The Catholic Church in Nigeria is experiencing remarkable growth, positioning itself as a potential source of revitalisation for Catholicism in the West. Nigeria’s Catholic population is estimated to be 25 million, making up 10-15% of the country’s 220 million people. The country’s population is expected to soar to 350-400 million in the next 20 years. Read more
The German Archdiocese of Munich and Freising has reported a significant 6.2% drop in church tax revenue for 2023, due primarily to many parishioners leaving the church. Finance Director Markus Reif announced at the Federal Budget Press Conference in Munich that the archdiocese’s income fell by €41 million to €617 million. The German church tax Read more
According to a KPMG analysis, birth rates in Australia are dropping significantly due to high living costs and unaffordable housing. The national birthrate has sharply declined since a post-lockdown baby boom in 2021 when there were 315,200 births. In 2023 the figure was just 289,100, marking the lowest annual number since 2006. Urban economist Terry Read more
Young Catholics are not copying the Canadian secularism trend which older Catholics are modelling. A recent Cardus Institute study says young Canadian Catholics are twice as likely as their elders to attend religious services at least once a month. Faith’s shifting landscape Cardus’ 2022 report “The Shifting Landscape of Faith in Canada” says religious indicators Read more
In an ironic twist, a US Baptist pastor internationally known for scholarly articles on the decline of religion has just had to close his own church for lack of parishioners. Pastor Ryan Burge (pictured) knows closing churches is common these days. Many US churches close each year. But, given that he has been documenting the Read more
A mile from the main events of the National Eucharistic Congress on Thursday (18 July), Catholics knelt on the hot surface of an overflow parking lot at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. They received Communion during a Latin Mass, reminiscent of pre-Vatican II traditions. Holy Rosary, walking distance from Lucas Oil Stadium, the hub for the Read more
Soosai Soosai had about 80 eager Catholics signing up with his travel agency two months ago to go to Singapore to attend Pope Francis’ Mass in the island nation. However, half of them pulled out after learning that Malaysia’s some 1.5 million Catholics have to share just 900 seats allocated to them by the Singapore Read more
As the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis drew to a close, an Australian bishop praised the event as a model for revitalising the Catholic faith worldwide and expressed hope that it could inspire similar revivals worldwide. According to the Australian Catholic Weekly, Auxiliary Bishop Richard Umbers of Sydney, who attended the congress as an international Read more
Cardinal Gérald C Lacroix is resuming his duties as Quebec’s archbishop, six months after stepping aside when he was accused of sexual misconduct for which a Vatican-mandated investigation found no evidence to support. Lacroix announced he would step back into his role as archbishop of Quebec and primate of Canada in a July 22 news Read more
A community of Carmelite nuns in Arlington, Texas have permitted two priests to celebrate Mass in their convent despite the priests being suspended on suspicion of abuse. Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas revealed that the priests have been serving as chaplains to the nuns without authorisation. The priests, the bishop Read more