Ethan Walker
Catholicism has been experiencing a decline in followers, with a significant number of individuals choosing to leave the religion. This phenomenon, often referred to as religious disaffiliation, has led to a situation where former Catholics constitute a notable proportion of the population in several regions, particularly in the United States. Various factors contribute to this trend, including disagreements with the Church's teachings, spiritual needs not being met, and a general decline in religious belief. The Catholic Church's retention rate of childhood members is relatively high compared to other religious groups, but it still faces the challenge of members leaving at a higher rate than new converts are joining. This has prompted discussions about potential reforms and strategies to address the decline in Catholicism and other religions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics who have left the church | 10.1% |
| Percentage of Catholics who have left and become unaffiliated with any religion | 48% |
| Percentage of Catholics who have left and become Protestants | 41% |
| Percentage of Protestants who left Catholicism due to discomfort with the Catholic Church's teachings about the Bible | 18% |
| Percentage of former Catholics who are now unaffiliated and do not believe in God | 25% |
| Percentage of former Catholics who are now unaffiliated and do not believe in any religion | 69% |
| Percentage of former Catholics who are open to finding a religion that suits them | 33% |
| Percentage of former Catholics who say they can imagine returning to the Catholic Church | 8% |
| Percentage of Catholics who were taken to Mass at least weekly as children | 38% |
| Percentage of Catholics who still go to Mass as adults | 12% |
| Percentage of infant baptisms per year since 1960 | -58% |
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What You'll Learn
Disagreement with the Catholic Church's beliefs
The Catholic Church has been facing a decline in followers, with a significant number of people leaving the faith. One of the primary reasons for this exodus is disagreement with the Church's religious and moral teachings. This is particularly evident among former Catholics who are now unaffiliated with any religion or have converted to Protestantism, with nearly half of them (48% of the unaffiliated and 41% of those who became Protestant) citing this as the main reason for their departure.
Among those who have left Catholicism, a large proportion express dissatisfaction with the Church's stance on social issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and birth control. The Church's teachings on these topics are seen as too strict and conservative, and many former Catholics feel that the Church needs to become more accepting of these modern social issues. This is especially true for those who have left Catholicism for evangelical Protestant denominations, with a quarter of them specifically citing the Church's stance on abortion and homosexuality as a reason for their departure.
Another issue that has led to disagreement with the Catholic Church's beliefs is the handling of scandals involving clergy. The Boston Scandal, for example, exposed the clergy's hypocrisy on issues of sexuality, and many Catholics felt that the Church's response of excusing and hiding these sins was inadequate. This has led to a loss of trust in the moral authority of the Church.
Additionally, a sense of lack of spiritual fulfillment or dissatisfaction with the Church's teachings about the Bible has driven many Catholics, especially those who have converted to evangelical Protestantism, to leave the Church. Nearly one-fifth of former Catholics who are now Protestant (18%) mention discomfort with the Catholic Church's interpretation of the Bible, with most evangelicals (46%) saying the Church does not take the Bible literally enough. This indicates a fundamental disagreement with the Church's approach to scripture interpretation.
The Catholic Church's retention rate of childhood members is still relatively high at 68%, but the number of infant baptisms has dropped significantly since 1960, indicating that younger generations are less engaged with the faith. This, coupled with the fact that only 8% of former Catholics consider returning to the Church, suggests that disagreement with the Church's beliefs is a significant and ongoing factor in the decline of Catholicism.
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Lack of spiritual fulfilment
While it is hard to pinpoint an exact number of Catholics who have left the Church, a survey by the Pew Research Center found that one-tenth of American adults (10.1%) have left the Catholic Church after having been raised Catholic. This amounts to about half of U.S. adults who were raised Catholic.
A lack of spiritual fulfilment is one of the reasons why many Catholics have left the Church. Among former Catholics who are now Protestant, 71% say they left Catholicism because their spiritual needs were not being met, making this the most commonly cited reason for leaving.
A similar number (70%) say they left because they found another religion that fulfilled their spiritual needs better. This is seen almost equally among formerly Catholic evangelical and mainline Protestants (70% and 69%, respectively).
Among those who have left Catholicism, nearly one-fifth (18%) say their departure was due specifically to discomfort with the Catholic Church’s teachings about the Bible. This view is more common among former Catholics who now belong to evangelical Protestant denominations (24%).
Other reasons for leaving the Catholic Church include disagreement with the Church's religious or moral beliefs, dissatisfaction with teachings on birth control, abortion, and homosexuality, and a lack of belief in God or religion in general.
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Influence of life changes
Life changes, such as getting married or relocating, have been cited as reasons for leaving the Catholic Church by a small percentage of former Catholics. According to Pew Research Center, 5% of unaffiliated former Catholics and 17% of Protestant former Catholics mentioned these life events as the primary reason for their departure from Catholicism. This indicates that while life changes can play a role in religious disaffiliation, they are not the main driving force behind the decline in Catholic retention rates.
The Catholic Church has experienced a significant decline in membership, particularly in the United States. For every 100 new Catholics, more than 800 people leave the Church, and the number of Catholics in the US dropped by 3 million between 2007 and 2015. The retention rate of childhood members is 68%, and former Catholics outnumber new converts by nearly four to one. These statistics highlight the magnitude of the issue.
Among US millennials, the decline in religious affiliation is notable. Fifty per cent of Catholic millennials claim no religious identity, and more than one-third of millennials are unaffiliated. This shift away from religious affiliation is also reflected in the decreasing number of students in Catholic schools, dropping from 2.5 million to 1.6 million.
Various factors have been attributed to the massive outflow from the Church. Some adults who left the Church expressed anger over the sex abuse crisis and the lack of substantive changes after the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II). Others disagree with the Church's teachings on contraception and gay marriage, or perceive a conflict between religion and science. These issues, along with life changes, contribute to the complex reasons why individuals choose to leave the Catholic faith.
While the Catholic Church faces challenges in retaining members, there are also efforts to engage young adults through various programs and ministries. Parish Young Adult Ministries, campus outreach groups, and fellowship organizations aim to connect with younger generations and foster a sense of community within the Church. Despite these efforts, the number of Catholics leaving continues to grow, emphasizing the need for significant reforms and a departure from the status quo.
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Sex abuse scandals
Sexual abuse scandals have plagued the Catholic Church for decades, with the issue becoming a worldwide crisis. While the Church has responded at various levels, critics argue that it has failed to adequately address the problem and hold accountable those responsible.
United States
In the United States, the Catholic Church has faced a significant number of sexual abuse allegations, with thousands of victims coming forward over the years. In 2002, The Boston Globe's coverage of criminal prosecutions against five Roman Catholic priests brought the issue to national attention, winning a Pulitzer Prize. This sparked a wave of lawsuits and criminal cases, with dioceses across the country facing bankruptcy due to settlements and payouts. From mid-2022 to mid-2023, over 1,300 clerical abuse allegations were made, with payouts to victims reaching $284 million.
Canada
In Canada, several priests have also been accused of sexual abuse, with several dioceses filing for bankruptcy due to claims and lawsuits. In 2005, Father Charles Henry Sylvestre pleaded guilty to 47 counts of sexual abuse of females aged 9 to 14 between 1952 and 1989. In 2011, Father William Hodgson Marshall pled guilty to 16 counts of indecent assault of minors and one count of sexual assault for incidents between 1952 and 1986.
Latin America
In Latin America, one of the most widely known sexual abuse scandals involved Father Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legion of Christ. After over a decade of denying allegations and criticising victims, the Legion finally acknowledged the truth of the revelations. In Tanzania, Father Kit Cunningham and three other priests were exposed as paedophiles in a 2011 BBC documentary, with the abuse taking place in the 1960s.
Europe
In Europe, several cases have come to light, including in Costa Rica, where more than ten priests have been formally accused. In 2019, judicial accusations against priests Mauricio Víquez and Manuel Guevara led to the search and seizure of the Episcopal Conference. Víquez, a spokesman for the Episcopal Conference, was dismissed from the clerical state and later captured in Mexico, eventually being sentenced to 20 years in prison for rape and abuse of an 11-year-old boy. In 2018, five Chilean bishops resigned amid sexual abuse allegations and a cover-up scandal, and in 2020, French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin resigned for failing to report sexual abuse committed by a priest under his supervision.
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Negative teachings about LGBTQ+ people
A survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that about two-thirds (67%) of people who leave a faith tradition do so because they stop believing in its teachings. Notably, nearly half (47%) of respondents who left the Catholic Church specifically cited negative teachings about LGBTQ+ people as a reason for their departure. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger Americans, with around 60% of Americans under 30 attributing their departure from religion to negative teachings on LGBTQ+ issues.
The impact of these negative teachings is evident in the experiences of LGBTQ+ Catholics, who often feel alienated and excluded from their faith communities. A 2017 report found that 82.1% of LGBTQ+ people perceive the Catholic Church as "unfriendly" towards them. This perception is shaped by the homophobic comments and treatment they receive from religious leaders and other Catholics, which contradicts the inclusive example set by Jesus that the Church espouses.
While Pope Francis's famous "Who am I to judge?" comment suggests a more neutral stance, it does not negate the instruction from 2005 under Pope Benedict XVI, which barred those with "homosexual tendencies" from holy orders. Despite this, organizations like DignityUSA and Fortunate Families work within the Catholic Church to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and support.
The negative teachings about LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church have had a significant impact on its membership, particularly among younger generations. These teachings contribute to feelings of alienation and exclusion among LGBTQ+ Catholics, who often face spiritual violence and rejection within their faith communities. While there are efforts toward inclusion, such as Pope Francis's comments, the official teachings and instructions remain detrimental to the LGBTQ+ community's perception of the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
A 2015 Pew Research Center survey found that half of US adults raised Catholic have left the Church at some point. This equates to around 13% of all Americans describing themselves as "former Catholics". A more recent survey from 2025 found that for every 100 new Catholics, over 800 people leave the Church.
A 2009 Pew Research Center survey found that 48% of former Catholics who are now unaffiliated with any religion, and 41% of those who are now Protestant, cited a disagreement with the Catholic Church's religious or moral beliefs. 71% of former Catholics who are now Protestant said their spiritual needs were not being met, and 70% said they found another religion they liked more. A 2021 survey by The Pillar found that Catholics who went to Mass weekly as children were far more likely to attend Mass as adults.
There has been speculation that the popularity of Pope Francis and the atmosphere of change around his papacy might inspire many former Catholics to return to the Church. However, only 8% of former Catholics say returning to the Church is something they could imagine doing.
