Catholic Church Sees More Departures Than Conversions

Surveys show a 38% increase in conversions, but the overall trend is one of declining participation.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:11am

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A highly stylized, silkscreen-inspired illustration featuring a repeating pattern of a Catholic rosary or communion wafer in a vibrant neon color palette, conceptually representing the changing dynamics within the Catholic Church.As the Catholic Church grapples with declining participation, the visual language of pop art offers a bold new way to examine the evolving role of faith in American life.Washington Today

While the Easter Vigil saw a 38% surge in conversions to Catholicism across the U.S., the overall trend is one of more people leaving the faith than joining. Data shows that in 1973, 84% of those raised Catholic still identified as such, but by 2022 that figure had dropped to 62%. Weekly Mass attendance has also plummeted, from 34% in 1973 to just 11% in 2022. Experts say the story is about which parishes are growing versus which are dying, with larger, family-oriented congregations tending to thrive.

Why it matters

The shifting Catholic landscape has major implications for the future of the church in America. Growing parishes with more baptisms, weddings, and seminarians stand in contrast to declining congregations, raising questions about the geographic, numerical, and practical future of Catholicism in the U.S.

The details

While Easter saw a 38% surge in conversions across 140 U.S. dioceses, the overall trend is one of more people leaving Catholicism than joining. Data shows the percentage of those raised Catholic who still identify as such has dropped from 84% in 1973 to just 62% in 2022. Weekly Mass attendance has also plummeted, from 34% in 1973 to 20% in 2002 and 11% in 2022. For every person who converts to Catholicism, 6.5 leave the faith, with around 13% of U.S. adults now being former Catholics.

  • In 1973, 84% of those raised Catholic still identified as such.
  • By 2002, that figure had dropped to 74%.
  • By 2022, it had further declined to 62%.

The players

Brendan Hodge

A contributing editor for The Pillar, who discussed the differing realities for growing versus declining Catholic parishes.

Michael Rota and Stephen Bullivant

Researchers who noted the dramatic decline in weekly Mass attendance, from 34% in 1973 to just 11% in 2022.

Ryan Burge

A researcher at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, who found that conversion to Catholicism is rare, with just 3% of evangelicals, 5% of mainliners, and 2% of Black Protestants ending up Catholic.

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What they’re saying

“If you're in a congregation that's in decline, you aren't surrounded by young families and converts who are excited about the Catholic faith. Your reality is very different.”

— Brendan Hodge, Contributing editor, The Pillar

“Perhaps a more salient question is how many of those raised Catholic still participate in Mass every Sunday. In 1973, about 34% of all those raised Catholic were attending Mass weekly (or more often) when they were surveyed as adults. By 2002, the number had fallen to 20%. By 2022, it had plummeted to 11%.”

— Michael Rota and Stephen Bullivant, Researchers

“Despite popular online narratives, conversion to Catholicism is rare. Just 3% of evangelicals, 5% of mainliners, and 2% of Black Protestants end up Catholic. The Catholic Church simply does not gain many converts.”

— Ryan Burge, Researcher, John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics

The takeaway

The shifting Catholic landscape in America is a complex story, with growing parishes contrasting sharply with declining congregations. Understanding the factors behind these divergent trends, from demographics to religious practices, will be crucial in shaping the future of the Catholic Church in the U.S.