Fifty years ago, America was about 70% Protestant and 20% Catholic. Today, it’s about 25% Protestant and 25% Catholic. By “Protestant,” I mean to include all Christians who are members of churches founded during and after the Reformation, including Baptists, Anglicans, Non-denominationalists, and Restorationists. By “Catholic,” I mean only those who have maintained current enrollment in their church; contrary to presumption, this does not mean all baptized Catholics, but it does include significant numbers of “A&P” (”Ashes and Palms”) Catholics.
I’ve seen many Protestants claim that their churches have such vast proportions of Catholics among them. If so, that only means that the apostasy rate among Protestant churches is o-so-much higher.
Our non-denominational, former American Baptist Church, has welcomed a great many former Catholics, including its pastor and my husband. No apostasy there. These are all fine Christians who love the freedom in our church.
Where do you get your figures? According to Adherents.com, the Pew Research Council reported 52% "Protestant", 24% "Catholic", ad 2% Mormon in 2002. For 2000, Harris reports 71.7% Christian, broke down as 49.5% "All Protestants", 19.9% "Catholic", and 1.4% Mormon.
Growth figures from 1990 to 2001 include:
Assemblies of God +68% Churches of Christ +47% Pentecostal/Charismatic +38% Episcopalian/Anglican +13% Presbyterian +12% "Catholic" +11%
The term I hear tossed about is “Creaster” Catholics...meaning, Catholics who only go to Mass on Christmas and Easter.
Although I do understand the point of “Ashes and Palms” Catholics...after all, those are two masses where you “get stuff.” The church is always full on Ash Wednesday even though it isn’t a holy day of obligation.