Catholicism steepest declining religion in US, Nones fastest growing

[phil19034]

I didn’t quite know where to post this since it’s not exactly hot off the press news (article came out over 10 months ago). And we’ve all seen the basic report it highlights from Pew about the growing number of “Nones” in the US (those that lack any organized religion that they’re a member of (either a-religious or religious individuals). But tucked away in the report was something I hadn’t seen discussed in the many discussions about it since the report was first reported on, and that’s that Pew found that the Catholic Church is actually the steepest declining Christian group in the US.

So much so that for every 1 new member the Catholic Church is converting, it’s losing 6.5 members. This is the highest convert to loss ratio among any of the major religious categories in the US. Nones by comparison are gaining 4.2 “members” for every 1 they lose. Evangelical and Mainline Protestants sit in between with 1.2+/1- and 1+/1.7- ratio respectively. As a total the RCC has lost 3 million members in the 7 years between 2007 (54.3 million Catholics) and 2014 (when the report concludes with 50.9 million Catholics) and now accounts for only 20% of the population in the US population. Nones meanwhile have expanded to include 23% of the US. Only Evangelical Protestants as a group still outnumber the Nones as a group.

cruxnow.com/church/2015/05/12/pew-survey-percentage-of-us-catholics-drops-and-catholicism-is-losing-members-faster-than-any-denomination/

The problem in the United States is that Catholicism has ALWAYS been anti-cultural in America. In the mid 19th Century though the later part of the 20th Century the heresy of Americanism reigned. And it still does among many, if not most, Catholic colleges in the US.

Americanism is the idea that American Catholics need to assimilate into America’s mainstream Protestant culture. After Vatican II, Americanists promoted the end of Catholics things like Legion of Mary, suppression of the Rosary, elimination of Catholic Art in churches, elimination of Catholic Bowling Leagues, and other Catholic only social events, etc.

One of the biggest Americanist actions was John F. Kennedy creating the Democratic “dogma” that Catholics need to check their religion at the door.

The lose of Catholic Culture has lead to many Catholics having an identity crises, and becoming totally uneducated in the faith.

I even witnessed the Americanism heresy today during the Villanova University national championship parade in Philadelphia… The University President (an Augustinian Priest) didn’t mention God at all during his brief remarks. However, thank God, that coach Jay Wright thanked God as the first thing he did.

Right now, our “Catholic colleges” (plus many Catholic schools too) are doing MAJOR damage to the faithful and not fortifying our kids who go there.

 

[TK421]

I care very little about these statistics. There is roughly just as much regular involvement in churches (covering all groups) as there was in the 80s. Previously apathetic and uninvolved Christians have transitioned into Nones, which is still unfortunate, but rather than playing the numbers game, you need to look at the vibrancy of what you have. Older members need to ask: how do parishes and public worship compare now to the 70s. In what ways are they better or worse.

 

[carefullytread]

For an even scarier observation, read this article by Leah Libresco, an atheist turned Catholic blogger.

She notes that with the equilibrium fraction of the population for the Catholic Church in the United States is about 6% of the population down from the ~21% that it is now.

 

[Tommy999]

As others have indicated, the unfortunate trend seems to be a younger generation with no religious affiliation at all or who are governed primarily by secularism and political correctness, which leads to moral relativism, in my opinion.

Along with Catholicism, many traditional protestant denominations are losing members. Although there are exceptions, more and more churches tend to have a majority of older members and less younger folks.

The only main group which seems to be adding more attendees than they lose are the mega-church non-denominational churches of the Joel Osteen variety who like to tickle the ears of their followers. Although those churches do a good job of attracting members, they do not have much staying power and their followers tend to come and go and do not appear to be very committed overall, from what I can tell. It is refreshing to be on CAF where Catholics and others tend to take their faith more seriously.

Note: I am encouraged to see that Africa and other places in the world the number of Christians is growing a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more African-based missionaries come to the USA instead of the other way around in the years to come.

 

[adawgj]

Wars, if they are just wars, always cause a revival in conservative values.

Since when? The Republicans lost the presidential election in 1992, even though the US and the coalition won the Persian Gulf war. Primarily because of the little recession that occurred short after.

The Republicans failed to win the presidential election in 2008, because of the Great Recession, and the fact that the war in Iraq was still going on, even though then President Bush declared “victory” in 2003.

I understand that you said “just wars”, besides World War II when was that last time we ever had a just war.

 

[opulumpu]

A conservative victory in the Presidential election would be the first step for a religious revival in America.

I beg to disagree. How much religious revival did we have within the 12 years of conservatism between Reagan and Bush Senior. I do not see a correlation. Secularism will keep marching on so long as there are no wars or major major cataclismic events that will jolt people into accepting the existence of our Creator, regardless of whether a conservative or liberal government is elected into office.

