(ZENIT News / Washington, 16.02.2024).- A study by Georgetown University’s Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate and the Peyton Institute for Life of the Domestic Church revealed some common factors among families whose children remain practicing Catholics in adulthood (at present, it’s only 15% in the United States).
Highlighted among the findings was that these families generally described their homes as warm and affectionate, integrating the faith in their daily family routines.
Also highlighted was the importance of going to Mass weekly carrying out works of service and making donations. When children went to their parents with doubts about the faith, the parents talked to them and explained things to them instead of imposing their authority.
The study also showed a decrease in the number of American adults, raised as Catholics, who remain in the faith and go to Mass weekly, which suggests the need to strengthen the transmission of the faith in the home and the community.
In the decade of the ‘70s, according to “Our Sunday Visitor” (OSV), “an average of 36% of those raised as Catholics remained Catholics as adults and went to Mass weekly (reaching a maximum of 40% in 1977).” Later, the data showed that “this average percentage decreased by 32% in the decade of the ‘80s, to 25% in the decade of the ‘90s and to 21% in the decade of 2000. In the 2010 decade, this average was 15% and 14% in the 2018 study.”
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
