Rachel Evans
Catholicism in Australia has been undergoing a period of change, with the percentage of Catholics in the country headed for an all-time low. The Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is the largest Christian denomination in the country. The number of Catholics in Australia is around 5 million, representing about 20% of the overall population. This marks a decrease from 2016, when 22.6% of respondents identified as Catholic. The Catholic community in Australia is shrinking and aging but also becoming more culturally, linguistically, and ritually diverse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Catholics in Australia | 5,075,910 (2021 census) or 5 million (2023 report) |
| Percentage of Total Population | 20% |
| Percentage of Catholics Aged 50 or Older | 40% |
| Number of Students in Catholic Schools | 760,000 (2016) or 794,000 (2022) |
| Percentage of Australian School Students in Catholic Schools | 20% |
| Number of Catholics Born Abroad in Non-English Speaking Countries | 1,369,744 |
| Percentage of Catholics Who Speak a Language Other Than English at Home | 21.5% |
| Number of Eastern Catholics | 77,393 or possibly higher |
| Number of Catholics Speaking Languages of Eastern Churches | 77,727 (Arabic), 34,237 (Assyrian/Chaldean), 38,288 (Malayalam), 2,967 (Ukrainian) |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Church in Australia: past and present
The Catholic Church in Australia has undergone significant changes over the years, both in terms of its structural organisation and its place in society. The church's history in the country dates back to early colonial times, when it was primarily a suppressed and largely Irish minority. Despite this early suppression, the Catholic Church in Australia gradually established itself, and by the 20th century, it had become the largest Christian denomination in the country.
One of the key figures in the development of the Catholic Church in Australia was Irish cleric Patrick Francis Moran, who became the Archbishop of Sydney in 1884 and the country's first cardinal the following year. Moran played a pivotal role in shaping the Church's structure in the ensuing decades, presiding over the Plenary Councils of Australasia in 1885, 1895, and 1905. During this period, the Church also established educational institutions, such as St Patrick's College, Manly, founded by Moran in 1889 to provide priests for all the colonies.
Today, the Catholic Church in Australia is facing new challenges and adaptations. According to recent reports, the Catholic population in Australia is shrinking and ageing, with a decreasing percentage of the country's overall population identifying as Catholic. In 2021, around 20% of Australians identified as Catholic, a decrease from 22.6% in 2016. This decline is attributed to a broader shift away from religious identification in Australian society. Despite this, the Catholic Church remains the largest Christian denomination in Australia and continues to play a significant role in various sectors.
The Church is the largest non-government provider of welfare and education services in the country. Catholic Social Services Australia assists approximately 450,000 people annually, and the St Vincent de Paul Society has 40,000 members, forming the largest volunteer welfare network in Australia. Additionally, about 20% of Australian school students attend Catholic schools, and the Church had around 760,000 students in more than 1,700 schools in 2016.
The Catholic Church in Australia is also becoming more culturally, linguistically, and ritually diverse. As of 2023, over 20% of Australian Catholics were born abroad in non-English-speaking countries, with the Philippines, Italy, India, Vietnam, and Croatia being the top five contributors. This increase in diversity reflects broader national trends and contributes to the evolving landscape of the Catholic Church in Australia.
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Catholic population decline
Catholicism in Australia is facing a period of significant change, with the percentage of Catholics in the country heading for an all-time low. The religion is the largest Christian denomination in Australia, with a culturally diverse membership of around 5 million people, according to the 2021 ABS Census. This represents about 20% of the overall population of Australia, a decrease of around 2.5 percentage points in five years. In 2016, 22.6% of respondents identified as Catholic.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has noted that the Catholic community in the country is shrinking and aging. This decline in followers is in line with a broader shift away from religious identification in Australia. While the number of Catholics is decreasing, the community is becoming more culturally, linguistically, and ritually diverse. The number of Catholics born abroad in non-English-speaking countries has increased, with the Philippines, Italy, India, Vietnam, and Croatia being the top five countries supplying non-native English-speaking Catholics to Australia.
The Australian church has also experienced a decline in vocations, leading to a shortage of priests. This decline has been ongoing since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. While the number of nuns serving in Australian health facilities has decreased, the church has maintained a strong presence in healthcare. Additionally, Catholic organisations continue to provide social welfare and education services across the country.
Despite the overall decline in the percentage of Catholics, there are youthful pockets in parishes across Australia. Additionally, the aging of the church is not seen as a negative aspect by all members. Some believe that children and families are getting their spiritual experiences and exposure through Catholic schools, as about 20% of Australian school students attend Catholic schools.
