Rachel Evans
Catholicism is one of the world's largest religions, but it has been losing followers at a rapid rate in recent years. Despite this, many people are still converting to Catholicism, and they tend to be more active in the church than those who were raised in the faith. While some Catholics feel an urge to convert as many people as possible, others worry that this approach could be too forceful or disrespectful to non-believers. The Catholic Church still honours Christ's Great Commission, which states that people should make disciples of all nations and baptize them. However, the Church rejects proselytism, or forced conversion, and instead focuses on inspiring others through service and leaving the choice of conversion up to individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| People converting to Catholicism | 30,000 per year |
| Reasons for conversion | Marriage, pride in the faith, missionary work, intellectual depth, etc. |
| Former Catholics | 6 former Catholics for every convert to Catholicism |
| Adult converts | 14% more likely to attend Mass monthly than other Catholics |
| Vatican II teaching | "All are called to belong to the new People of God" |
| Vatican II on proselytism | Rejected by Pope Francis |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage is a common reason for conversion
Catholics are encouraged to spread the word of their religion and inspire others to join the Church, but the decision to convert is left to the individual. The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a natural right, and that human beings can marry regardless of their religious beliefs. Therefore, a Catholic marriage is not invalidated if one spouse converts to a different religion or loses their faith.
However, the Church does have specific rules regarding marriage and conversion. For example, the Church does not consider a second marriage after a divorce to be valid, even if one or both spouses convert to Catholicism. In this case, an annulment of the previous marriage would be required for the new marriage to be recognized by the Church.
Additionally, while the Catholic Church recognizes marriages between two non-Christians or between a Catholic and a non-Christian, these are not considered sacramental. In these cases, the Catholic spouse must seek permission from their bishop for the marriage to occur, which is known as "dispensation from disparity of cult."
Finally, adult converts to Catholicism tend to be more active in the Church than those who enter as children or youths. They are more likely to attend Mass and go to confession, register with a Parish, and express pride in their faith.
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Adult converts are more active in the Church
While the Catholic Church has been losing followers to atheism, agnosticism, or other religions, it still attracts about 30,000 converts annually in the U.S. alone. Globally, a growing number of adults, mostly young adults, are joining the Church.
Adult converts to Catholicism are more likely to be active in the Church than those who enter in infancy or youth. A recent poll found that adult converts are 14% more likely to attend Mass at least once a month, twice as likely to go to confession at least annually, and 25% more likely to register with a Parish. They also tend to have more pride in their faith than non-adult converts.
There are several reasons why adults are converting to Catholicism. Marriage is one of the most common reasons, as people may wish to share the same faith as their spouse. It is not uncommon for nondenominational Christians, agnostics, and even atheists to convert before marrying a devout Catholic. The power of beauty in rituals and the ancient history of the Catholic Mass also prompts conversions. The intelligent and winsome online presentations of the Catholic faith by prominent figures such as Bishop Robert Barron also attract many young adults to the Church.
Some people are drawn to the Catholic Church's teachings on social issues such as abortion, and the Church's selfless and heroic work through its missionaries also inspires conversions. Additionally, as seen during the COVID pandemic, times of crisis tend to make people more religious, which may explain the surge in conversions during and after the pandemic.
While Catholics are encouraged to evangelize, they are warned against proselytizing. This means that while they should set an example for others and be ready to answer questions about their faith, they should avoid being too forceful or disrespectful to non-believers.
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Missionaries inspire through service, leaving conversion up to individuals
While some Catholics may feel the urge to bring as many people into their faith as possible, others are aware that this approach may be too aggressive or disrespectful to non-believers. The key distinction here is between evangelizing, which is considered good, and proselytizing, which is considered bad.
In the past, the Catholic Church taught that those who did not receive a Catholic baptism would be denied entrance into heaven. As such, 16th-century missionaries like Francis Xavier were primarily concerned with getting people baptized. However, theological understandings of the relationship between Catholics and members of other faiths have evolved over time. Today, Catholic missionaries preach the word in love and deed, inspiring others with their service and leaving the choice of conversion up to individuals.
Parishes are often asked to support missionaries in their missions of service, not conversion. Through their selfless and heroic work, missionaries attract people to the Church, and while they do hope to convert the world by their actions, they leave the decision of conversion to the individual. This approach is supported by Vatican II, which teaches that "All are called to belong to the new People of God".
