Gallup Poll: U.S. Catholic Hispanic population becoming less religious and shrinking

[Arizona_Mike]

PRINCETON, NJ – Although the majority of Hispanics in the U.S. are Catholic, the smaller group of Hispanics who are Protestant are significantly more likely to be very religious (60%) than those who are Catholic (43%).

This analysis is based on more than 360,000 Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted from January 2012 through January 2013, including 28,607 interviews with Hispanics. The religious characteristics of Catholics, including those in the United States, are of particular interest as the election of a new Pope begins with the announced resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Overall, 40% of Americans nationwide are very religious based on respondents saying religion is an important part of their daily life and that they attend religious services every week or almost every week. Thirty-one percent of Americans are not religious, saying religion is not an important part of their daily life and that they seldom or never attend religious services. The remaining 29% of Americans are moderately religious, saying religion is important in their lives but that they do not attend services regularly or that religion is not important but that they still attend services.

The substantial difference in the religiosity of Catholic and Protestant Hispanics is reflective of a pattern found in the U.S. population overall. Fifty-one percent of all Protestants, including those who identify themselves as Christian but not Catholic, are very religious, compared with 43% of all Catholics. But this eight-percentage-point gap among all Americans expands to 17 points among Hispanics, primarily because Hispanic Protestants are significantly more religious than all Protestants in the U.S. Hispanic Catholics, on the other hand, are no more religious than the general Catholic population.

Protestant-Catholic Gap in Religiousness Evident Among Hispanics of All Ages

The religiousness gap between Protestant and Catholic Hispanics is evident across all age groups. The percentage of 18- to 29-year-old Hispanic Protestants who are very religious is 19 points higher than Catholic Hispanics of the same age. Among Hispanics who are 65 and older, the Protestant-Catholic gap is 12 points.

Overall, the finding that younger Hispanics are proportionately more Protestant and that all Hispanics are becoming proportionately more Protestant over time suggest that the percentage of Hispanics who are Catholic may continue to slip in the years to come. As noted, this will be particularly true if today’s young Hispanics maintain their proportionally higher Protestant identification.

Implications

A majority of Hispanics in America continue to identify as Catholic, although the Catholic percentage among Hispanics appears to be decreasing and the youngest Hispanics in America today are less likely to be Catholic than those who are older. Additionally, those Hispanics who are Catholic are much less religious than those who are Protestant.

The percentage of Hispanics who are Protestant is, on the other hand, consistent across age groups and has been stable since 2008.

These patterns suggest the potential for an increase in the relative or proportionate number of Protestant Hispanics in the years ahead. If this does happen, and given that Protestant Hispanics are considerably more religious than Catholic Hispanics, this could lead to a higher average level of Hispanic religiosity in future years.

More here: gallup.com/poll/160691/catholic-hispanic-population-less-religious-shrinking.aspx

 

[torch621]

Would this be one explanation of why so many are voting for liberal Democrats, who have shown themselves to be no friend of religion?

 

[YoungTradCath]

We are failing

failing

failing

failing

failing.

Why? Let’s stop it now, not wait another 200 years deliberating about it.

 

[Cojuanco]

Would this be one explanation of why so many are voting for liberal Democrats, who have shown themselves to be no friend of religion?

One explanation, sure, but not it entirely.

For better or worse, the Republicans are percieved as the party of the English-speaking elite, with what the media coverage of people like Brewer and Arpaio (this largely started with Pete Wilson in the 90s). The Democrats portray themselves as the blue collar party, and most Hispanophones are blue collar. As a Republican myself, with the sort of hostility some prominent conservative have treated Spanish speakers in the past - even Catholics like Santorum - it’s understandable that they choose what seems to them the lesser of two evils.

 

[Lisa1967]

PRINCETON, NJ – Although the majority of Hispanics in the U.S. are Catholic, the smaller group of Hispanics who are Protestant are significantly more likely to be very religious (60%) than those who are Catholic (43%).

