The Church of Vatican II France: A Church on the road to extinction
The Church of Vatican II --
France: A Church on the road to extinction
On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, Ifop / La Croix published a survey (Les Français et le catholicisme 50 ans après Vatican II - h/t to Le Salon Beige) on the state of Catholicism in France as of this year vis-a-vis the results of a similar survey in 1961. It contains important, updated information on the percentage of baptized Catholics in France and of church attendance in the same country as based on the survey results. The study itself was carried out only in late September of this year. In brief, the results of the survey are:
Baptized Catholics:
92% in 1961
80% in 2012
Mass attendance:
(Note: what is translated here as 'sometimes' is to be understood as 'sometimes in the course of the year' - quelquefois dans l'année.)
Among all French, whether baptized Catholic or not:
1961: 35% every Sunday or more, 33% sometimes, 24% never, 8% non-baptized.
2012: 6% every Sunday or more, 28% sometimes, 46% never, 20% non-baptized.
Among all baptized Catholics:
1961: 25% every Sunday, 13% "as often as possible", 36% sometimes, 26% never
2012: 5% every Sunday, 2% "as often as possible", 35% sometimes, 58% never
Regarding Mass attendance among baptized Catholics in 2012, by age group:
Age group 65 and above:
15% every Sunday, 4% "as often as possible", 35% sometimes, 46% never
Age group 50 to 64:
3% every Sunday, 3% "as often as possible", 38% sometimes, 56% never
Age group 35 to 49:
2% every Sunday, 1% "as often as possible", 37% sometimes, 60% never
Age group 25 to 34:
1% every Sunday, 1% "as often as possible", 33% sometimes, 65% never
Age group 18 to 24:
No figures (0%) for every Sunday, 2% "as often as possible", 19% sometimes, 79% never
Rorate Caeli