Bishop to announce results of South Jersey faith profile study May 3

Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D., Bishop of Camden, will announce the results of a survey of religious attitudes in South Jersey during a Thursday, May 3, press conference at the diocesan offices at 631 Market St. in Camden beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The study, done for the diocese by the Barna Group, a California-based firm known for its work on U.S. religious attitudes, took an extensive look at the  beliefs and practices of the six South Jersey counties (Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) covered by the diocese.

The Barna Group interviewed a representative sampling of adults from South Jersey. They were asked about their prayer lives, their belief or disbelief in God, and their attitudes towards the Catholic Church, among other questions. Results indicated that four out of every five South Jerseyans identify themselves as Christian, with a third identifying themselves as Catholic, a third Protestant, and the rest not identified with a specific faith tradition. About 10 percent of those responded said they were atheists or agnostic. Of those who identified as Catholic, about half practice their faith.

At the press conference, Bishop Galante will explore the study’s implications for evangelization in the diocese.

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