This analysis is based on more than 360,000 Gallup Daily tracking interviews conducted from January 2012 through January 2013, including 28,607 interviews with Hispanics. The religious characteristics of Catholics, including those in the United States, are of particular interest as the election of a new Pope begins with the announced resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Overall, 40% of Americans nationwide are very religious based on respondents saying religion is an important part of their daily life and that they attend religious services every week or almost every week. Thirty-one percent of Americans are not religious, saying religion is not an important part of their daily life and that they seldom or never attend religious services. The remaining 29% of Americans are moderately religious, saying religion is important in their lives but that they do not attend services regularly or that religion is not important but that they still attend services.

The substantial difference in the religiosity of Catholic and Protestant Hispanics is reflective of a pattern found in the U.S. population overall. Fifty-one percent of all Protestants, including those who identify themselves as Christian but not Catholic, are very religious, compared with 43% of all Catholics. But this eight-percentage-point gap among all Americans expands to 17 points among Hispanics, primarily because Hispanic Protestants are significantly more religious than all Protestants in the U.S. Hispanic Catholics, on the other hand, are no more religious than the general Catholic population.

Protestant-Catholic Gap in Religiousness Evident Among Hispanics of All Ages

The religiousness gap between Protestant and Catholic Hispanics is evident across all age groups. The percentage of 18- to 29-year-old Hispanic Protestants who are very religious is 19 points higher than Catholic Hispanics of the same age. Among Hispanics who are 65 and older, the Protestant-Catholic gap is 12 points.

Overall, the finding that younger Hispanics are proportionately more Protestant and that all Hispanics are becoming proportionately more Protestant over time suggest that the percentage of Hispanics who are Catholic may continue to slip in the years to come. As noted, this will be particularly true if today’s young Hispanics maintain their proportionally higher Protestant identification.

Implications

A majority of Hispanics in America continue to identify as Catholic, although the Catholic percentage among Hispanics appears to be decreasing and the youngest Hispanics in America today are less likely to be Catholic than those who are older. Additionally, those Hispanics who are Catholic are much less religious than those who are Protestant.

The percentage of Hispanics who are Protestant is, on the other hand, consistent across age groups and has been stable since 2008.

These patterns suggest the potential for an increase in the relative or proportionate number of Protestant Hispanics in the years ahead. If this does happen, and given that Protestant Hispanics are considerably more religious than Catholic Hispanics, this could lead to a higher average level of Hispanic religiosity in future years.

More here: gallup.com/poll/160691/catholic-hispanic-population-less-religious-shrinking.aspx

This doesn’t surprise me. I have lived in 5 different states and in each one I have found that many Protestant churches are reaching out to Hispanics.

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

Would this be one explanation of why so many are voting for liberal Democrats, who have shown themselves to be no friend of religion?

There is also the fact that some elements of the Republican Party are in fact quite racist against Hispanics.

 

[Cojuanco]

There is also the fact that some elements of the Republican Party are in fact quite racist against Hispanics.

This. Even from people who ought to know better.

 

[LisaA]

One explanation, sure, but not it entirely.

For better or worse, the Republicans are percieved as the party of the English-speaking elite, with what the media coverage of people like Brewer and Arpaio (this largely started with Pete Wilson in the 90s). The Democrats portray themselves as the blue collar party, and most Hispanophones are blue collar. As a Republican myself, with the sort of hostility some prominent conservative have treated Spanish speakers in the past - even Catholics like Santorum - it’s understandable that they choose what seems to them the lesser of two evils.

You know I think this has nothing to do with politics and a lot to do with the more aggressive evangelizing by Evangelicals. These Hispanic Protestants are NOT Methodists and Presbyterians. They are Evangelicals, Baptists, Foursquare or join other Bible based local churches.

