5. Profile of U.S. converts to Catholicism
Six-in-ten converts to Catholicism were raised Protestant. Converts tend to be more Republican than current Catholics raised in the faith.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Six-in-ten converts to Catholicism were raised Protestant. Converts tend to be more Republican than current Catholics raised in the faith.
Nearly half of U.S. adults are connected to Catholicism. Read about going to Mass, Communion, confession and more.
About three-in-ten are “cultural” or former Catholics, or have other ties to the faith. Read about these groups and why some say they left the religion.
Read about how Americans who were raised Catholic experienced religion as kids, as well as their reasons for staying in or leaving the faith.
About a third of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic. They’re more likely than White Catholics to practice some devotions, but less likely to take Communion at Mass.
U.S. Catholics are still getting to know Pope Leo XIV. But they like what they’ve seen so far, according to our recent survey.
Identifying with a group for reasons “aside from religion” – such as ethnically, culturally, or because of family background – is somewhat rare. Religious Landscape Study by Pew Research Center.
Majorities want the church to allow use of birth control and IVF, and to permit priests to bless same-sex couples. But views differ by Mass attendance.
Learn how often parents discuss religion, types of religious activities their children do and which parent plays a larger role in how their children learn about religion.
Most say having a personal relationship with Jesus is essential to Catholic identity. Roughly half say this about Marian devotion and helping the poor.
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