Shameless Popery #261 Catholic Conversions Hit Decade Highs…But There’s a Catch
Apr 2, 2026
Conversions to Catholicism are rising in many dioceses, with notable spikes in cities and on college campuses. Data debates probe whether this is recovery from COVID, a true revival, or a generational shift. Local parish life, devotional practices, and retention rates get attention. Practical evangelization and cautions about politicizing faith are discussed.
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College Campuses Driving New Conversions
- Campus and city OCIA/RCIA classes are growing notably with many schools roughly doubling incoming converts year-over-year.
- Harvard, Arizona State, and University of Michigan reported about 40–50 students planning reception, often double prior years.
Religious Nones Are Declining According To CES
- The Cooperative Election Study shows the religiously unaffiliated percentage has reversed and dropped significantly from 36.2% in 2022 to 31.8% in recent data.
- CES sample sizes (15k+ off-year, 60k+ election year) make these declines statistically meaningful.
Gen Z Narrows Catholic Protestant Gap
- Young generations show a noticeable Catholic uptick versus Protestants, with Gen Z about 19% Catholic and Protestants 22%, narrowing historic gaps.
- This shift may reflect conversion, switching from Protestantism, and immigration effects.