Poll: Fewer young Hispanic Catholics

By Taylor Pineda

The Catholic Church is losing followers among the younger Hispanic 18-29 age crowd in the United States, according to a new Gallup Poll.

Over the last five years the number of U.S. Hispanics identifying themselves as Catholics fell from 58 percent in 2008 to 54 percent in 2012. Is it possible that Catholics are losing followers to the Protestant religion? It is possible, however less than half of Hispanics (47 percent) ages 18-29 that identify themselves as Catholics is much lower than those aged older. The number of Latino Protestants rose during this same time period, yet it is believed that the decline in Catholicism is driven from 20 percent of the young Latinos who have no religious affiliation.

The Catholic religion has seen revelations, but perhaps not fast enough? Father Tom Reese, Senior Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University states, “We need to figure out how to preach a Gospel that is understandable and attractive to people in the 21st century.”

About 60 percent of Latino Protestants consider themselves very religious, which is nearly 17 percent more than the Latino Catholic population. Although the Protestant community is smaller, they make up for it in religious participation.

 “These patterns suggest the potential for an increase in the relative or proportionate number of Protestant Hispanics in the years ahead,” the Gallup Poll report read. “If this does happen, and given that Protestant Hispanics are considerably more religious than Catholic Hispanics, this could lead to a higher average level of Hispanic religiosity in future years.”

Reese, former editor of America, the national Catholic weekly magazine, said Catholic parishes have to do a better job preaching, using good music, and developing a better sense of community and programs for kids.

“The Protestant mega-churches and evangelicals understand this,” Reese said. “We can’t just think people are going to come to us, because they came to us in the past.”

“In the last two (papal) conclaves they elected the smartest man in the room. This time they ought to elect the man who will listen to all the smart people in the room,” Reese told Fox News Latino. “I want a diplomat, someone who is good at consensus building because we need all the best minds in Rome working together.”

With revisions and steps in to the future it may be possible to see an increase in Catholicism among Latinos.