SW News: An alarming picture of the future of Catholic Mass attendance in the USA has been painted by a recent Pew Research Center poll that found that just about one-third of Catholic parents in the country believe it is important to nurture their children in the faith.

A poll of 3,757 American parents with children under the age of 18 conducted in the fall of 2022 served as the basis for the Pew research. In the survey, only 35 percent of Catholic parents said it is very important to pass on their faith to their children and the same percentage said they did not attach much value to raising their wards as Catholics. About 30 percent of parents said it was somewhat significant to pass on the faith to their children. On the other hand, 70 percent of White Evangelical parents said they valued handing over the faith to kids. They were followed by Black Protestants at 53 percent.

Parents who identify as white evangelical Protestants are more likely than American Catholic parents, in general, to state that it is very or very essential that their children have similar religious views to their own. Seventy percent of them wish to nurture their kids in the faith. Also holding a similar opinion are 53 per cent of black Protestant parents. Only white non-Evangelical Protestants, with only 29 per cent responding positively, reported lower levels of significance in passing on their religion than Catholics.

When respondents were analyzed based on how often they attended Mass, it was discovered that parents' religious preferences were aligned with the value they placed on their kids' religion. Three times as many individuals (76% vs. 21%) who regularly attend religious services want their kids to grow up with strong religious beliefs.

Just 17 per cent of American Catholics attend Mass one or more times each week, down from 24% in 2019, according to research conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate in January.

While 81% of Catholic parents believe it is essential for their children to grow up to be compassionate people who help those in need, the study also found that Protestant parents share this belief.

79 per cent of parents said it was essential for their kids to have a warm attitude towards others who are different from them as they get older.