Census 2013 - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz Catholic News New Zealand Tue, 11 Mar 2014 09:21:57 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://cathnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-cathnewsfavicon-32x32.jpg Census 2013 - CathNews New Zealand https://cathnews.co.nz 32 32 70145804 Decline in Catholic population "quite alarming" https://cathnews.co.nz/2014/03/14/decline-catholic-population-quite-alarming/ Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:30:08 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=55447

The decline in the Catholic population shown by the 2013 census "is quite alarming", according to history professor Peter Lineham of Massey University. In the 2006 national census, 508,761 people identified themselves as Catholic. By the time of the 2013 census that had fallen to 492,111. The census results show that the number of self-identified Read more

Decline in Catholic population "quite alarming"... Read more]]> The decline in the Catholic population shown by the 2013 census "is quite alarming", according to history professor Peter Lineham of Massey University.

In the 2006 national census, 508,761 people identified themselves as Catholic. By the time of the 2013 census that had fallen to 492,111.

The census results show that the number of self-identified Catholics in every diocese except Auckland fell from 2006 to 2013.

Lineham thinks there are good reasons to expect that trend to not only continue, but perhaps extend to Auckland.

He says the increase in Auckland can be attributed to migration and once migrants have been here for 10 years or so, their pattern of loyalty or joining falls away.

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Decline in Catholic population "quite alarming"]]> 55447 Census - Archbishop Dew says religion still plays an important part https://cathnews.co.nz/2013/12/13/census-archbishop-dew-says-religion-still-plays-important-part/ Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:30:42 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=53222

New Zealand Catholic Bishops welcomed the Census 2013 figures on religious affiliation published today and noted that the majority of New Zealanders identify with a diverse range of religions, although the number that don't have a religious affiliation is increasing. "The number of Catholics is fairly similar to the number published in 2006, with about Read more

Census - Archbishop Dew says religion still plays an important part... Read more]]> New Zealand Catholic Bishops welcomed the Census 2013 figures on religious affiliation published today and noted that the majority of New Zealanders identify with a diverse range of religions, although the number that don't have a religious affiliation is increasing.

"The number of Catholics is fairly similar to the number published in 2006, with about 492,000 indentifying as themselves as Catholic, however religion obviously is an important part of many people's lives, said Archbishop John Dew, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

"Although New Zealand is often referred to as a secular country, and certainly there is separation between Church and State, in terms of spirituality and religion it continues to be part of our make-up and identity as a nation." Archbishop Dew said.

"The figures out today give us some indications of the Catholic population however, we will take some time to look more closely at the regional breakdowns as well, as this impacts on our pastoral decisions in different areas."

"We know that many prefer to identify themselves as Christian, and we need to consider the grouping of all Christian denominations together because we work very closely with each other."

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Census - Archbishop Dew says religion still plays an important part]]> 53222 Are we now so godless that Christmas is irrelevant? https://cathnews.co.nz/2013/12/13/now-godless-christmas-irrelevant/ Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:07:44 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=53242 Christianity has shed hundreds of thousand of devotees in the past seven years, while the number of non-religious has risen strongly. Victoria University professor Paul Morris, who specialises in religious studies, said the country was in "new territory", with Christianity losing its central position in society. "For the first time since 1901, Christians are not Read more

Are we now so godless that Christmas is irrelevant?... Read more]]> Christianity has shed hundreds of thousand of devotees in the past seven years, while the number of non-religious has risen strongly.

Victoria University professor Paul Morris, who specialises in religious studies, said the country was in "new territory", with Christianity losing its central position in society.

"For the first time since 1901, Christians are not the clear majority."

The shift even raised questions about the appropriateness of Christian public holidays, such as Christmas, and the place of the church in schools.

"Are we no longer a Christian nation? There is a question mark," he said. Continue reading

 

Are we now so godless that Christmas is irrelevant?]]> 53242