by Father John Flynn, LC

Americans are prone to changing their church affiliation, according to a report released by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life published April 27.

The study found that 28% of American adults have changed their religious affiliation from the one in which they were raised..

The survey discovered that there is a notable difference between Catholics and Protestants when it comes to the factors causing a change.

Protestants: Almost 40% of Protestants said they changed denominations simply because of moving. An almost equal number attributed the change due to marrying someone from a different religious affiliation.

Catholics: Two-thirds of Catholics, by contrast, left the Church due to no longer believing in some of its teachings. Nearly six-in-ten former Catholics who are now unaffiliated said they left due to dissatisfaction with Catholic teachings on abortion and homosexuality. About half cited concerns about Catholic teachings on birth control.

Just over 10% of American adults have left the Catholic Church after having been raised Catholic. This is notably greater than the number joining the Catholic Church. Only 2.6% of adults have become Catholic after having been raised something other than Catholic.

The survey also found that age and religious formation in changing religious allegiances are critical factors. Most of those who left the faith they were brought up in did so before reaching 24 years of age.

Unaffiliated: The study revealed that the category of people who are unaffiliated with any particular religion has grown more rapidly than any other religious group in recent decades: 16% of American adults say they are currently unaffiliated with any particular religion.

Approximately four-in-ten unaffiliated individuals say religion is somewhat important in their lives.

Christianity is now much less of a force in politics and culture. Christianity is still strong in America and that it would be wrong to define it as "post-Christian." This will strengthen rather than weaken the Christian church over the long run.

In recent years evangelical Christians were the ones who most exerted cultural and political influence and the relative decline of their power opens up the possibility for other Christian groups to make an impact.

President Barack Obama said in a speech given April 6 during a visit to Turkey that "The United States does not consider itself a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation" but "a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values."

Still spiritual: no less than 63% of Americans who claim no religious affiliation believe in God, and 36% said they prayed at least occasionally.

It is more accurate to say that Christianity in America is changing rather than declining. A greater number of people are reluctant to identify themselves with institutional religion, but they are still spiritually inclined.

In a question and answer session with American bishops last April 16 the Pope addressed the subject of religious faith being more a "pick and choose" approach.

The American people are, in fact, deeply religious, the Pope stressed, but an individualistic approach can reduce religion to its lowest common denominator, leaving it without much practical relevance when it comes to everyday life.

The Pope encouraged Americans to connect more the Gospel truths and the principles of natural law with what is the pursuit of authentic human good.

The challenge, then, is to bring about this new beginning for Christianity.