Most U.S. Catholic figures show decline

Published: 2006-07-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Catholic population apparently rose by more than a million last year according to figures in the 2006 Official Catholic Directory, but it actually may have fallen once a correction is made for the plainly erroneous figures for the Boston Archdiocese. The 2006 figures are also skewed by a lack of any data from the New Orleans Archdiocese, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina last Aug. 29 and unable to provide statistical data for this year's directory. Even with adjustments to account for lack of data from New Orleans, the U.S. church clearly registered declines in Catholic school enrollments and in almost every area of sacramental practice between 2005 and 2006, according to the directory. The 2,043-page tome, also known as the Kenedy Directory after its New Jersey publishers' imprint, came out at the end of June. It lists all ordained U.S. Catholic clergy, parishes, missions, schools, hospitals and other institutions. It also gives statistical data on the church by diocese and nationally.

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