The United State’s Catholic population stood at 58.9 million in 2010, according to a new census of religious congregations. This figure is lower than the 62 million Catholics reported in 2000.
Rhode Island has also been stripped of its title has most heavily Catholic state in the United States being replaced by Massachusetts.
Cliff Grammich, a researcher working for the Glenmary Research Center, told the Catholic News Service this difference was due to a change in the way data was collected during this go-round. The center compiled statistics from 20,589 parishes, missions and other places with regularly scheduled weekend Masses.
The “2010 US Religion Census: Religious Congregations and Membership Study” showed that the number of Catholics is three times that of the country's second largest religious body, the Southern Baptist Convention, with nearly 19.9 million members.
The study is conducted every ten years and coincides US census.
It also collected data from Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and other religious congregations.
Grammich said the analyzed statistics provided by individual parishes on the number of registered households, registered individuals, infant baptisms, burials and Mass attendance to arrive at the final count.
"The counts are the best that could be supported by religious data, sacramental statistics and survey data," Grammich explained.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | May 14, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT
Ha, ha, how gullible you Americans are. The Glenmary Research Center, a Catholic one, would claim those numbers. Not at all accurate if you look at the empty pews there!!
IrelandNorth | May 14, 2012, 08:31 AM EDT
58.9m faithful is a serious load of post-Second Temple shekels - tax free! In the circumstances, difficult to estimate the exact annual turnover, but I imagine it's a substantial sum, even if down somewhat on previous years. For a instituional religion who follows a Saviour whose kingdom was not of this world, they've got a fairly impressive real estate portfolio.
misneac | May 14, 2012, 08:28 AM EDT
Poor Katie Murphy has a real chip on her shoulder . Somebody must have thrown her toys out of the pen . Two points (a) she has no accurate knowledge of the Popes history (b) she should learn to spell . Please dont go so public with your ignorance !
BrianO | May 14, 2012, 07:49 AM EDT
Im told nostradamus fortold of a kenyan american who nearly ruined the greatest country on earth, until the graet election of a free market capitalist
KatieMurphy | May 13, 2012, 09:18 PM EDT
I'm told that Nostradamus said the catholic church would be destroyed in this time.............Given the endless hidden molestation of children, and a German Pope who UNexcommunicated a holocaust denier, let us all pray that this comes to pass. .........And yes I know a number of ex catholics who are now Bhudists. I'm going to have to look into it.
francisquinn | May 13, 2012, 09:15 PM EDT
How can it be....it voted for the Kennedys upteen times and BO in 08....if it is they should be ashamed of themselves...
Springfield9 | May 12, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT
Buddhism is growing at a fantastic rate. People are rejcting the idea that they are naturally evil (to some degree) and therefore have no need for a redemption model as God. The easy way to check this is to ask "Do you believe in a literal Adam and Eve?" If the answer is no then there was no "Fall of man" and nothing that required a crucifixation.
Murph46 | May 12, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT
Remember Woody Allen said if you were bisexual you automatically doubled your chances for a date on Saturday night!