Muslims to outnumber Catholics

LONDON -- New research indicates that within the next 12 years, the number of Muslims worshiping at mosques in Britain will outstrip that of Roman Catholics attending traditional church services.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported March 25 on the study by Britain's Christian Research organization that estimates, based on present trends, the number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass will have dropped to 679,000 by 2020. At the same time, the number of Muslims in attendance at mosques will have climbed to 683,000.

The Christian Research report is based on British government and academic information as well as the firm's own Religious Trends study. The Telegraph says the report shows that if Catholic and Protestant churches "do not reverse their historical decline, there will be more active Muslims than Christians in Sunday services across Britain before the end of the middle of the [21st] century."

COPYRIGHT 2008 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning