Some Startling Statistics!
51 million Catholics in USA
In 2007 Catholics made up 24% of US population
In 2019 Catholics made up 20% of the US population[1]
- Catholics lost 13% of our population to NONES, Evangelicals/Pentecostals and other religions, such as: Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam, inter alia.[2]
- Over the same period Catholics experienced a 2% increase in population from conversion.
- For every one soul who joins the Church, 6.5 souls leave.[3]
| Catholics’ Ethnics 2007 2014 White 65% 59% Latino 29% 34% Black 2% 3%[4] Latinos 2007 2019 Catholic 57% 47% Protestant# 23% 24% Unaffiliated 15% 23%[5] |
One-third of Catholics are Latino, but this growth stopped in 2007. Less than 40% of Latinos now call themselves Catholic.[6]
# Includes Evangelical & Pentecostals
Political Parties
Republican 46%
Democratic 47%
(54% of White Catholic are Republican)[7]
Church Attendance
1955 2017
Catholic 75% 39%
Protestant 42% 45%
There are 3 million less Catholics since 2007
41% of those who had received First Communion do not go the Church.[8]
Gender
46% Male 49% Female[9]
Beliefs
80% of Catholic men believe that “How one lives is more important than being Catholic.[10]
Only 40% of Catholic men believe that Catholicism does not have “a greater share of truths than other religions.”[11]
Only 38% of Catholic men strongly agree that they are proud to be Catholic.[12]
Only 26% of Catholic men consider themselves to be “practicing Catholic”.[13]
Only 34% of Catholic men strongly agree that Catholicism is “among the most important parts of life.”[14]
57% of Catholic men are not certain it is possible to have a personal relationship with God.[15]
51% of Catholic men strongly agree that the “Sacraments are essential to their relationship with God”.[16]
Only 32% of Catholic men strongly agree that the “Sacraments are essential to their faith.”[17]
Many men are not moved by the Mass and are less moved than women across the various aspects of the Mass: the readings and the Gospel, homily, music, the Eucharistic prayer, worshiping with other people, the presence of God.[18]
48% of Catholic men agree that “mass is boring”[19] and 55% agree that they “don’t get anything out of the Mass.”[20]
Only 29% of Catholic men believe that weekly mass attendance is “very important.”[21]
Only 28% of Catholic men believe that Confession is “very important.”[22]
Only 31% of Catholic men strongly agree that it is “very important” to attend Mass of Holy Days.[23]
Only 39% of Catholic men strongly agree that the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is “very important.”[24]
Only 43% of Catholic men believe that it is “very important to help those in need.”[25]
Only 30% of Catholic men believe it is “very important to have a Devotion to Mary.”[26]
Only 23% of Catholic men believe it is “very important to have a devotion to the Saints.”[27]
Only 37% of Catholic men strongly agree that “daily prayer is important.”[28]
Only 33% of Catholic men pray daily.[29]
Only 49% of Catholic men feel that they “cannot explain their faith to other.”[30]
During the last 20 years, men have become less certain about being Catholic: In 1987, 50.1% men said they would “never leave the Church”.[31] In 2005 the number had fallen to 42.3%.[32]
This means that almost 60% of Catholic men would consider leaving the Church; these men have become “Casual Catholics”, Catholics who are casual about the faith.
Casual Practices
- Only 1/3 of Catholics men (33%) say they attend Mass on weekly basis.[33]
- One third of Catholic men (34%) are not formally members of a parish.[34]
- A large portion (42%) of Catholic men attend Mass “a few times per year” or “seldom or never.”[35]
- Overall, 75% of Catholics go to Confession “less than once a year” (30% or “never” 45%).[36]
- Almost half of Catholic men do not engage in a routine of prayer, praying only “occasionally or sometimes” or “seldom or never”.[37]
- 83% of Catholic men rarely or never participate in a parish activity outside of Mass.[38]
Catholic Men Compared to other Christian Men
Catholic Men Evangelical Men
Religion is Very important in my life 48% 75%[39]
Absolutely certain belief in a personal God 43% 74%[40]
Pray outside of worship services 48% 71%[41]
Prevalence of Casual Catholic Men has Deleterious Effects on Church
Catholic parents, especially fathers, are doing a poor job at passing along the faith to their children.[42]
Only 47.5% of Catholic men strongly agree that it is important for their children to be Catholic.[43]
Effects: 1987— 41.6% of 18-29-year olds agreed with the statement, “I would never leave the Church.”[44]
2005— Only 17.8% of those 18-30-year olds agree that they would never leave the Church.[45 This means that 82.2% of young people would consider leaving the Church![46]
The loss of Catholic men reduces the pool for priestly and religious make vocations.[47]
Lower levels of active men also influence young men to become disengaged from the Church. Men are underrepresented in the pews. Only 37% of Catholic males are regular Mass attendees.[48]
A Notre Dame study shows 70-90% of catechists, service, bible study activities are led by women.
Young men assume that serious religious studies are “women’s business.” Thus, greater numbers of younger men being disengaged.[49]
Parishes with greater portions of men are more likely to be growing.[50]
Men are more influential in the conversion of their families than women.
Research shows when a woman converts to Christianity, only 17% of the time the whole family converts.
