Washington D.C., Aug 7, 2018 / 13:28 pm
A new survey of motives of U.S. churchgoers and non-churchgoers reveals that a significant percentage of Catholics who don't go to church claim to practice their faith "in other ways," a report from the Pew research center says.
Among those who attend religious services a few times a year or less, 37 percent said one very important reason why they don't go is because "I practice my faith in other ways." Another 28 percent said they are not religious believers, while 23 percent have said they haven't found a church or house of worship they like.
Among Catholic respondents who rarely attend religious services, 47 percent said they practice their faith in other ways. Under 20 percent said they rarely attended because they haven't found a church they like, they don't like the sermons, or they don't feel welcome. Similarly, under 20 percent said they lacked time, had poor health or problems with mobility, or lacked a church in their area.
About 12 percent of self-described Catholics who rarely attend religious services said they didn't attend because they aren't believers.