In 20 Years, Catholics in Latin America Down From 8 to 5 Million


These numbers include the Carribean. In another 20 years the number will drop well below half of what it was in the year 2000. Latin America and the Carribean represent 40% of the Catholic Church. 

While declining numbers in Christianity is old news, these numbers from Latin America are relevant because they represent a truth some Catholics refuse to embrace: Catholicism is dropping rapidly. The counter argument often made is that Catholicism is growing in Africa and China. There are plenty of reasons why this will not continue and certainly will not replace the drop in Latin America. The happy fact some try to sell about the faith does not reflect reality.

All that said, the Catholic Church will remain in business because it has several businesses. It has contracts with governments to provide social services and has lots of valuable real estate. Perhaps these businesses will be able to fund the long standing Vatican and Bishop's organization that cranks out opinion pieces against abortions, sin and Satan.

 In Latin America a different brand of Christianity has grown rapidly. It sometimes goes under the name of charismatics. After Spain conquered lots of the continent most of the indigenous people were forced into Catholicism. Now the shelf life of Catholicism has expired and something new has replaced it. Given enough time yet another form of religion will replace this one. It would be ironic if the next religion was the one present before Europeans arrived.  

Along with the fall of the Catholic church has been a rise in rights to abortions. It has not been universal but widespread and important nevertheless. 

When Catholic officials apologize for priests who abused children, I wish they would go one step further. I wish they would apologize for converting millions at the point of the sword. One reason for the huge drop in South American Catholicism may be it was not the religion of those who lived there and never really fit the culture it acquired by force. 

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