CARA Archives

Incoming priests had varied professions before entering seminary

May 8, 2019

The new crop of priests being ordained this year had a wide variety of careers before discerning a call to priesthood, according to a report issued May 3 by the Center for Applied Research in the apostolate.

By Mark Pattison

Researcher: Difference between ‘considering leaving’ and ‘leaving’ Church

Mar 14, 2019

The headlines from a March 13 Gallup Poll about the growing number of U.S. Catholics who have thought about leaving the Church because of the clergy abuse crisis did not faze one researcher of Catholic data too much.

By Carol Zimmermann

Most U.S. bishops say they would ordain women deacons, if Vatican gives OK

Jan 22, 2019

A new study found that a majority of U.S. bishops are skeptical of the theoretical possibility of women deacons.

By Christopher White

Study: US religious orders overwhelmingly back women deacons

Aug 2, 2018

A new survey has found that the majority of U.S. Catholic religious orders believe women should be allowed to serve as ordained deacons, lending support to an issue currently under study at the Vatican amid pressure for women to be given greater roles in the Church.

By Nicole Winfield

New study seeks to understand why young people leave the Church

Jan 17, 2018

A new study released this week by St. Mary’s Press and CARA seeks to understand why young people are leaving the faith.

By Christopher White

Post-Bannon, do Catholics have sway in the Trump White House?

Aug 25, 2017

Especially after the departure of Steve Bannon, it seems an open question how much influence Catholics have in President Donald Trump’s White House, despite the fact that several of the president’s top aides are actually Catholic. One observer says the door may be open to Catholics who support the president’s agenda, but closed for those not inclined to be “cheerleaders.”

By Christopher White