Adult churchgoers in the United States infrequently switch churches. But if they make a congregational change, it’s likely they made a residential change first. And those who switch have high expectations for their new congregation. Data from a recent Lifeway Research study of American Protestant adults who attend church at least twice a month and Read more
Findings of a Dutch survey show the Covid pandemic’s impact has had lasting effects on parish life in the Netherlands. The Katholiek Nieuwsblad survey was conducted three years after the initial lockdown in the Netherlands. It has confirmed the decline in church attendance from pre-pandemic levels. The decline, already predicted by many, shows between 2019 Read more
Masses cancelled, funerals with just ten people, marriages postponed, sacramental programmes delayed, no shared chalice, and a new way to exchange the sign of peace, touchless ashes on Ash Wednesday, no ashes on Ash Wednesday are a few of the now-familiar marks of what has been termed a Liturgical Disruption. Add to them, the lengths Read more
New Zealand recently launched a government safety campaign that provides content to help parents to protect children from pornography on the Internet. It gained positive attention this month through a video ad about Internet pornography, using their motif of every parent’s worst Internet nightmare knocking on their front door. “What is interesting about the New Read more
A survey being circulated in the Archdiocese of Agaña claims that Archbishop Michael Byrnes has said that baptisms, weddings, school enrollment and church attendance in Guam are decreasing even though the population has increased. The survey also claims that less than 50 percent of Guam’s population now identify as Catholic. According to the 2010 Census about 75 percent of Read more
Annual Scottish Household Survey data suggest in seven years Catholics could become the largest faith group in Scotland. Over 10,000 people take part in the annual Scottish Government study, which is designed to give a general view of the country’s demographics. While 51 per cent of Scots don’t belong to any religion, just under 14 Read more
An estimated 29,000 New Zealanders are completely alone. While most have at least one or two people they are close to, one per cent of Kiwis aged 15 or over say they have no supportive family or friends, according to research from Statistics NZ. The New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS), conducted over a year, asked almost 9000 Read more
Pope Francis is the most popular world leader according to a new opinion poll by WIN/Gallup. The survey, taken by 1,000 people in 64 countries respectively, puts the popularity of the Pope above US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande. Read more
Britons are increasingly returning to the pagan custom of being buried with their most prized possessions. New research among UK undertakers has shown that some of the most popular items put in coffins include packets of cigarettes, cans of beer or bags of lollies. Many people are buried with their favourite football scarf, or accompanied Read more
An English diocese has launched an online survey aimed at finding out reasons why baptised Catholics have drifted away from the faith. Portsmouth diocese is working with St Mary’s University on the scheme called “share your story”. The survey will be conducted between October 1 and January 1 and will ask questions such as whether Read more