Anglican Forecasts Catholic Strength

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30043, 30 January 1963, Page 13

Anglican Forecasts Catholic Strength

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. Early next century, perbaips sooner, Catinotocs may oust Anglicans from their position as the largest Christian body in New Zealand. states a front-page article in the February issue of the New Zealand Anglican newspaper, “Church and People.” It says that if current trends, and the trends of the last 20 years are any guide, the number of Anglicans and Catholics will be equal within the next 45-80 years. The Anglican Church would then fall into second P4 On tbis scale the Predbyterian Church, which has the second largest number of followers, would fall into third place during the next 21 to 38 years. The article says the forecast was based or the projection of two trends: Between the census of 1951 and 1956. the number of Angticano increased by 7.48 per cent.. Pfodbyterisna by 8.41 per cent., and Catholics by 17.45 pec cent In the 20 years from 1986 to 1956 Anglican numbers increased by 30 per cent., Presbyterian by jutt over 31 per cent., and Cafoobc by nearly 60 per cent. Progressive tacwste .ta the first cnee would. bring Catholic numbers equal wtth those of Presbyterians about 1984 and with AagHcans in 3008. In the second instance te nufober of Catholics would be equal to foe Preebyterfan populatton fa tbe year 2000 and wtth Angncena in 3044. The arttcte says foe uyrnge of population growth in foe Crtbmiic faith »nce foe Second World War made it reaaottafafe to assume fort their growth would be further accelerated. •The pur tentage of young

people in the Catholic population is much greater than in either the Anglican or Presbyterian so that in coming years the number of CtethnHc families will multiply much more quickly.”

In a cross-comparison Catholics had relatively fewer people in the older age group, but in the Anglican population there was a greeter proportion of older people which would make the death-rate relatively higher and the birth-rate lower, says foe article.