Bridget Mary's Response: I agree with Patricia Miller's analysis of the reasons that women are leaving the Catholic Church. I understand why Catholics are the largest portion of the nones exiting a religion--28%. Catholic women, especially young women, will not put up with sexism or homophobia in the church or anywhere else. They believe in equal rights for everyone and the full equality of women and LGBTI in the church and world. In addition they will not support a church that violates primacy of conscience on any issue including the ban on artificial contraception, and the prohibition against women priests. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, www.arcwp.org, sofiabmm@aol.com
"A new Pew Research Center analysis of General Social Survey data confirms a long-simmering trend in U.S. religious observance: While attendance at religious services has declined for all Americans, it has declined more among women then men...And in 2004, the Catholic Church released a controversial document by soon-to-be Pope Benedict that was critical of feminism and said women’s characteristics were “Listening, welcoming, humility, faithfulness, praise and waiting.” The following years of Benedict’s papacy were particularly unwelcoming to progressive women in the church.
If McClendon is right and the trend of growing disaffiliation correlates to women’s decline in attendance, it’s also worth noting that Catholics make up the largest portion of the nones exiting a religion. Almost one-third (28 percent) of nones are former Catholics, which is the single largest share of any religious group.
Why have women stopped going to church? It isn’t because they’re too busy or too well educated. Maybe they stopped going when conservative politics took over the pulpit."
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