The dominating U.S. population of Protestants and other non-Catholic Christians that dates back to Plymouth Rock has fallen below 50 percent for the first time, dipping to 49 percent amid a quick rise in those with no religious affiliation, according to a new survey.
The latest General Social Survey from the University of Chicago, a primary survey used by sociologists, found that those who belong to no church, so-called “Nones,” rose to 21 percent in 2014, doubling in just 20 years as Protestants have dropped from nearly 60 percent over the same period.
Catholics, meanwhile, have stayed consistent at 25 percent, according to a new analysis by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
“Protestants and other Christians are not faring as well and for the first time in the GSS make up less than half of the population. A near mirror Image of this decline is the continued rise of the Nones, who have no religious affiliation (although many still believe in God and have religious or spiritual aspects in their life),” said the Center.
“Catholics still outnumber Nones but this may no longer be the case, if current trends continue, when the 2016 GSS is released,” it added.
The details about the fall of the Protestant population was in the Center’s focus on whether the popularity of Pope Francis was pulling more people into the Catholic Church. The answer for now is no.
The survey offered a detailed description of today’s Catholics:
• Eight in 10 believe in life after death.
• They are politically split, with 43 percent calling themselves moderate, 24 percent liberal and 33 percent conservative.
• 40 percent support abortion.
• 42 percent believe the perfect number of children is two.
• Only 12 percent believe sex before marriage is “always wrong.”
• 25 percent have a gun at home.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
