Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church is facing a decline in membership, particularly in the West. This phenomenon is driven by a combination of cultural and institutional factors, including the rise of secularism, negative media portrayals of the Church, and the failure of the Church to adapt to the changing needs and values of its congregation. While the Catholic share of the population in the United States has dropped from 26% in the early 1970s to around 20% in recent years, the rate of decline varies across different regions and demographic groups. The Church's future depends on its ability to engage with immigrant populations and young people, as well as address the concerns of those who have left or are considering leaving.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Americans who are Catholic | 21% (GSS), 17.5% (CES) |
| Percentage of Americans with no religious affiliation | 21% |
| Percentage of Americans who don't belong to a church | 96% |
| Percentage of Americans who identify as Catholic | 18% |
| Percentage of Hispanic Americans who identify as Catholic | 37% |
| Percentage of Americans who were Catholic in the early 1970s | 26% |
| Percentage of Americans who were Catholic in the mid-1990s | 25% |
| Percentage of Americans who were Catholic in 2010 | 25% |
| Percentage of Americans who were Catholic in 2021 | 21% |
| Percentage of Americans who were Catholic in 2008 | 21.5% |
| States with notable drops in Catholic attendance | Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina |
| States with no significant changes in Catholic attendance | Many Northeast states, West Coast states |
| States with small losses in Catholic attendance | California, Missouri, Maryland (down 2%) |
| States with bigger losses in Catholic attendance | Colorado (down 5.5%), Kansas (down 6%), New Mexico (down 9.9%) |
| States with double-digit losses in Catholic attendance | Montana (down 12%), Massachusetts (down 11%), Connecticut (down 16%) |
| Reasons for leaving the Catholic Church | Sexual and spiritual abuse, arrogance of priests, boring experiences, negative media influence, secularization, interfaith marriages, immigration, Rigid definitions of Catholic identity |
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What You'll Learn
Young people are leaving the Catholic Church
A significant number of young people are leaving the Catholic Church before reaching the age of 18, with many citing disagreement with the Church's religious or moral beliefs as the main reason for their departure. The Church's stance on issues such as contraception, gay marriage, and abortion is often at odds with the beliefs of younger generations, who may see these teachings as outdated and incompatible with modern science.
In addition to ideological differences, many young people feel that the Catholic Church is not adequately addressing the issues that are important to them. They perceive the Church as distant, and desire a more transparent and engaging community that is willing to tackle tough issues and listen to their concerns. The lack of women in leadership positions within the Church is also a point of contention for many young people, who advocate for greater recognition and valuing of women in society and in the Church.
Furthermore, the sexual abuse scandals involving Catholic clergy have also played a role in the departure of some young people from the Church. While it is not the primary reason for most, it has contributed to a sense of disillusionment and distrust in the institution.
The decline in young people's participation in the Catholic Church is not limited to the United States. In many countries where the Church used to dominate, there has been a notable drop in attendance and membership. This decline is attributed to various factors, including the increasing secularization of society and the failure of the Church to adapt to the changing needs and beliefs of younger generations.
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The Church is losing Latino members
While Latinos are the largest source of growth for Catholic churches in the US, Catholicism is in decline among this demographic. In 2006, 70% of adult Latinos identified as Catholic, but this figure fell to 57% by 2015. By 2022, 65% of Hispanic adults said they were raised Catholic, but only 43% identified as Catholic at the time of asking.
Latinos are transforming the Catholic Church in the US, currently making up 40% of its members and predicted to become the majority in the coming decades. The election of American-Peruvian Pope Leo XIV reflects this shift. However, the Church is struggling to retain Latino members, especially millennials, who are turning to secularism or evangelicalism.
Some Catholic leaders are attempting to engage with this demographic by embracing issues relevant to the community, such as immigration and LGBTQ rights. Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles, the first Hispanic to be elected to the position, actively speaks out on these topics. Other churches are boosting their social media presence and hosting young adult masses to appeal to millennials.
The Trump administration's deportation efforts and immigration raids have also impacted the Catholic Church's growing Latino population. Bishops and other church leaders are attempting to support migrants without drawing negative attention to them, but this has proved challenging, with some Catholics supporting the administration's policies.
To retain and engage Latino members, the Church must embrace the Hispanic church into the American church. This includes increasing the number of Latino leaders, such as priests and bishops, and incorporating Spanish-language and Latino cultural elements into services and activities.
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Negative media portrayal of the Church
The Catholic Church has been criticised in various media formats, including literature, film, television, and news media. The public image of the Church and its perception are influenced by its portrayal in the news media. Given the long history of anti-Catholic prejudice in American society, a fair and balanced portrayal of the Church by the media is essential. However, the media frequently presents controversial issues as conflicts between the Church hierarchy and lower-level clergy, lay Catholics, and non-Catholics. The Church is often described using terms that emphasise its conservative theology, authoritarian forms of control, and anachronistic approach to contemporary society.
Journalists often approach the Catholic Church from a secular perspective, structuring their coverage of theological issues along the lines of political reportage. This results in a media portrayal of the Church as a hidebound institutional hierarchy struggling to enforce its traditions and decrees on a reluctant constituency. The Church is frequently depicted as an oppressive or authoritarian institution with little relevance to the contemporary world. For instance, on issues such as celibacy, women in the priesthood, premarital sex, and homosexuality, the teachings of the Church are rarely portrayed favourably. The media often dismisses the Church's teachings and portrays the Pope as a conservative crank when addressing topics such as abortion, married priests, and women priests.
