)
The membership of the Roman Catholic Church has risen to 1.1bn
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7227629.stmOf the total, 753,400 members were women, while 191,810 were men, including 136,171 priests and 532 permanent deacons.