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Home Research Topics Religion Religions Christianity Catholicism
Pew Research CenterAugust 28, 2015
U.S. Catholics Open to Non-Traditional Families

About Half of Those Raised Catholic Leave the Church – Sometimes Temporarily, Sometimes Permanently

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About Half of Those Raised Catholic Leave the Church – Sometimes Temporarily, Sometimes Permanently

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U.S. Catholics Open to Non-Traditional Families
One-in-Four Catholics Have Gone Through a Divorce; More Than Four-in-Ten Have Lived With a Romantic Partner
Catholics Say Traditional Families Ideal; Other Family Arrangements Acceptable
Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Have Close Connection to Catholicism
About Half of Those Raised Catholic Leave the Church – Sometimes Temporarily, Sometimes Permanently
Catholics Who Regularly Attend Mass Less Accepting of Non-Traditional Families
Catholics Who Attend Mass Weekly Are Less Accepting of Homosexual Be
Fewer Than Half of Catholics Say Homosexual Behavior, Remarriage Without Annulment, Cohabitation, Contraception Are Sins
Ex-Catholics Have Favorable View of the Pope, But Otherwise Are Firmly Disconnected From the Church
Six-in-Ten Catholics Say Working to Help Poor Is Essential Part of Catholicism; Fewer Say This About Working to Address Climate Change
More Than Four-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Catholics, Cultural Catholics, Ex-Catholics or Connected to Catholicism in Other Ways
More Than Eight-in-Ten Latinos Have Direct Catholic Connections
At Least Four-in-Ten in Every Generational Cohort Have Catholic Connections
Catholic Identity by Region
Cultural Catholics Give Variety of Reasons for Considering Themselves Catholic
Being Catholic Mainly Matter of Religion, Ancestry or Culture?
Two-Thirds of Catholics Say Personal Relationship With Jesus, Belief in Resurrection Are Essential to What Being Catholic Means to Them
Like Catholics, Most Cultural Catholics Name Personal Relationship With Jesus, Belief in Resurrection, Working to Help Poor as Essential to Catholic Identity
Partisan Differences Among Catholics on Whether Abortion, Climate Change, Helping Poor Are Key to Catholic Identity
Seven-in-Ten Catholics Say They Could Not Imagine Leaving the Church
Nearly Three-Quarters of Current Catholics Are Lifelong Catholics; Nearly One-Fifth Left Church but Returned
Most Who Have Left Catholic Church Say They Will Not Return
Nearly Half of Cultural Catholics Say They Attend Mass at Least Occasionally
Mass Attendance Among Catholics
Most Catholics Regularly Receive Communion When They Attend Mass
White Catholics More Likely Than Hispanics to Regularly Receive Communion
Four-in-Ten Catholics Say They Go to Confession at Least Once a Year
Lenten Observance, Anointing of the Sick
Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Lenten Observance Among Catholics
Prayer: Memorized Devotions or Personal Conversations?
Style of Prayer Among Catholics
Familial Obligations to Participate in Catholic Activities
Many Catholics Say They Sometimes Participate in Catholic Activities to Please Family or Friends
Two-Thirds of Married Catholics Were Married in the Church
Marital History Among Catholics and Catholic-Connected Groups
Compared With Other Groups, Catholics Who Have Been Married Are Less Likely to Have Obtained a Divorce
A Quarter of Divorced Catholics Have Sought an Annulment From the Catholic Church
Reasons for Not Seeking an Annulment
Cohabitation History Among Catholics, Cultural Catholics and Ex-Catholics
Cohabitation, Remarriage and Eligibility for Communion
Broad Acceptance of Various Living Arrangements for Adults
Multiple Ways of Life Deemed Acceptable for Adults
Catholics Views on Adults’ Lifestyles
Nuclear Family Seen as Ideal for Child Rearing, but Other Arrangements Also Seen as Acceptable
Wide Range of Acceptable Child-Rearing Arrangements
Catholics’ Views on Child-Rearing Arrangements
More Reticence About Same-Sex Child-Rearing Than Other Arrangements
Most Catholics Support Changes in Key Church Teachings and Policies
Religious and Demographic Differences on Sinfulness of Cohabitation, Divorce and Remarriage
About a Third of Catholics Say Remarrying After a Divorce Without an Annulment Is Sinful
Fewer Than Half of Catholics, U.S. Adults Overall Say Buying Luxuries Without Giving to Poor, Using Energy Without Considering Environment Are Sinful

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