Catholics are NOT very good at spreading the Good Word. As a Convert I can assure you I had not idea one could actually become a Catholic unless you married one! OTOH the large evangelical megachurches are out in the neighborhoods, offering picnics and other family events. They have strong women’s ministries, men’s groups, family support.

To an outsider, particularly someone with a language barrier, the Church can seem somewhat forbidding and intimidating. What if I don’t know the Creed? When to stand, when to kneel? I really WANTED to become Catholic so I went for it, but it’s a lot easier to walk into the Foursquare Church where they have a lot of happy clappy praise music and a great youth group.

Lisa

 

[mburn16]

One explanation, sure, but not it entirely.

For better or worse, the Republicans are percieved as the party of the English-speaking elite, with what the media coverage of people like Brewer and Arpaio (this largely started with Pete Wilson in the 90s). The Democrats portray themselves as the blue collar party, and most Hispanophones are blue collar. As a Republican myself, with the sort of hostility some prominent conservative have treated Spanish speakers in the past - even Catholics like Santorum - it’s understandable that they choose what seems to them the lesser of two evils.

“English-speaking elite”? More like the 85% of this country who Speak English as their primary language, who do not appreciate the large and sudden influx of people who either cannot or do not care to learn the language of everyday communication with the rest of the population. It isn’t about an “english-speaking elite” that intentionally subjugates the helpless native population through no fault of their own, its about preserving a common method of communication in the country - a method of communication that happens to trace directly back to our founding, all of our national documents, and almost every major cultural work in the United States.

Expecting that people who want to live here should learn the language is not a racist belief. Wouldn’t you expect to need to learn Japanese, or French, or Russian if you went to live in a country where one of those was the predominant (and almost exclusive) language spoken? Why should we expect any different here? And yet a higher percentage of American Latinos think its important that future generations speak Spanish than speak English. If you want to know why there is such a backlash against Latinos from so many on the right, there is your answer. They don’t sense any willingness to assimilate or adopt American ways.

No, the reason Latinos/Hispanics in the USA vote for the Democratic party is, largely, an economic issue. It isn’t, contrary to what some say, mainly about immigration or amnesty (if you still doubt me, consider that Bush, who supported Amnesty, and Reagan, who granted Amnesty, both lost the Hispanic vote as well)…the fact is that Democrats in the United States are all too happy to continue to raise taxes higher and higher on a smaller and smaller group of income earners, and then use this to establish all sorts of programs to give free ____________. Add to it that the majority of US Latinos are in a lower education and income bracket, and you have your answer.

The reason the RCC is losing ground is simple: it (forgive me) sucks at evangelizing. The majority of my friends are evangelical protestants. The nondenominational/low church/blue jeans to rock-band praise and worship service types. Many times these friends of mine (who are all in their early 20s as I am) can talk of nothing but how good God is, and how much they love him, and how much they have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ”, and about how they are “saved”, and about how much they can’t wait to be able to get out and talk more people into becoming like they are. How often do you see that from Catholic youth? Even devout youth? Our form of worship, and our relatively confined efforts at evangelizing, have seriously dented our ability to win new members in a mass-marketing age.

 

[BroomWagon]

Hispanics to an extent have long been Democrats, however, I have heard that among elected office holders, there are more elected Hispanic Republicans. In ways I doubt this but then again, check out the Governor of New Mexico, the Senators from Texas and Florida. Where are the prominent Hispanic Democrat Politicians? That mayor of LA and who else?? New Jersey’s Senator who may not be in office much longer.

 

[Lisa1967]

You know I think this has nothing to do with politics and a lot to do with the more aggressive evangelizing by Evangelicals. These Hispanic Protestants are NOT Methodists and Presbyterians. They are Evangelicals, Baptists, Foursquare or join other Bible based local churches.

Catholics are NOT very good at spreading the Good Word. As a Convert I can assure you I had not idea one could actually become a Catholic unless you married one! OTOH the large evangelical megachurches are out in the neighborhoods, offering picnics and other family events. They have strong women’s ministries, men’s groups, family support.