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Catholic immigrants
Australia is one of the least religious nations in the developed world, with a diverse range of religions. In the 2021 national census, 43.9% of Australians identified with Christianity, 38.9% declared "no religion", and the remaining 17.2% identified with other religions. There is no official religion in Australia, and the constitution ensures freedom of religion and separation of church and state.
The Catholic Church in Australia has a strong immigrant history, with Irish immigration playing a significant role in its establishment and growth. Until about 1950, the Catholic Church in Australia was predominantly Irish, with most Catholics being descendants of Irish immigrants. Irish-Australians also had a close political association with the Labor Party.
However, after World War II, Australia's immigration policies became more diverse, and the ethnic composition of the Catholic Church began to change. More than one million Catholics immigrated to Australia from countries such as Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Lebanon, and Poland. This shift in demographics led to the formation of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) in 1955 by Catholic layman B. A. Santamaria, who led a movement of working-class Catholics against communism.
In more recent years, there has been a significant wave of Asian Catholics immigrating to Australia, with countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, India, and Nigeria contributing to the changing face of Australian Catholicism. The leadership of the church has also become more diverse, with an estimated 40-50% of diocesan priests in Australia born in non-English speaking countries.
While the Catholic Church in Australia continues to be influenced by its immigrant followers, it is also shaping the experiences of its members. The late Pope Francis, for example, was known for his approachability and service to others, values that have been embraced by priests like Monsignor Asis.
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Catholic education
Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in Australia, with a culturally diverse membership of around 5 million people, representing about 20% of the country's overall population. The Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church and is under the spiritual and administrative leadership of the Holy See. The church has experienced a decline in vocations to religious life since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, leading to a priest shortage. However, it maintains a strong presence in education, with about 20% of Australian school students attending Catholic schools. The church is the largest non-government provider of education services in the country, with 760,000 students in more than 1,700 schools in 2016.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is the national body of the bishops of Australia. It is headed by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, who acknowledged that the decline in religious identification among Australians has contributed to the shrinking Catholic community. Despite this, the Catholic Church in Australia is becoming more culturally, linguistically, and ritually diverse. For example, 21.4% of Australian Catholics were born abroad in a non-English speaking country, and 21.5% speak a language other than English at home. This increase in cultural and linguistic diversity reflects national trends.
The history of Catholic education in Australia is closely tied to the country's colonial past. In the early days of the Australian colonies, the Catholic Church relied heavily on immigrant clergy, particularly from Ireland. Despite opposition from English Catholic bishops and the British government, Irish cleric Patrick Francis Moran became the Archbishop of Sydney in 1884 and Australia's first cardinal the following year. Moran founded St Patrick's College, Manly, in 1889, with the aim of providing priests for all the colonies. He believed that Catholics' rights were threatened in Australia and worked to address this discrimination.
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Catholic welfare services
Australia is home to a culturally diverse Catholic population of around 5 million people, making up about 20% of the country's overall population. The Catholic Church in Australia is the largest non-government provider of welfare and education services. Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA), a body that advances the social service ministry of the Catholic Church, has 54 member organisations spread across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia, providing services in over 600 locations.
CSSA's member agencies include diocesan-based Centacare and CatholicCare agencies, as well as those under the stewardship of religious orders. CatholicCare was founded as the official welfare agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes, for example, offers services such as aged care, family and relationship services, homelessness support, financial counselling, housing, mental health support, and youth services. CatholicCare also provides counselling and education services to assist individuals, couples, children, and families in fostering healthy relationships.
Other CSSA member agencies include the St Vincent de Paul Society, the largest volunteer welfare network in the country, as well as the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, both of which engage in welfare and charity work. The Little Sisters of the Poor is another international Catholic religious institute that works in aged care.
In addition to these organisations, the Australian Catholic Church has maintained a strong presence in healthcare. The Sisters of Charity, for instance, opened Australia's first HIV/AIDS ward at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney during the 1980s.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the 2021 ABS Census data, there are around 5 million Catholics in Australia, representing about 20% of the country's overall population.
As of 2023, there are 1.37 million Catholic immigrants in Australia, accounting for 21.4% of the total Catholic population in the country.
As of 2023, 21.5% of Australian Catholics speak a language other than English at home. This is a slight increase from 2006, when the figure stood at 19.2%.
Around 20% of Australian students attend Catholic schools, which equates to roughly 794,000 students as of 2022.