While some Catholics may attempt to convert others through argumentation, this method is rarely successful. A more effective approach is to teach by example, inspiring others through service and leaving conversion up to the individual. This method is particularly effective with lapsed Catholics who are struggling to find their faith again.
Missionaries may face various challenges during their time in the field, including political instability, family crises, team conflict, moral failure, or burnout. Upon returning home, they may experience a range of emotions and require support from their church communities to process their experiences and adjust to their new normal. Despite these challenges, missionaries remain dedicated to serving God and look forward to seeing how He will continue to use them.
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The Church still honours Christ's Great Commission
The Catholic Church still honours Christ's Great Commission, as outlined in Matthew 28:19, to make disciples of all nations and baptise them. However, the Church's approach to conversion has evolved over time. While the Church still upholds the importance of sharing the Catholic faith with others, the focus is now on inspiring others through selfless service and leaving the choice of conversion to the individual. This approach is often referred to as “evangelising” rather than "proselytising", with the latter being seen as forceful and disrespectful to non-believers.
Historically, Catholic missionaries were primarily concerned with converting people to Catholicism, especially through baptism. For example, 16th-century missionaries like Francis Xavier were driven by the belief that only those baptised in the Catholic Church would be granted entrance into heaven. However, theological understandings have evolved, and the Church now recognises that salvation is possible for those who sincerely seek God, even if they are not Catholic.
Today, Catholic missionaries emphasise living and preaching the word through love and deeds. Their selfless and heroic work attracts people to the Church, and they aim to build up the people of God as guided by the Holy Spirit. This approach aligns with the Church's teachings on service and respect for human life.
While some Catholics may feel a strong urge to bring as many people into the faith as possible, it is recognised that this can be challenging and may not always be practical. Instead of relying solely on argumentation, which has minimal odds of success, effective ways to inspire conversion include leading by example and accompanying individuals on their spiritual journeys.
Despite the decline in Catholicism in recent years, people from various backgrounds continue to convert. A 2018 study identified three main types of converts: those who convert due to marriage, those from other Christian denominations, and those from non-religious backgrounds. Adult converts tend to be more active in the Church, with higher rates of Mass attendance, confession, and Parish registration. They also tend to exhibit greater pride in their faith.
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More former Catholics than converts in the US
Catholicism has experienced the greatest net losses due to religious switching in the US. Nearly a third of all US adults (31.7%) were raised Catholic, and most of them continue to identify as Catholics today. However, nearly 13% of all Americans are former Catholics, meaning that there are more than six former Catholics for every convert to Catholicism. This is partly due to the perception of the Catholic Church as having "backwards beliefs, corrupt leadership and strict rules".
Despite these losses, people continue to convert to Catholicism, and they are proud of their decision to do so. A 2018 study identified three types of people who are converting to Catholicism across the nation. Marriage is one of the most common reasons for conversion, as many people wish to share the same faith as their spouse. It is common for nondenominational Christians, agnostics, and even atheists to convert before marrying a devout Catholic. Other reasons for conversion include a sense of alignment with Catholic values and intellectual curiosity about the Catholic tradition.
Converts to Catholicism are more likely to be active in the church than those who enter in infancy or youth. They are more likely to attend Mass and go to confession at least once a year, and they are also more likely to receive Communion every time they attend Mass. They are also more likely to be Republican and conservative than cradle Catholics.
Catholics do hope to convert others by their actions, but their focus is on inspiring others with their service and then leaving the choice of conversion up to individuals. This approach is in line with the Catholic concept of "evangelizing" (good) rather than "proselytizing" (bad).
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Frequently asked questions
While the Catholic Church still honours Christ's Great Commission to make disciples of all nations and baptize them, the Church rejects proselytism or forced conversion. Catholics are encouraged to inspire others through their actions and leave the choice of conversion up to individuals.
Marriage is one of the most common reasons for conversion, as people may wish to share the same faith as their spouse. A 2018 study also identified two other types of people who are converting to Catholicism.
While Catholicism loses the most followers of any traditional religion in the U.S. annually, it still sees about 30,000 converts. There are more than six former Catholics for every convert to Catholicism.
Yes, adult converts are more likely to be active in the Church than those who enter in infancy or youth. They are more likely to attend Mass, go to confession, and register with a Parish.
People may leave Catholicism due to its sometimes backward beliefs, corrupt leadership, and strict rules.
