Religion & Public Life in

Compiled by Chad Bragg

Religion & Public Life in

New England: Demographic Layout“A Tale of Two New Englands”

New EnglandReligious Affiliation

New England vs. National Religious Affiliation(Self-Identification)

New England DenominationsGains & Losses from 1990 - 2000

“Even the Southern Baptist Convention, a real fish out of water in the New England region, expanded 9 percent.”

-Stephen Prothero (pg. 29)

“When it comes to Protestantism, the Region is mimicking national trends too, with evangelicals gaining on their mainline counterparts.”

-Stephen Prothero (pg. 38)

CatholicismStriving and in Crisis

•Majority of the Population Catholic (38.5%)

•Sex abuse scandal

•Low/Dropping attendance•< 30% of Catholics attending weekly Mass

•Nearly 20% of Boston Catholics polled said they had considered joining a non-Catholic church during the past year

•Significant drop in financial giving

•Lay activism

•Low number of seminary graduates

Mainline Protestants: in declineUCC, Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalists

•Outnumber conservative Protestants by 3 to 1 in most NE States

•Liberal theologically and politically •Abortion, same-sex marriage, anti-war•Episcopal Church – openly gay bishop•Politically and socially active

•Ecumenical Strategies•Interfaith, not just interdenominational •Emphasis on unity, tolerance, and civic virtue

•“not selling well” (pg 102)

Conservative ProtestantsProspering in the Margins

•Only 27 % of the regions Protestants are evangelical•The reverse of the nation as a whole

•SBC churches grew 500% between 1970 and 1990•230 congregations / 35,000 members (2003)

•Benefit from the high influx of immigrants into the region•Half of the current churches are non-English Speaking congregations

•Very few “mega-churches” (3 total)

ConclusionGrowing Evangelicalism

Highly Catholic Very “Tolerant”

Mostly Lost

•“As a Catholic, I would never vote to diminish the sanctity of the church sacrament of marriage. As a human being, I will never deny someone their equal rights. It is my belief that the only requirement of civil marriage is enduring love and respect.”

-Sen. Martin Montigny (pg. 147)

•“I’m a New Englander, so I’m not used to wearing religion on my sleeve and being open about it.”

- Howard Dean (pg. 13)