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Religious identity reasserts itself in Eastern Europe

May 11, 2017

A quarter century after the fall of Communist regimes that promoted atheism, the majority of people in most Eastern European nations identify themselves as Christian.

In four nations in the region—Poland (87%), Croatia (84%), Lithuania (75%), and Hungary (56%)—the majority now identify themselves as Catholic, while in ten nations, the majority identify themselves as Orthodox, according to the Pew Research Center.

In Bosnia, 52% of people are Muslim, and in the Czech Republic (72%) and Estonia (45%), large numbers of people identify themselves as religiously unaffiliated.

 


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  • Posted by: feedback - May. 11, 2017 9:31 AM ET USA

    The nations that suffered under German fascism in WW2 followed by a long night of Soviet communism but remained Catholic, were blessed with heroic and holy Bishops. Those were the good shepherds unafraid to stand up to the wolves of totalitarian regimes, and to suffer in the process. Each Bishop must be ready to give his life for Christ and for His Church. "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit" [John 12:24]