Zenit: The world as seen from Rome

Two decades ago, Dublin was a city of 1.1 million, with 90 percent identifying as Catholic. Today, its population has swelled to 1.6 million, but only 66 percent still claim the Catholic label. The intervening years were marked by public disillusionment, catalyzed by clerical abuse reports, government-backed social reforms such as abortion and same-sex marriage legalization, and a broader cultural shift away from institutional religion. The post Ireland: adult baptisms on the rise, a hopeful sign of a renewing church appeared first on ZENIT - English.

The exact reasons why the number of new adult Catholics around the world has increased so significantly may not be fully known yet, but, regardless, they should serve as a source of hope and encouragement for all people of faith. The post Australia: data suggest that more and more people are seeking God appeared first on ZENIT - English.

At the heart of the findings is the Muslim population’s explosive growth. In just ten years, the global Muslim population increased by 347 million people—more than all other religious groups combined The post Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, although Christianity is the largest, according to study appeared first on ZENIT - English.

The legislation at the center of the controversy, Senate Bill 5375, is set to take effect on July 27. It reinstates clergy as mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect in Washington’s legal code—a category that was removed in 1975. Critically, the law makes no exception for information disclosed within the context of religious confession, a move that both Orthodox and Catholic leaders argue strikes at the heart of their faith practice. The post Orthodox join Catholics in suing Democratic Party government in Washington for confessional secrecy appeared first on ZENIT - English.

The attacks on Catholic churches have been widespread across the country, affecting 43 states plus DC. The top ten states with the most attacks are California (69), New York (57), Pennsylvania (35), Florida (23), Texas (23), New Jersey (19), Ohio (18), Oregon (18), Colorado (17), and Massachusetts (16). The post 500 Attacks on U.S. Catholic Churches since May 2020 to 2025 appeared first on ZENIT - English.