CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) has released a new national study of adult Catholics: "Experiences of Race, Diversity, and Racism: A National Survey of Adult Catholics."
It examines experiences and opinions on race, prejudice, and racial justice. The report also demonstrates Catholics' feelings towards institutions, leaders, racial/ethnic groups, and social movements.
Major Findings
Respondent Background
• Fifty-three percent of adult Catholics self-identify their race and ethnicity as non-Hispanic white.
Thirty-eight percent self-identify as Hispanic or Latino/a. Five percent are African American,
Black, African, or Afro-Caribbean and 3% Asian, Pacific islander, or Native Hawaiian. One percent
are American Indian, Native American, Native Alaskan, or Indigenous.
Catholic Experience
• Black Catholics are most likely to say they attend a parish that has merged with another parish
community (26%). Among all adult Catholics 20% say they attend a parish that has merged with
another.
• Thirty-five percent of adult Catholics say their parish has a priest in their parish from a country
other than the United States. Forty-five percent of Hispanic or Latino/a Catholics say their parish
has a priest from another country as do 44% of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics.
• Thirty-six percent of adult Catholics indicate having Masses at their parish in a language other
than English or Latin. Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics are especially likely to say
the parish they attend has Masses in a language other than English or Latin (51% and 48%,
respectively).
• Seventy percent of Adult Catholics describe their parish as traditional, 26% as progressive, and
27% as racially and ethnically diverse (respondents could select multiple descriptions that
applied). Black respondents are less likely than non-Hispanic White and Hispanic or Latino/a respondents to attend a traditional parish (61% compared to 72% and 71%, respectively). Asian
and Pacific Islander and Black respondents are especially likely to attend a racially and ethnically
diverse parish (43% and 41%, respectively).
• Twenty-nine percent of Catholics say their parish is growing, 7% declining, and 23% stable in
numbers. Black Catholics were among the most likely to describe their parish as growing in
active members (36%). Non-Hispanic White and Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics were among
the least likely to indicate this (27% each).
Thirty-four percent of adult Catholics want their parish to be more traditional and 24% want it
to be more progressive. Eighteen percent of adult Catholics would prefer their parish to be more
racially and ethnically diverse. Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics are among the most likely to
say they would like their parish to be more traditional (40%). Black Catholics are most likely to
say they would prefer their parish to be more progressive. Black Catholics are also among the
most likely to want their parish to be more racially and ethnically diverse (24%).
• Among adult Catholics 34% would like their parish to be more welcoming to non-members, 21%
more accommodating to those with disabilities, 15% more willing to include other languages
beside English in a multicultural liturgy, and 15% more appreciative of distinct contributions of
racial and ethnic minorities.
Political Issues, Parties, Ideology
• At the time of the survey, adult Catholics felt the following were “among the most important”
issues facing the country: high cost of living/inflation (73%), unemployment/jobs (45%),
poverty/hunger/homelessness (43%), immigration (41%), fuel/oil process (39%), race
relations/racism (38%), and healthcare (38%).
• Thirty-four percent of adult Catholics are Democrats, 32% Republicans, and 34% are
independents. Non-Hispanic White Catholics are most likely to identify as Republicans (40%). A
majority of Black Catholics self-identify as Democrats (54%).
• A third of adult Catholics are liberals, 31% are conservatives, and 36% are moderates. NonHispanic White Catholics are most likely to be conservatives (36%) and Black Catholics are most
likely to be liberals (51%).
Faith in Public Life
• Respondents were asked the importance of three factors in their decision-making: religious
faith, political ideology, and political party. Seventy-three percent of adult Catholics say their
religious faith is the “most important” factor in their decision making. Sixteen percent indicate
their political ideology is “most important” and 11% say their political party is the “most
important” factor in making decisions. Hispanic Catholics are the most likely to say their
religious faith is “most important” while non-Hispanic White are the least likely to say this
(69%).
Encountering Racism
• Sixty percent of adult Catholics believe racism exists in their local community, 14% are unsure,
and 26% say racism does not exist in their local community. Eighteen percent say they observe
racial prejudice in their local community weekly or more often. Nineteen percent observe this
at least once a month and 23% a few times a year. Thirteen percent say they observe this in
their local community once or twice every few years. Twenty-seven percent say they never
observe racial prejudice in their local community. Black Catholics are nearly twice as likely to
report observing racial prejudice weekly or more often in their local community than nonHispanic White respondents (27% compared to 14%). Black Catholics are also least likely to
report never observing racial prejudice in their community (16%).
• About four in ten adult Catholics say they have ever experienced racial discrimination (39%).
This is reported at higher levels among Black Catholics (66%), Hispanic Catholics (54%), and
Asian Catholics (54%).
• Ten percent of Catholics say they have experienced racial discrimination within their parish
community. Black Catholics are significantly more likely to experience racial discrimination
within their parish community than any other group. They are 20 percentage points more likely
to experience racial discrimination compared to non-Hispanic White Catholics, 15 percentage
points more likely than Asian Catholics, and 9 percentage points more likely than Hispanic
Catholics.
• Eleven percent of Catholics say they have experienced racial discrimination within Catholic
education. Black Catholics are also most likely to experience racial discrimination within
Catholic education (26%). This is 19 percentage points more likely than non-Hispanic White
Catholics (7%) and 15 percentage points higher than all adult Catholics (11%). Non-Hispanic
White and Asian Catholics are the least likely to experience racial discrimination within Catholic
education (7% and 14%, respectively).
• Adult Catholics are most likely to see racism as an issue, “a great deal” or “a lot,” for police
(36%), government (35%), housing (34%), and business (31%). Hispanic Catholics are more
likely to see racism as being an issue, “a great deal” or “a lot,” in government (43%) and the
police (44%) than in other institutions and organizations. Black Catholics are especially likely,
more so than others, to say racism is an issue, “a great deal” or “a lot,” for the police (54%).
Black Catholics also are especially likely to see racism as being this kind of an issue for business
(49%), housing (45%), and education (41%)
Source - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/629c7d00b33f845b6435b6ab/t/6adf8c3ccbb3a47eaa811447/1793035324472/Report+-+Final+with+Cover+Page.pdf
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