The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan organization that conducts public opinion polls to inform the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world, recently released the results of its ongoing study on religion in our country. The results were not surprising and they are worthy of our reflection. The report tracks the numbers of Christians, Catholics and “nones”, that is, those who identify their religious identity as atheistic, agnostic or “nothing in particular”, over the past ten years here in the U.S.A. In 2009, 77% of the population identified themselves as Christians; last year, that number was down 12 percent to 65%. The Catholic population in 2009 was 23%; last year, it was 20%. On the other hand, the “nones” have grown from 17% in 2009 to 26% last year. Of the “nones”, only 4% describe themselves as atheists; the rest either don’t believe God can be known or choose not to identify themselves with any religion.
Attendance at religious services has also declined. In 2009, 52% of the American population reported to have attended a religious service at least once or twice a month; last year, it was 45%. On the other hand, those who attend only occasionally have risen in percentage from 47% to 54%.
Unfortunately, we see a trend that started in the mid-60’s and continues today. The ongoing clergy sex abuse scandal has not helped but this trend here in America has many contributing factors: the sexual revolution, humanism, relativism, materialism, secularism and individualism are the main ones. And, we are lagging behind Europe by only a few years, where the trend away from religious affiliation is even more extreme.
Fortunately, the global picture is much more reassuring; the percentage of religiously affiliated (84%) and “nones” (16%) remains about the same as ten years ago. The only significant shift has been between the Christian and the Islam populations; the Islam population has increased by 1% while the Christian population has declined by 1%.
Meanwhile, we in the U.S.A. are trying to understand and address the trend of disenfranchisement from organized religion; as I mentioned above, there are many factors beyond the clergy sex abuse scandal that have affected the downward trend. Those of us who are fifty years old or older remember when churches were full and the lives of many people revolved around church activities. Many lived in Catholic neighborhoods where it was culturally expected to be involved in the Church.
I believe the first challenge to this culture occurred in our country with a shift in our teaching about God from one who is to be feared to one who loves us. At a time when many Catholics went to Church out of fear of going to hell, the focus on the teaching that God loves us all – very true but also very simplistic – made it easier to skip Mass in favor of other activities. Then, with the introduction of artificial contraceptives, we see another decline in Mass attendance after Pope Paul VI issued his controversial encyclical, Humanae Vitae. The desire for sexual satisfaction was met with clear teachings on the sanctity of life and the unbreakable link between sexual intercourse and procreativity. Then, as the humanism of the intellectual world began to sift down to the common folk, a comment in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s book, The Possessed, written in 1872, “If there is not God, then I am God,” started to become a significant part of the American landscape. As we became more humanistic, we considered ourselves god and become the arbiters of life – deciding when it had value and when it was to be discarded. As relativism seeped in, we also became the arbiters of truth – redefining marriage, gender and objective reality in so many other ways. And, as we became more prosperous, we were able to attain and become more satisfied with momentary happiness and stop searching for eternal joy; that’s the main reason why religion prospers in poor areas but languishes in affluent ones. As more people turned away from religion, they began to oppress it in order to silence the inner voice that recognized its importance in their lives. As more people became more isolated from each other, due to mobility and the proliferation of electronic devices, they turned to destructive means (pornography, alcohol, drugs, etc.) that deadened their senses that naturally draw human beings into communion with one another. And, as they became disenchanted with all human institutions – which are all flawed – they mistook religion as just another human institution and worked to dismantle it in the same way that they are dismantling so many human institutions.
In the face of all of this, it’s easy to become discouraged. I’m not discouraged, however, because I see a purification going on and those of us who remain involved in our Church are even more committed to it. I’m reminded of the Church’s foundation – Jesus Christ – and the people he called around him: Judas, who used to steal from the common purse and who betrayed Jesus; Peter, who tried to prevent Jesus from going to Jerusalem and then abandoned him at his hour of greatest need; James and John, who were only concerned with the glory they could enjoy at Jesus’ left and right; and Paul, who started out as a persecutor of the followers of Jesus. And, through the ages, even until today, we have had countless examples of weak, deeply flawed people in leadership positions. And yet, the Church has continued, because it is not a human institution but one founded by God himself – through his Son, Jesus Christ – and led by his Holy Spirit.
Yes, the role of religion in America is declining. But, it’s importance to our country remains. And, in our little corner of the country, I see lots of signs of life and reasons to hope. Our many parish organizations are thriving and so many of them help us to grow closer to God and as a faith community. We continue to grow – from 6,537 parishioners in 2009 to 7,120 last year. Although our October Count continues to show a decline in Mass attendance (26% in 2009; 13% last year), our records show that 44% of our families contributed with a Sunday envelope throughout the course of last year; this seems to indicate that almost half of our families attend Sunday Mass with some regularity. So, I invite you to reflect on the importance of the Church in your life. It is, indeed, made up of sinners – in fact, that’s why it exists: to bring sinners back to God – but it is solidly built on Jesus Christ, our foundation, and it will continue to be the beacon of light and truth for all who seek it. Let’s recommit ourselves to be the fullest reflection of this truth so that, as Jesus commands us, our light will shine before others and they may see our good deeds and glorify our Heavenly Father!