Likely less than half the number Rome claims.
As examples...
Italy...
is a "Roman Catholic country", but only 1/3 go to church. They are frequently baptized and married in churches, but never go.Belgium ...Population 59,000,000 * 1/3 = Actual practicing Romans 19,000,000
Over 75% of Belgians are Roman Catholic. However, as elsewhere in Northwest Europe, secularisation has hit hard in Belgium; Sunday church attendance has dropped well below 10% as per latest research such as from the "Centrum voor politicologie" of the Catholic University Leuven. Although sources are quoting different figures between 4 and 9%, a church attendance of 6% in 2009 seems to be the most likely figure. (Wiki collected)11,000,000 population * .75 = 8,000,000 likely counted by Rome.
6% of Catholics go to a church service in a year, according to the quote above (Wiki).
This means 495,000 are practicing catholics.
That is just two countries.
The numbers are inflated and bandied about as puffery.
The number of practicing catholics is likely somewhere between 500 million and 750 million... and that is a generous number.
You may well be right if we speak only of the Catholic population now.
But metmom's ire is directed at all Catholics without distinction, past, present and future:
You’ve had 2,000 years to try.Oh. I wonder what the number would be for the Catholic Church through the ages? The word "myriads" comes to mind.
It hasn’t happened yet. You are not fine now and tyou never were.
And you’re not going to be.
It's a pretty comprehensive moral defamation.
And as I said, it's disappointing, coming from a person who usually manifests a more exacting judgment and a greater regard for truth that that.
I think the better question would be is how many are truly followers of Christ....and only Christ?
Subtract out all of those who wear the Scapular and/or the Miraculous Medal or who are relying upon Mary for their salvation.
The remaining number would be a very small one.