Census 2022: 10% reduction in Roman Catholic numbers

Is it though?

3.69million down to 3.51 million?

Considering all the abuse scandals, aging population (how many Catholics have literally died in the last 6 years), high levels of immigration.....

Attending mass or not has no bearing on whether someone identifies as catholic.

Was the question asked the exact same way in both years; it can have a massive influence.

The whole heaven and hell and everlasting life along with some lad sticking a red hot poker up your arse full all eternity if you don't obey this set of rules just doesn't wash with people anymore

When you die, you're worm food. People are educated now. I'm surprised the number isn't higher.

I expect people probably don't think too much about that Question on the census but I think it's a great result and trend. Hopefully we can get the church out of our schools soon. Many more parents would abandon communions and confirmations if they were told the prep had to take place outside school and they had to help out or even go to mass regularly! It's all a bit of a sham really. Time to grow up.

I am delighted with those numbers and I know the young people growing up today will have zero qualms around saying no religion...except the jedis perhaps.

Is that you Bishop O'Neill?

How many of those that tick no religion actually practice the rituals. I'd say quite a lot. That to me is being part of the religion no if it buts. Having actual faith is another question entirely.

Define regularly. I know overseas communities which expect to see people on average 1 week in 6, but still count them as members

If you are Jewish, then yes.

Hopefully, this will lead to changes across education and healthcare in Ireland. TDs shouldn't feel the need to cater to constituents who they think could have Catholic beliefs. I'm all for learning about religion (in a general sense) in school, but the fact that there is an admissions hierarchy and Catholicism is one of the considerations in the hierarchy is an absolute disgrace. Parents who choose not to baptise their children and yet pay taxes which go to the nearby school that will openly discriminate against them if the last spot is between a baptised Catholic and a non-baptised child is outrageous. Education should be universal, religion is personal.

I also reckon as the number further decreases in the coming census and it becomes clear that being Catholic is no longer in vogue, people will feel more brave and honest about how they identify leading to a much more dramatic fall in the number.

Fear of what, exactly would cause people to lie in the census?

Based on the numbers in the OP the actual number of catholics is only down 5%,

It's the percentage population that identify as catholic thats down 10% which isn't quite the same thing.

If there was a category called "Non-practicing, self identified Catholic" I think that would be more than the rest combined.