The following comes from a Cuenca High Life article by Michael Paulson:
A sweeping new survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center, finds that 69 percent of Latin American adults say they are Catholic, down from an estimated 90 percent for much of the 20th century. The decline appears to have accelerated recently: Eight-four percent of those surveyed said they were raised Catholic, meaning there has been a 15-percentage-point drop-off in one generation.
The findings are not a total surprise — it has been evident for some time that evangelical, and particularly Pentecostal, churches are growing in Latin America, generally at the expense of Catholicism. But the Pew study, which was conducted by in-person interviews with 30,000 adults in 18 countries and Puerto Rico, provides significant evidence for the trend, and shows that it is both broad and rapid.
Latin America “in most people’s minds is synonymous with Catholicism, but the strong association has eroded,” said Neha Sahgal, a senior researcher at Pew. “And it’s a consistent trend across the region — it’s not just a Central American phenomenon.”
Latin America remains home to an estimated 40 percent of the planet’s Catholic population. But the survey finds that 19 percent of Latin Americans now describe themselves as Protestants. And Protestant churches in Latin America are filled with former Catholics — in Colombia, 84 percent of Protestants say they were baptized as Catholics.
Latin Americans who converted from Catholicism to Protestantism most often said they did so because they were seeking a more personal connection with God.
The change has political and religious implications. According to the survey, Protestants in Latin America are more religious and more conservative than Catholics: The Protestants pray more, go to services more often and are more likely to tithe. They are also more strongly opposed to same-sex marriage.
The decline in Latin American Catholics has parallels in the United States, where significant numbers of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents were raised Catholic but have left the church. But in the United States, 18 percent of American Hispanics say they are religiously unaffiliated, compared with 8 percent of Latin Americans.
Yes it is. Just look at the statistics; the percentage of Catholics in all Latin American countries is diminishing. We can also see what is happening in the Philippines. Several years ago when you met a person from the Philippines, that person was probably a practicing Catholic. Today, many from this same nation are evangelical Christians. When you stop preaching Christ crucified, and preach liberation theology, the people will abandon Catholicism and join Protestantism.
Loss of the Roman Catholic faith in millions of souls world-wide is but one of the many fruits, but probably the worst fruit.
Matthew 7:16
By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
the pew charitable trust avows that it is neutral and non-partisan. yet it has been involved in supporting certain causes. they were caught not too long back trying to reduce employee pensions and even authored solutions toward this. the agenda visible seems to represent corporate profit enhancement. contraception and birth control are part of corporate strategy to stabilize social expenses, so i would not be surprised that the survey is is intended to help social planners get ready for more aggressive anti-life campaigning in latin america.
ewtn.org has an article on its website titled ‘foundations of death’ in which the pew charitable trust is mentioned as having donated extensively to pro-death organizations.
On one of my road trips, while I was driving in an Hispanic neighborhood, I saw a store front church with the title:” Our Lady of Fatima Evangelical Methodist Church.” Obviously some disgruntled Catholics quit the faith of their parents, and started their own church Unfortunately, while driving in Latino areas, one does see more Protestant churches than Catholic ones. Holy Mother Church is decreasing at an alarming rate.
The Spirit of Vatican 2 at work… isn’t it just grand….???
“Father Karl” is correct: the Catholic Church is committing institutional suicide in the way it has rejected Christ’s Great Commission since Vatican II. Why be Catholic when it is dominated by a weak, feminine liturgy and a increasingly modernist theology. Nothing much is promised, unlike with the Evangelicals, and it all seems so pointless to belong. In fact, the Catholic Church virtually invites people to leave, as it no longer professes any unique status with God. The priceless jewel of the liturgy and sacraments kept people in the Church, and seminaries; but the pride of Church leaders will not permit them to abandon the Novus Ordo and rediscover Tradition.
“pray more, go to services more often and are more likely to tithe. They are also more strongly opposed to same-sex marriage.”
Sounds like a winning formula – and one in line with Catholic Aspirations as put forth by leaders like Arch Bishop Cordileone… If not All the Catholic Clergy & Paid Lay workers. Ahem
So a question is why aren’t ‘We’ doing more of this and playing less of the losing Pandering Game?
Or is that the real reason behind the ‘statistics’ – and should we even believe the story – just because it was printed and claimed to be ‘survey’ based?
Tough to tell – Perhaps others experienced the area can help in understanding?
Someone remarked to me, without being nasty or prejudiced against Catholicism that ‘like rats fleeing a burning, sinking ship’ the faithful are abandoning the Church because She is being destroyed. It might have been out of place for my friend to use the term ‘rats’, but the point was well taken, and the analogy useful, since rats do run away from trouble or disaster.’ Lemmings’ could have been substituted, but what my friend said was appropriate, so I am using the term she used. Ave Maria Purrissima !
I am so sorry for the disastrous result of Vatican II, in Latin America, as well as everywhere else, in the world! What a tragedy! I am hoping that if someday the Pope can work things out with the SSPX– then, I would love to go and join an SSPX parish led by their religious order– and stay there, in happiness and peace, the rest of my life! I signed Franklin Graham’s online pledge, too, fin solidarity with other Christians in America, for his “Decision America” tour, which is trying to help America, since she is so “fallen,” morally– especially as the presidential elections are being held this year! The pledge states basically, that we all believe in,and uphold, Christ’s teachings, on pro-life, pre-marital chastity, and marriage between one man and one woman. And we pledge also, to only vote for candidates who believe in and stand up for, these important Christian truths! How I wish our own Catholic Church would become extremely strong morally, again, and truly serve Christ! Our poor, ” fallen” Nation desperately needs Christ! She has ignorantly turned her back on Him, her Savior!
I have always believed that in voting for a candidate, the man or woman running for office, must have fine character, and live by Christian beliefs. If not– then, I always leave the ballot bank! There is NO SUCH THING, as the “lesser of two evils!” Instead, there are TWO EVILS!! PERIOD!
I am in my early 60’s. Living here in California, I have known many people, some of them Latinos. Unfortunately, most of the Latinos I know where raised Catholic, and even attended Catholic schools. Now, several years later, the majority of them have apostatized, and are now Protestants. It seems, the Church is no longer teaching authentic Catholicism, but Marxism and liberation theology instead. The Mass is no longer reverent, but instead a fiesta mariachi gathering. Thank you Vatican II.
Linda Marie, You don’t need to wait! Go and begin receiving the real sacraments and abundance of sanctifying graces God gives from them. God has given you your liberty to return to the true Roman Catholic Church join the SSPX, depart from the protestants that decry religious liberty and ecumenism which many know in their hearts is wrong and heretical.
By encouraging Catholics to attend a heretical gathering in Azusa, the bishops and the hierarchy is telling Catholics that there is no difference between Catholics and Protestants. Is it any wonder why the faithful and abandoning Holy Mother Church to join heretical churches. Soon there will be only a remnant of faithful Catholics left.
Latin America was lost right after Vatican II, you kicked out the Traditional Latin Mass and you opened the door for the heresy called Protestantism simple as that folks.
My parents deceased novus ordo pastor told my parents there was no concern for them that my two brothers left the church, one following his wife to become a Nazarene and then became a Lutheran; the other brother following his wife to become a Methodist! We all believe the same; they could get to heaven that way too!
On the other hand, he warned them to stay away from me and the Roman Catholic parish I attend that practiced tradition whole-heartedly and completely the exact way my parents decades earlier lived and worshiped our Roman Catholic Faith. Now we rebels, were out of step with Rome (Vatican 2), we were illicit, we were bad, our souls were in danger of hells fire! I haven’t left Mother!