New York – A new study from the Pew Research Center highlights a significant shift in the religious landscape of the United States, particularly within the Hispanic community. While the percentage of white, Black, and Asian adults identifying as Catholic has remained relatively stable, the proportion of Hispanic adults who identify as Catholic has sharply declined over the past 16 years.
The 2023-24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study found that between 2007 and 2023-24, the percentage of white adults identifying as Catholic dropped from 22% to 17%, Black adults from 5% to 4%, and Asian adults from 17% to 14%. However, the decline among Hispanic adults is more pronounced, decreasing from 58% to 42%.
A Long-Term Decline in Hispanic Catholicism
Gregory A. Smith, a senior associate director of research at Pew, emphasized that this trend has been ongoing for years.
“The Catholic share of the Hispanic population in the United States has been declining rapidly for a long time,” Smith said. “There was a time when we thought the U.S. Catholic population could become majority Hispanic. However, we’ve now reached the point where most Hispanics in the U.S. are not Catholic, and we’ve been there for some time.”
Currently, 36% of Catholics in the U.S. are Hispanic. This number, while significant, reflects the broader decline in religious affiliation among younger generations.
Why Are Hispanic Catholics Leaving?
Religious scholars attribute the shift to multiple factors, including generational changes and evolving cultural influences.
Hosffman Ospino, a professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education at Boston College, pointed to the growing U.S.-born Hispanic population as a major reason for the decline.
“The larger the Hispanic population becomes, and the more of that population that is U.S.-born and U.S.-raised, the greater the decline in Catholic affiliation we will see,” Ospino said.
According to the Pew study, 64% of U.S. Hispanics today are born and raised in the country. Unlike past generations, who were primarily immigrants with strong religious ties, newer generations are growing up in a more secularized and pluralistic society.
The Role of the Catholic Church
While cultural shifts play a significant role, Ospino argues that the Catholic Church also bears some responsibility for the decline. He suggests that many second-generation Hispanic Americans feel neglected by pastoral outreach, which is often designed for Spanish-speaking immigrants.
“Most Hispanic ministry efforts in the U.S. focus on immigrants—Masses in Spanish, sacraments in Spanish, and social services for immigrant communities. While these efforts are essential, we haven’t developed effective ways to engage second-generation Latinos who are U.S.-born and raised,” Ospino explained.
He noted that many church leaders assume young Hispanic Americans will either adopt their parents’ religious traditions or assimilate into predominantly white, English-speaking Catholic communities—neither of which is happening in large numbers.
“We need better ways to reach this community,” Ospino said, adding that parishes should focus on youth engagement and family ministry at the local level rather than relying on overarching national initiatives.
Broader Trends in U.S. Catholicism
Beyond the Hispanic community, the Pew study reveals a relative stabilization in the overall Catholic population. While the early 2000s and 2010s saw a sharp decline in the number of Catholics, the past decade has shown more consistency. In 2014, Catholics made up 21% of the U.S. population, compared to 19% in 2023-24.
However, Smith warns that this stability is not guaranteed.
“Older Americans, who tend to be more religious, make up a shrinking portion of the population. Meanwhile, younger generations are far less religious than their predecessors. If nothing changes, the long-term decline in American religious affiliation will likely continue,” Smith said.
To counteract this trend, the U.S. Catholic Church faces a major challenge: evangelizing young people in an increasingly secular culture.
The Church’s Path Forward
Archbishop Charles Thompson, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, believes the Church must adopt a more dialogical approach to engage younger generations.
“We must ask, ‘How does the Church transform culture and address these issues?’ Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of an intentional, synodal approach—listening, accompanying, and walking with people on their faith journey,” Thompson said.
Tim Glemkowski, former CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress and current leader of Amazing Parish, echoes this sentiment. He argues that efforts to grow the faith should be rooted in local parish communities.
“The question is, how can the national Church—meaning the USCCB—best support evangelization efforts in dioceses and parishes? The focus should be on strengthening local outreach rather than implementing broad national initiatives,” Glemkowski said.
As the percentage of Hispanic Catholics in the U.S. continues to decline, the Church faces a critical moment in its history. Addressing generational and cultural shifts while strengthening pastoral outreach will be essential in reversing this trend. Whether through youth-focused initiatives, family ministries, or localized parish support, the Church must find ways to connect with younger Hispanic Catholics before the decline accelerates further.
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