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| English: Common geographical regions of Latin America Español: Regiones geográficas típicas de América Latina (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Latin America is home to more than 425 million Catholics – nearly 40%
of the world’s total Catholic population – and the
Roman Catholic
Church now has a Latin American pope for the first time in its history.
Yet identification with
Catholicism has declined throughout the region,
according to a major new
Pew Research Center survey
that examines religious affiliations, beliefs and practices in 18
Latin
American countries and one U.S. territory (
Puerto Rico).
Historical data suggest that for most of the 20th century, from 1900
through the 1960s, at least 90% of Latin America’s population was
Catholic. Today, the Pew Research survey shows, 69% of adults across the
region identify as Catholic. In nearly every country surveyed, the
Catholic Church has experienced net losses from religious switching, as
many Latin Americans have joined evangelical
Protestant churches or
rejected organized religion altogether.
On Nov. 13, 2014, the Pew Research Center brought together members of
the Latin America community, religious leaders, scholars, members of
the media and other experts for a round-table discussion about the
latest data on religion in Latin America.
Speakers:
Jim Bell, Director of International Survey Research, Pew Research Center
Neha Sahgal, Senior Researcher, Pew Research Center
Andrew Chesnut, Professor of
Religious Studies,
Virginia Commonwealth University
Moderator:
Alan Cooperman, Director of Religion Research, Pew Research Center
>
Event Transcript: Religion in Latin America