The problem as I see it is that, generally, we Catholics do not understand or make sufficient effort to understand and defend/explain our faith. Compared to other christian denominations, it is not easy being a Catholic, what with mandatory going to confession, holidays of obligation etc etc. It is very tempting and easy for a lukeworm catholic to join a protestant group because it is more convenient but not because the group offers something better.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I am 28 years old, and very Catholic. I think we need better grounding in philosophy. I find the people that reject religion reject it, not because they don’t believe, but because they don’t know why to believe. Atheists and agnostic arguments are unconvincing to me, as a believer, but I was never a complete unbeliever (hence why I sometimes call myself a former agnostic, but never a former atheist). I think we, as Catholics, need to stop politicizing everything. We need to stand up for both traditional marriage and the rights of the poor. We need to stand up for those that don’t have clean drinking water and against those that think abortion is right. We are not left, we are not right. We are Catholic. Our Christianity should come before any political party.

 

[roseofshannon]

Okay, serious question here.

If the Catholic Church is losing members like these numbers indicate, why does the Church continue with the tradition of only accepting converts one day per year? I mean, if someone wants to become a Baptist, he can go to a Baptist church on any Sunday, say he wants to convert, and voila–he’s a Baptist. If someone decides today that he wants to become a Catholic, his next opportunity is April, 2017. That doesn’t sound like a very welcoming faith to many people. I’m all for an RCIA program so people learn about what they are joining, but why not do it throughout the year?

(There is nothing in the New Testament where Jesus commanded the apostles to preach the Good News throughout the world, but only accept people into the Body of the Church on one day per year.) “Go forth and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” was commanded without limitations of timing.

I understand the frustration of waiting, but it’s kind of like preparing for marriage. It’s not something to be rushed into.

Also, if people were allowed to rush into it, there would probably be many who would later say, “I didn’t realize what I was getting into. No one told me the full story.”

 

[St_Francis]

This article explains how a former missionary helps refugee children maintain their faith. I really liked what she is doing and how she explains it to the children. I think we also need more help learning to integrate our faith into our lives.

Until WW2, Catholics tended to live very close to their parishes, creating little Catholic “zones.” After the war, so many people moved out to the suburbs and everyone was all mixed together. Catholics couldn’t walk to the church as they had before, so the parish became less central.

I think we need to re-institute some of what used to occur naturally. I’d love to see meetings at the parish hall–not just single and teen get-together a, but more organized around a theme than an age, iyswim,so Catholics could get together and learn and also meet each other.

 

[Padres1969]

Here are the percentages for every five years:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_religious_demographics_of_the_United_States

It gives a little different perspective.

Not really. Gallup numbers are very similar with Catholicism down and none up. And mind you Gallup tracks self identification, not necessarily the real numbers.

 

[johnnyc176]

Compared to other christian denominations, it is not easy being a Catholic, what with mandatory going to confession, holidays of obligation etc etc. It is very tempting and easy for a lukeworm catholic to join a protestant group because it is more convenient but not because the group offers something better.

It is perceived to be difficult to being Catholic because we follow Jesus in a world that follows mammon. There is nothing difficult about partaking of the Sacraments that Jesus gave us or following the command of Jesus to attend Mass. People that find the teachings of Jesus difficult need to realize the difficulty is in them not in Jesus. But I agree that protestantism is where you can make up your own Jesus to suit you because there you are your own authority. Very attractive in this individualistic society.

 

[Petaro]

I would not worry about the Catholic Church in America. There are as many good solid American Catholics as there are in most Western countries. Look at the faith in Europe. Where I live, Australia, secularism is at the peak of its influence with the Church fighting the scandal of sexual perversion throughout its ranks of teaching orders and the priesthood. We cannot expect an increase in numbers when the world has been given such an armory against the Church from the very Church itself.

Religion in America is on the decline across the board, along with its economy, foreign policy, farcical politics and a massive increase in the working poor. Its decline as a nation, exacerbated by any future war will bring the population back to religion, if not the Catholic faith itself.
The future of the Church is in Africa and Asia and South America, not in the West, invaded and in decline for decades.
A smaller Church may be a better church and seeing the lukewarm being spewed from the mouth of the Lord may be the emetic we need for those at the buffet rather than the feast.

 

[carefullytread]

Here are the percentages for every five years:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_religious_demographics_of_the_United_States

It gives a little different perspective.

The reason that it looks like the Catholic share of the population is steady is because of the large influx of immigrants from Latin America. Something like 50% of all immigrants to the United States are Catholic.

However, after one or two generations in the United States, Hispanics start to lose the Catholic faith just like everyone else.

The stats I’ve read is that Catholicism has about a 70% retention rate. Half of Catholics leave the faith at some point, but of those, a good fraction return. That’s not bad compared to other Christian faiths.

