Does the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae factor in ex-Catholics?

[Mike_from_NJ]

Hello,

How does the Catholic Church determine the number of Catholics in both the United States as well as the world? Does Omnium in mentem, which removes the process by which one can formally defect from the Church mean that the totals given in the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae include those who are practicing a non-Catholic Christian faith, a non-Christian faith, or no faith at all?

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

The *Annuarium *gives the total number of Catholics in the world by region. Anyone baptized Catholic is considered a Catholic. They are counted as Catholic even if they are not going to Mass or are attending a non-Catholic community. This is the same as counting a blood relative as a member of your family even if they “disown” their family, once a member of the family you are always a member of the family.

Given how few people actually followed the process to formally defect prior to Omnium in mentem it wouldn’t appear that the change would have much of an impact on the overall numbers.