1.6m mass attendees in the Roman Catholic Church (NB different definition than the much larger figure given above)
Yes, 5.8m "members" was a striking figure. Doubtless it is the same there as here: many people identify themselves as "Catholic" who aren't. They seem to think it's some sort of ethnic identity rather than a faith.
Possible explanation for the decline in male clergy numbers in the CofE: When women were ordained, thousands of clergy left the CofE and became Catholic priests through a papal dispensation that allowed them to be married (not without some resentment from celibate priests, but only mildly, and to an insignificant degree)
no subject
Yes, 5.8m "members" was a striking figure. Doubtless it is the same there as here: many people identify themselves as "Catholic" who aren't. They seem to think it's some sort of ethnic identity rather than a faith.
Possible explanation for the decline in male clergy numbers in the CofE: When women were ordained, thousands of clergy left the CofE and became Catholic priests through a papal dispensation that allowed them to be married (not without some resentment from celibate priests, but only mildly, and to an insignificant degree)