Actually, Catholics included in the count may not be very observant, but nowadays they must do something over the course of a year to be counted in a census.
Incidentally, Catholic church attendance in Europe is far higher than Protestant church attendance.
Most go to mass at Christmas... another tradition
Incidentally, Catholic church attendance in Europe is far higher than Protestant church attendance.
By percentage or number? Most of Europe is Catholic by definition.However it is only the traditional Protestant churches that have declining attendance, the evangelical churches are doing fine.
"Church attendance in Europe has been steadily decreasing in recent decades. Traditional Protestant and Roman Catholic churches have a hard time drawing in new members, particularly young people. But Evangelical churches are booming across the region, particularly those attended by immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.''
Article here
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-07/2006-07-24-voa48.cfm?CFID=80781544&CFTOKEN=45335555
Only because the “protestants” you speak of in Yoor-up are the members of the state Anglican and Lutheran Churches. Pentescostalism and Free Church evangelicalism is a western hemisphere phenomenon. Guess who is winning converts left and right in Latin America?