To an outsider, particularly someone with a language barrier, the Church can seem somewhat forbidding and intimidating. What if I don’t know the Creed? When to stand, when to kneel? I really WANTED to become Catholic so I went for it, but it’s a lot easier to walk into the Foursquare Church where they have a lot of happy clappy praise music and a great youth group.

Lisa

Well said, Lisa. A friend of mine goes to Willow Creek, a well known megachurch in Chicago. They have quite a few ministries for people in all sorts of need, and I wouldn’t be suprised if they also had ministries to Hispanics.

I do know of a Catholic church in my city, not too far from my place, which does a lot of social justice work. They reach out to Hispanics, offering Confession in Spanish, having a director of Latino ministry, adopting a sister parish in Minneapolis which is racially diverse, etc. But the other 2 Catholic parishes I went to here didn’t have a specifically Hispanic outreach.

 

[Nimzovik]

There is also the fact that some elements of the Republican Party are in fact quite racist against Hispanics.

Oh Yes?.. Interesting that the obvious racism of the Democrats is never taken into account, like the Black Panther Polling booth scandal that Obama appointee Attorney General Eric Holder refused to prosecute and members of his staff quit in protest over. That gets a pass - doesn’t it?

See here: youtube.com/watch?v=qX4dcvIYk9A and here: youtube.com/watch?v=qzGsYAtl6HY

**Or the blatant sexism perpetrated by the Democratic base of Feminists. That too gets a pass…

 

[chero23]

As a hispanic from a hispanic city like Dallas, I can tell you from a very personal point of view of why Hispanics are becoming Protestants and/or atheist. Most Hispanics at one point or another have immigrated into this country whether legally or illegally, and a lot of them if not 100% of them came with a Catholic devotion. Unfortunately they got to the USA and they see how things vary and are different than their home countries. Were in a country were 33,000 Christian Denominations exist. A lot leave the Cjurcj bc the Catholic Church does not comply to their demands. They go to denominations that accept divorce, or say premarital sex is ok as long as you repent. Unfortunately many come to this country an try to Americanize themselves and forget about the traditions and history that their is back home. Many of us have seen how a person from a small town goes into a larger town and 90% of those individuals exploit themselves. They have more liberties and options. I think that is what happening to our ethinicity unfortunately.

My family is Mexican, and I know that and pray that God always keeps me a faithful Catholic. Having seen how our Virgin mother appeared to Juan Diego and presented herself in his cloth, I mean it speaks volumes. My girlfriend who is a Seventh Day Adventist says that in her hometown I forgot what year it was, but a volcano hit her hometown. The lava was spilling quickly into the city. Some faithful men put a statue of the Virgin Mary on a table outside hoping she helped. She said that were the table was placed with the Virgin Mary the lava stopped.

Our Church is truth, We were raised and taught to be Catholic, that should be something we take very serioulsy and with pride. A lot of our family members died in our home countries for the freedom our Church. Great example the Cristeros in Mexico. i just think its not our job but our obliglation to defend and fight for what our ancestors believed, cried, bled, and fought for when they fought for our Religion.

 

[Regina_Love]

Well said chero!

 

[Lisa1967]

As a hispanic from a hispanic city like Dallas, I can tell you from a very personal point of view of why Hispanics are becoming Protestants and/or atheist. Most Hispanics at one point or another have immigrated into this country whether legally or illegally, and a lot of them if not 100% of them came with a Catholic devotion. Unfortunately they got to the USA and they see how things vary and are different than their home countries. Were in a country were 33,000 Christian Denominations exist. A lot leave the Cjurcj bc the Catholic Church does not comply to their demands. They go to denominations that accept divorce, or say premarital sex is ok as long as you repent. Unfortunately many come to this country an try to Americanize themselves and forget about the traditions and history that their is back home. Many of us have seen how a person from a small town goes into a larger town and 90% of those individuals exploit themselves. They have more liberties and options. I think that is what happening to our ethinicity unfortunately.

