A significant surge in conversions to the Roman Catholic Church is being observed, particularly among young adults seeking a sense of moral grounding following the disruptions caused by the recent pandemic.
According to reports, dioceses across the nation are experiencing increases – ranging from 30% to over 70% – with notable spikes seen at Easter observances. The Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, documented an astonishing 72% increase in converts, moving from 896 individuals at Easter 2023 to 1,544 by Easter 2024.
“The students who aren’t Catholic are hungry and are looking for something,” explained Father Will Straten of St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M. “People are just looking for something that’s authentic and real. They’re looking for something that’s grounded and seems to make sense.”
The trend, particularly prominent among individuals in their 20s and early 30s – as confirmed by Father Raymond Maria La Grange of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan, where three-quarters of new converts fall into this age bracket – emerged largely after the pandemic. “Some were Protestants, some were nonreligious, some were Catholics who never practiced the faith,” stated La Grange. “Both men and women; Some well-off, others living day to day. Some are intellectuals, some are mystics. Some got to know Catholics who brought them in, others came in on their own and hardly know any Catholics.”
A key factor driving this shift appears to be a perceived lack of moral direction within contemporary society. “The most common impetus inspiring young adult converts to the Roman Catholic Church ‘is that they realize the world cannot provide them with any moral order, or reasons for living in any particular way,” Father La Grange argued. “A culture of license has left them unmoored.”
Sydney Johnston, a former member of a nondenominational Christian household, described her journey: “I had this question on my mind, like, do I feel God here? Does this feel like a holy place?” She found herself drawn to the Catholic Mass because of its “beautiful and transcendent” rituals and its connection to “ancient history,” noting that “The church really communicates a degree of reverence that I didn’t find in the more liberal, laissez-faire approach of nondenominational churches.”
Similarly, Taylor New, a Cincinnati native, recounted how watching a YouTube video about Catholic history led her to reevaluate her evangelical faith. “I decided to watch it, not thinking much of it — but I joke that that video ruined my life in the best way,” she admitted. This access to information via the internet appears to be a powerful catalyst for conversion, as many young people are “on a search for truth which has them gravitating to the Catholic Church.”
Former atheists are also being drawn to Catholicism through online influence. Adrian Lawson, a software developer from Southern California, explained his conversion: “I had anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, but since I’ve started praying the rosary regularly, I haven’t had any of those issues.”