However, Catholicism has a very low conversation rate. That’s why its equilibrium share of the population is so much lower than the 21% that it currently is. But, it’s been getting a big boost from Hispanic immigration. Similar, actually, to the Catholic population in the UK. I understand that they face similar problems, but Polish immigration is reliably Catholic for the first generation.

 

[Wannano]

The reason that it looks like the Catholic share of the population is steady is because of the large influx of immigrants from Latin America. Something like 50% of all immigrants to the United States are Catholic.

However, after one or two generations in the United States, Hispanics start to lose the Catholic faith just like everyone else.

The stats I’ve read is that Catholicism has about a 70% retention rate. Half of Catholics leave the faith at some point, but of those, a good fraction return. That’s not bad compared to other Christian faiths.

However, Catholicism has a very low conversation rate. That’s why its equilibrium share of the population is so much lower than the 21% that it currently is. But, it’s been getting a big boost from Hispanic immigration. Similar, actually, to the Catholic population in the UK. I understand that they face similar problems, but Polish immigration is reliably Catholic for the first generation.

Please explain what a conversation rate is…

 

[Pulvis]

Just a couple thoughts:
When Catholics started to contracept cradle Catholics fell off greatly, mirroring the replacement numbers of the general population.

Without starting another argument, the reforms of Vatican Council II, both the actual ones and the "spirit of Vatican II " disasters weakened the Church. The relativism that many roads lead to God accounted for many who left the Church for protestant denominations.

The big elephant in the room is the inundating psychological assault by media against God and His Church. The Church has failed at combating satan and his demons as they stole our childrens hearts and minds.

 

[carefullytread]

Please explain what a conversation rate is…

The conversation rate concerns people who aren’t Catholics who become Catholics. The article referenced by OP indicates that there’s alarge imbalance in Catholics leaving versus non-Catholics joining the Church.

What I recall (though again without a source, this is just my memory) is that for the entire US population, about 2% are Catholic converts but something like 11% are former-Catholics. And this is with 21% being Catholic in total.

I also just noticed that this article indicates only 38% of immigrants are Catholic. I had read somewhere else was more like 50%, but I don’t have source at my finger tips and it might have been wrong. Either way, immigrants are much more Catholic than the underlying population.

 

[carefullytread]

Religion in America is on the decline across the board, along with its economy, foreign policy, farcical politics and a massive increase in the working poor. Its decline as a nation, exacerbated by any future war will bring the population back to religion, if not the Catholic faith itself.
The future of the Church is in Africa and Asia and South America, not in the West, invaded and in decline for decades.

I have to remind triumphant secularists of this all the time. They are happy that Christianity is shrinking. And they’re right in the West. But globally, it’s anything but that. Christianity generally and Catholicism in particular have a bright future of growth in Asia and Africa such as no one in the West can remember here.

In South America, it’s a mixed bag in that Catholicism is shrinking as a share of the population, but it will remain for the foreseeable future rather Catholic in a way the West is not. For Evangelicals, it’s ascendency there too though.

But in Africa and Asia, it’s pure growth.

 

[commenter]

The categories of non Catholic Christians are very open to doubt.* Why should there be a* Historically Black category at all? That lumps together groups ranging from Mainline to everything else, positions that are very different, often opposed.

The category for Evangelicals is also questionable. There are Baptist conventions that support legal abortion and gay marriage. Are they listed as Evangelical because they are Baptist, or mainline because they are liberal?

Non denominationals should really be a separate category. It seems ludicrous to lump together LCMS Christians and fundamentalists, who have very firm but different ideas about doctrine, with people who like to attend the mega churches, with almost no doctrine. Mormons and JW’s would be much more identifiable as evangelicals than the non denoms.

 

[CatholicSheila]

If the Catholic Church is losing members like these numbers indicate, why does the Church continue with the tradition of only accepting converts one day per year? I mean, if someone wants to become a Baptist, he can go to a Baptist church on any Sunday, say he wants to convert, and voila–he’s a Baptist. If someone decides today that he wants to become a Catholic, his next opportunity is April, 2017. That doesn’t sound like a very welcoming faith to many people. I’m all for an RCIA program so people learn about what they are joining, but why not do it throughout the year?

Ignoring the fact that it is possible to be welcomed into the Church outside of the Easter vigil, if someone can’t wait 12 months or less to come into the Church officially I’d question whether they had a good enough understanding of who the Church is and what she stands for to make such a decision.

We don’t want quick converts doing it on a whim. We want genuine converts. I am very glad I wasn’t allowed to join the Church the day I first asked. Having to wait 9 months meant that by the time I did it I really did understand what I was doing and what it meant.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

A conservative victory in the Presidential election would be the first step for a religious revival in America.

How about that.

I think history has shown that politicians woo the Christian vote but when it comes down to Christian progress it falls short of anything like real progress. George W. Bush did this incredibly well.