When a man converts, 93% of the time, the whole family converts!!!!![51]
Since it seems imperative that fathers’ practice their faith. For the next generation to practice their faith, we must reach out to fathers and make the parish, the Mass, and Catholicism attractive to them.
Catholic Fathers must practice their faith to continue the Church!
Both Dad and Mom regular church: 33% of kids remain regular church goers. 41% of kids become irregular church goers. 25% are out all together
Irregular Father, regular church goer Mom: 3% of kids remain regular church goers. 59% of kids become irregular church goers. 38% are out all together
Dad, non-church goer/ Mom regular: 2% of kids remain regular church goers. 37% of kids become irregular church goers. 61% of kids are out all together.
Father regular/ Mom irregular: Regular attendance by kids goes up to 38%
Father regular/ Mom non church goer. Regular attendance by kids goes up to 44%[52]
[1]Sid Woodruff: www.e-n.org/2790-A-man%27s-influence.htm.
[2] S. Michael Craven, “Fathers: Key to Their Children’s Faith,” Christian Post, June 19, 2011 https://www.christianpost.com/news/fathers-key-to-their-childrens-faith-51331/; Dean Smith, “Swiss Study Shows Fathers are Important to a Child’s Church Attendance,” June 6, 2014,
[1]“America’s Changing Religious Landscape.” Pew Research Center Religion and Public Life, May 12, 2015 https://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/.
[2] David Masci and Gregory A. Smith, “7 facts about American Catholics,” Pew Research Center,
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] “In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace: An Update on America’s Changing Religious Landscape,” Pew Research Center Religion and Public Life, October 17, 2019, https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
[6] Ibid.
[7] Michael Lipka and Gregory A. Smith, “Like Americans Overall, U.S. Catholics are Sharply Divided by Party,” Pew Research Center Religion and Public Life, January 24, 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/24/like-americans-overall-u-s-catholics-are-sharply-divided-by-party/
[8] Lydia Saad, “Catholics’ Church Attendance Resumes Downward Slide,” Gallup, April 9, 2018 https://news.gallup.com/poll/232226/church-attendance-among-catholics-resumes-downward-slide.aspx .
[9] The Catholic “Man-Crisis”— Summary Points https://www.archspm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/AAAA-Catholic-_Man-Crisis_-fact-sheet.pdf; Luis Lugo, et al., “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. “The Pews Forum on Religion and Public Life (June 2008): 63.
[10] Ibid.; Gallop Poll of Catholics, 2005. Question 18. http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Codebooks/GALLOP05_CB.asp.
[11] Ibid.; Ibid. Question 19.
[12] Ibid.; Mark M. Gray and Paul M. Perl, “Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice among U.S. Catholics,” Center for Allied Research in the Apostolate— “CARA” (April 2008): 100.
[13] Ibid.; Ibid.
[14] Ibid.; Ibid., 103.
[15] Ibid.; Lugo, 29.
[16] Ibid.; Gallop, 2005, Question 21.
[17] Ibid.; CARA, 2008: 100.
[18] Ibid.; CARA, 2008: 41.
[19] Ibid.; “Gallop Survey of Chicago Catholics, 2007,” Question 126, http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Codebooks/CHICATH_CB.asp.
[20] Ibid.; Ibid., Question 130.
[21] Ibid.; Question 61.
[22] Ibid.; Question 62.
[23] Ibid.; CARA 2008, 47.
[24] Ibid.; Ibid. 66.
[25] Ibid.; Ibid. 108.
[26] Ibid.; Ibid.
[27] Ibid., Ibid.
[28] Gallop 2007 Question 63.
[29] Ibid., Ibid., Question 137.
[30] Ibid., Ibid., Question 23.
[31] Ibid., “Gallup Poll of Catholics (1987),” Question 48, http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/GALLUP87.asp
[32] Ibid., Gallup 2005, Question 75
[33] Ibid., Gallop 2005, Question 59.
[34] Ibid., Ibid., Question 5.
[35] Ibid., Ibid., Question 94
[36] Ibid., CARA 2008, 77.
[37] Ibid., Gallup 2005, Question 60.
[38] Ibid., Gallup 2007, Question 157.
[39] Ibid., “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (2008),” 24.
[40] Ibid., “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (2008),” 29.
[41] Ibid., “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (2008),” 46.
[42] Ibid., Christopher Smith and Patria Snell, Souls in Transition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 114; “Souls in Transition,” 129.
[43] Ibid., Gallup 2005, Question 22.
[44] Ibid., Gallop 1987, Question 48.
[45] Ibid., Gallop 2005, Question 75.
[46] Ibid.
[47] Ibid.
[48] Ibid., Gallop 2005, Question 75.
[49] David C Leege and Thomas A. Trozzolo, “Participation in Catholic Parish Life: Religious Rites and Parish Activities in the 1980s.” Notre Dame Study of Catholic Parish Life, Issue 2 (1985): 14.
[50] C. Kirk Hadaway. “Facts on Growth,” Harford Institute for Religion Research (2006): 4.
[51] Attributed to evangelist, Sid Woodruff: www.e-n.org/2790-A-man%27s-influence.htm.
[52] S. Michael Craven, “Fathers: Key to Their Children’s Faith,” Christian Post, June 19, 2011 https://www.christianpost.com/news/fathers-key-to-their-childrens-faith-51331/.