Mass attendance in the Denver Archdiocese is higher than that of the national average, shows a recent survey commissioned by the Denver Archdiocese. The survey also shows that a majority of Catholics in the archdiocese, 51 percent, are “fervent” or “faithful” in their belief.
A total of 45 percent of local Catholics polled said they attended Mass in the prior week, compared to 32 percent nationally.

While the survey included a caution that Mass attendance can be overstated, the results are evidence that a much higher proportion of Catholics within the archdiocese are attending Mass compared to Catholics nationwide.

The study, conducted last fall by Boulder market research firm Core Insights, polled 834 self-identified Catholics living in the archdiocese and included 74 in-depth one-on-one interviews. The survey margin of error is 2.8 percent.

Using the most recent U.S. Census results, the study shows the total general population living in the geographic area of the archdiocese to be nearly 3.3 million people. The 2008 Archdiocesan Directory shows that 407,500 people are registered parishioners (figure from December 2006). A majority of those polled in the survey, 58 percent, said they were registered parishioners.

Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., said the survey was done to get more comprehensive information about the archdiocese than an annual Mass attendance survey, which is conducted every fall.

“For the past several years I’ve noticed a pattern in the numbers of those attending weekend Masses,” said Archbishop Chaput. “Colorado, like most of the Rocky Mountain West, is a very secular environment.  We’ve seen from experience that World Youth Day 1993 had a big, positive impact on the Church here.  But it’s also true that formal religious involvement tends to be weaker in our region than in other parts of the country.  So we get mixed signals.

“We do a survey every October of the parishes in the archdiocese, and the numbers have been going down in a general kind of way,” he said. “Because of that, I was looking for a factual study that would help us understand this pattern and address it.”

The most common excuse given for not attending Mass, cited by 26 percent of the respondents, is being too busy, the survey shows, with 17 percent of those polled stating a lack of time and 9 percent claiming work commitments.

Interestingly, nearly half of those who said they had not attended Mass in the prior week maintained they did plan to attend the next week. The survey shows that a majority of those who said they “definitely” planned to attend were likely to follow through, while only a small minority of those who said they “probably” would attend would actually follow through.

The main motivation given by those who said they “definitely” or “probably” would attend Mass, was “a desire to be in the presence of the Lord,” which was cited by 21 percent of the participants.

Experiencing a sense of community, hearing a good homily, and receiving the Eucharist are key factors contributing to Mass attendance, the survey reveals, with high majorities of those polled — 82, 74 and 65 percents respectively — saying they either somewhat, strongly or completely agreed with those statements.

A lesser majority of those polled, 55 percent, said they either somewhat, strongly, or completely agreed with the statement “prayer and spiritual reflection is a reasonable substitute for Mass.”

“The individuals who feel most stressed and time constrained feel they need to rest up and repair themselves by not attending Mass,” said Marc Miller, founder and chief strategist of Core Insights. Their view, he said, is “My faith will go on.”

However, people with this perspective usually know they are missing the Eucharist, the homily, and sense of friendship and community that come from public worship, said Miller. 

“They also miss that greater sense of spiritual fulfillment that is felt right after attending Mass,” he said.

The overall attitude among those identifying themselves as registered parishioners, according to the survey, is they feel fairly positive and supportive of their parishes. While parishioners typically feel known and valued by parish leaders, volunteers sometimes feel unappreciated, the survey shows.
Attitudes about the Denver Archdiocese and its leadership, were strongly positive.

Nearly half, 47 percent, said they feel the archdiocese is clear and consistent in communicating position on current issues.
Despite national and local coverage of sex abuse cases involving Catholic priests in the past, a clear majority of those polled expressed trust in the priests of the Denver Archdiocese. A majority, 57 percent, said they have a high level of trust in priests today.

“From the data, we know that there’s a strong belief and confidence in the Archdiocese of Denver that really stems from an understanding of what Archbishop Chaput is doing,” said Miller.

More than half of those identifying themselves as registered parishioners, 58 percent, said they tithe. But if tithing were practiced by that number, current levels of parish and archdiocesan contributions would be much higher than they actually are, the study shows.

Among parishioners disclosing the amount of money donated to their parish on a monthly basis, a majority, 54 percent, say they donate $100 or less. Clear evidence, said Miller, that tithing is overstated and parish funding can often be inadequate.

Nearly half, 48 percent, said they wished they had a larger income to contribute more to the Church. An equal percentage, however, expressed a concern that donations could be used to fight future sex abuse claims.

Improved personal finances and the ability to donate more were the reasons given by a majority of respondents, 53 percent, for increased giving to their parish. Income limitations were cited by the majority, 57 percent, of those who decreased their parish donations.

Less than half of the Catholics polled, 44 percent, said they had heard of the Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal, which funds more than 50 ministries and services vital to the archdiocese.

Among those who said they consistently give to the ACA, the greatest number, 23 percent, said the impetus for their giving was a desire to help the needy.

Other survey findings include:

• Ethnicity in the general population of the archdiocese’s geographic area is 70 percent Anglo, 21 percent Hispanic and 9 percent other groups.

• Among those of Mexican or other Latino ethnicity, 63 percent prefer accommodation for Spanish-speaking immigrants (such as offering Spanish-language Masses and ministries) whereas 52 percent of Anglos prefer assimilation.

• Four broad groups were identified by the survey: “the fervent,” those who actively express and live their faith and support their parish and the archdiocese (29 percent); “faithful followers,” those who hold more traditional beliefs, are reverent and look to the Church for guidance (22 percent); “under development,” those who are uncomfortable with their personal spirituality, are seeking something more and need religious education (20 percent); and “detached doubters,” those who disagree with various Church teachings, are disengaged and seldom attend Mass (29 percent).

That most Catholics in the archdiocese are fervent or faithful in their beliefs is very positive, said Miller. Those who are less engaged with the Church, he noted, would benefit from additional religious formation.

“We want to use this information as a platform for evangelization,” said Archbishop Chaput. “Both in terms of energizing those who are already Catholics but lukewarm in their practice, and reaching out to those who have no religious commitment.

“All of the various people I’ve discussed this study with — the Presbyteral Council, the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, the Archdiocesan Finance Council, my own staff and other groups — have found the research both important and very helpful,” he continued. “We intend to have a multi-phase consultation on how those of us in the archdiocese should respond to the study.”