The entertainment industry also holds contempt for the Church, according to Jesuit priest Father James Martin. While the Catholic Church is visually appealing to producers and directors due to its vestments, monstrances, statues, and crucifixes, it is also seen as profoundly "other" in modern culture. This makes it an object of fascination and a perfect context for scriptwriters searching for conflict in their stories. As a result, anti-Catholic writing is prevalent in television shows.
In literature, anti-Catholic stereotypes are a long-standing feature of English literature, popular fiction, and even pornography. Gothic fiction, in particular, is known for its portrayal of lustful priests, cruel abbesses, immured nuns, and sadistic inquisitors. Additionally, some modern novels, such as Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons," depict the Church negatively, reinforcing perceptions of it as a servant of Satan, determined to hide the truth, and involved in elemental battles.
In summary, the Catholic Church is often portrayed negatively in the media, including news outlets, literature, film, and television. This negative portrayal can influence public perception and contribute to the decline in Catholic membership. The media frequently presents the Church as an oppressive, authoritarian, and anachronistic institution, dismisses its teachings, and portrays it as out of touch with modern society. While the Catholic Church's visual appeal makes it attractive to the entertainment industry, it is also held in contempt and used as a context for conflict-driven stories.
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The Church's response to sexual abuse scandals
The Catholic Church has been rocked by sexual abuse scandals involving its clergy for decades, with the first documented case going back to 1629 at a school in Rome. The issue gained significant media attention in the 1980s and 1990s, with reports of abuse emerging from various countries, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and Ireland. The Church's response to these scandals has been a subject of scrutiny and criticism.
Initially, the Church's response was characterized by denial, cover-ups, and a focus on avoiding scandal and protecting its reputation. In some cases, abusive priests were moved to other parishes where they continued to abuse. This pattern of abuse, transfer, and lack of accountability by church authorities led to widespread outrage and prompted discussions about the Church's handling of abuse cases. While some priests who were accused were compelled to resign or were defrocked, many bishops helped arrange payments to victims in exchange for their silence, and the Church resisted demands to pay compensation.
In the face of growing public scrutiny and criticism, the Church began to take some steps to address the issue. Pope Benedict XVI issued new guidelines in 2011, instructing bishops to report any suspected cases of abuse to local police promptly. Under Pope Francis, a special panel was set up to deal with the issue, and he has acknowledged the Church's failures in handling sexual abuse cases. In 2019, Pope Francis promised an end to cover-ups and announced changes to the law to explicitly criminalize sexual abuse. However, this panel has faced setbacks, including high-level resignations, and victims' groups continue to argue that the Vatican has not done enough to address the issue.
While the Church has taken some steps to address the sexual abuse scandals, the impact on its members and the public has been significant. Many victims have struggled with trust, lost their faith, and felt betrayed by the Church. Some members have left the Church due to the scandals, but it is often not the primary reason for their departure. The scandals have also catalyzed broader societal conversations about sexual abuse, its prevention, and the role of religious institutions in addressing it.
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Catholics are joining evangelical churches
Catholicism, like most organized religions in the United States, is experiencing a decline in membership and attendance. While the Catholic population has remained at around 20% since 2014, down from 24% at the turn of the century, there are notable drops in attendance in several states, including Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Some former Catholics have joined Protestant congregations, particularly evangelical and Pentecostal groups, which have established a presence in Hispanic neighborhoods. This trend is particularly notable among Latino and other immigrant populations, with a 2014 Pew survey finding that nearly a quarter of all Hispanics were former Catholics.
The reasons for leaving the Catholic Church vary, but one factor may be the appeal of evangelical churches, which offer a more personalized and relational ministry that focuses on evangelizing and discipling individuals. Some individuals who have left evangelicalism for Catholicism cite the intellectual stimulation provided by evangelical churches but suggest that this does not always translate to a sense of unity or doctrinal consistency.
While the data shows a general decline in Catholicism, it is important to note that the situation is complex and varies across different regions. Some states have experienced only modest changes, while others have seen more significant drops or even increases in Catholic membership and attendance.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church is losing members, particularly in the West.
There are a multitude of reasons for the decline in Catholic Church membership. Some sources cite the rise of secularism and consumerism, the disbandment of ethnic neighbourhoods, and an increase in interfaith marriages. Others point to sexual and spiritual abuse scandals, the Church's failure to provide a relevant and meaningful experience for its members, and the arrogance of priests.
The decline in Catholic Church membership is most notable in Western countries, including the United States, where the percentage of Americans who identify as Catholic has decreased. States in the middle of the country, such as Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio, have seen notable drops in attendance. Additionally, California, Missouri, Maryland, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico have experienced declines between 2008 and 2022.
The decline in membership is more pronounced among Catholics than among Protestants. From 2010 to 2021, the Catholic share of the population in the US dropped from 25% to about 21%, while Protestants experienced a smaller decline from 73% to 64%. The increasing number of Americans expressing no religious preference is a significant factor contributing to the decline in church membership across various religious groups.
To address the decline, the Catholic Church needs to adapt to the changing cultural landscape and focus on creating a positive and inclusive experience for its members. This includes listening to sociologists, psychologists, artists, and those who have left the Church to understand their perspectives. Additionally, the Church should embrace humility and avoid rigid definitions of what it means to be Catholic to make vulnerable members feel welcomed and accepted.