My family is Mexican, and I know that and pray that God always keeps me a faithful Catholic. Having seen how our Virgin mother appeared to Juan Diego and presented herself in his cloth, I mean it speaks volumes. My girlfriend who is a Seventh Day Adventist says that in her hometown I forgot what year it was, but a volcano hit her hometown. The lava was spilling quickly into the city. Some faithful men put a statue of the Virgin Mary on a table outside hoping she helped. She said that were the table was placed with the Virgin Mary the lava stopped.

Our Church is truth, We were raised and taught to be Catholic, that should be something we take very serioulsy and with pride. A lot of our family members died in our home countries for the freedom our Church. Great example the Cristeros in Mexico. i just think its not our job but our obliglation to defend and fight for what our ancestors believed, cried, bled, and fought for when they fought for our Religion.

Thanks for sharing your personal experience with us.

 

[mburn16]

or say premarital sex is ok as long as you repent.

True. The Catholic Church has a marketing problem, but it also has a bit of a product problem. While the RCC is right in its teachings, it doesn’t take a very high IQ to see the appeal of a denomination that teaches that grace cannot be lost.

 

[mh2007]

This thread is very informative. especially mburn16’s comment regarding

“The nondenominational/low church/blue jeans to rock-band praise and worship service types. Many times these friends of mine (who are all in their early 20s as I am) can talk of nothing but how good God is, and how much they love him, and how much they have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ”, and about how they are “saved”, and about how much they can’t wait to be able to get out and talk more people into becoming like they are. How often do you see that from Catholic youth? Even devout youth? Our form of worship, and our relatively confined efforts at evangelizing, have seriously dented our ability to win new members in a mass-marketing age.”

Back in the early 1970’s, when Hippies were all the rage among the Baby Boomer generation, a popular group called ‘Jesus freaks’ emerged. They were a Christian subculture who embraced universal love and pacifism, relishing the radical nature of Jesus’ message. At the time, they were very appealing to many high school and college age students. Lots of Catholic kids were into the movement, because it was an outlet where they could find meaning, and support each other in their own prayerful way, and still identify with the Catholic faith - especially Mass and Holy Communion. I can remember going to Mass at the chapel in my high school one afternoon, and I was amazed that so many kids who were involved in this movement were attending Mass as a group. It was amazing. A big reason many kids embraced the concept was that they found acceptance from this group, whereas the popular kids who were the ‘in-crowd’ - football players, cheerleaders, the rich kids, etc. all had their ‘exclusive’ cliques and they were all very self-centered. Well, here I saw lots and lots of students who were never given a second thought by the popular few, but they all got together and founded a very valuable ‘club’ of their own. And they were open to anyone who wanted to be a part of their culture.

The Church needs to encourage this kind of formation. Supportive groups of like-minded youthful folks can be a very valuable part of the Church.

 

[ProVobis]

This doesn’t surprise me. I have lived in 5 different states and in each one I have found that many Protestant churches are reaching out to Hispanics.

The Vatican seems to have countered, though, encouraging more Spanish learning among the priests and ordered more Spanish Masses. I attend some of them myself.

 

[chero23]

True. The Catholic Church has a marketing problem, but it also has a bit of a product problem. While the RCC is right in its teachings, it doesn’t take a very high IQ to see the appeal of a denomination that teaches that grace cannot be lost.

The other day listening to a Spanish speaking apologetic from Puerto Rico, he said what made me see that the Catholic Church is right is when he came across the verse Galatians 1:9 but even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

St Paul was talking about people trying to start their faith and religion and he clearly states, follow us because we have been thought apostolic tradition.

 

[Elizabeth502]

For better or worse, the Republicans are percieved as the party of the English-speaking elite,…

Yes, Heaven forbid that any political party would dare to be English-speaking. How audaciously “elite.”