

#200 No, 90% of Catholics Aren’t Leaving The Church… - Joe Heschmeyer
32 snips Aug 21, 2025
The discussion tackles the alarming claim that 90% of cradle Catholics are leaving the Church, revealing a more nuanced reality beneath the statistics. It delves into America's shifting perception of religion post-9/11 and how this affects belief systems. Parents are encouraged to navigate their children's religious upbringing amid diverse influences. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of cultural identity within Catholicism, showcasing how traditions enhance community bonds and foster belonging.
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Headline Misreads The Data
- The claim "nine in ten cradle Catholics are leaving" misreads the data and conflates different measures.
- Weekly Mass attendance (11%) is not the same as self-identifying as raised Catholic (62%).
Raised Catholic Box Is Too Broad
- The GSS question only asks "In what religion were you raised?" and sets no practice threshold.
- You cannot infer childhood practice from that checkbox, so the 11% weekly figure doesn't imply a 90% loss from devout children.
Catholic Decline Mirrors Broader Trends
- Protestants and Catholics show similar patterns of attendance and non-attendance when using the same broad measures.
- The apparent Catholic crisis is not unique but mirrors wider American religious change.