Majority of American Catholics Have Left the Church, Pew
Survey Reveals
By Vincent Funaro , Christian
Post Reporter
Over 50 percent of Americans raised in the Catholic Church say
they've left the faith at some point in their lives, according to a Pew
Research survey on religion and public life.
The data further revealed that among the 52
percent who left the Church, about six out of 10 have returned at some point.
Two-thirds of the group that left the Church
now consider themselves ex-Catholics and no-longer identify with the faith.
Around 13 percent, however, still identify as
Catholic, but no longer practice the religion.
For those who are still practicing, around 73
percent said they've been in the Church their entire life, and seven out of 10
said they could never imagine leaving it.
Aside from membership, Pew
Research also uncovered surprising beliefs held by Catholics
pertaining to families.
The survey found that a "strong
majority" of Catholics said children being raised in
unconventional families with unmarried parents living together, same-sex
couples or single parents, is acceptable. Around 90 percent, though, preferred
that children be raised with a married mother and father. Forty-three percent
said it's acceptable for a gay couple to raise a child.
"Nine-in-10 U.S. Catholics say a household
headed by a married mother and father is an ideal situation for bringing up
children. But the survey shows that large majorities think other kinds of
families — those headed by parents who are single, divorced, unmarried or gay —
are OK for raising children, too," noted Pew in the analysis released just
days before Pope Francis' first U.S. visit in which he'll encounter a national
Catholic population largely supportive of family units not advanced or
encouraged by Church teaching.
The survey also found that: "A sizable
majority (85 percent) think it's acceptable for a man and a woman to live
together as a couple outside of marriage, including more than half (55 percent)
who say cohabitation is as good as any other living arrangement for adults. And
[seven]-in-10 Catholics say married couples who opt not to have children have
chosen a lifestyle that is as good as any other."
And while many Catholics hold progressive
beliefs when it comes to issues involving families, the Church seems to be
maintaining its traditional views, despite the change in tone from Pope Francis
when it comes to divorce and homosexuality.
The Pope did, however, make changes to the
Church's annulment process, loosening restrictions on Catholics who wish to
remarry.
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