Barna Report — Catholics Have Become Mainstream America

July 9, 2007

From the Barna Group we read:

Do you remember when Catholics were a distinct segment of America, and many people wondered what to make of them? Those days are long gone, according to our new survey, which shows that Catholics are not only the largest denominational group in the country, but are now part of the social mainstream. We studied 97 facets of the lives of Catholics and compared them to national norms. The outcome is striking – and, in some cases, disturbing. Find out why by reading this week’s Barna Update.

Here are some interesting findings from the research. Keep in mind we understand statistics are just that, statistics. An approximation of what is true.

The survey explored three dimensions of people’s faith: behaviors, beliefs and attitudes. Catholics were significantly different from other Americans in each of those areas. Two out of three Catholics (68%) said their religious faith is very important in their life – the same as was true among non-Catholic adults – but how their faith is manifested is quite divergent.

1. Catholics were less likely than average to look forward to discussing their religious views with other people, to attending church services, and to reading the Bible. In fact, Catholics were only half as likely as other Americans to say they look forward “a lot” to reading from the Bible.
2. The typical Catholic person donated about 17% less money to churches; was 38% less likely than the average American to read the Bible; 67% less likely to attend a Sunday school class; 20% less likely to share their faith in Christ with someone who had different beliefs; 24% less likely to say their religious faith has greatly transformed their life; and were 36% less likely to have an “active faith,” which Barna defined as reading the Bible, praying and attending a church service during the prior week.
3. Catholics were significantly less likely to believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches and only half as likely to maintain that they have a responsibility to share their faith with others.
4. Catholics are 37% less likely to be born again than are adults not associated with the Catholic faith.
5. Catholics were twice as likely to view pornographic content on the Internet and were more likely to use profanity, to gamble, and to buy lottery tickets.
6. The survey data portray Catholics as people whose lifestyles and thought patterns are more influenced by the social mainstream than by the core principles of the Christian faith.
7. While Protestants in America have experienced the same type of spiritual compromise over the course of time, there remains a substantial gap between Protestants and Catholics regarding matters of faith, if not lifestyle and thought.

“The trail of Catholicism in America is a clear example of culture influencing faith more often than faith influencing culture,” Barna continued. “The faith of tens of millions of Catholics is affected by the prevailing culture more than by the central principles and teachings of the Bible.

Read the full story here.

Posted in Catholicism