Japanese archbishop says decline in Catholic population reflects crisis for faith

March 24, 2015

Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki has reported that the faithful recognize a “deep sense of crisis” in Japanese Catholicism.

Following an archdiocesan synod in 2014, the archbishop observed that Nagasaki’s Catholic population is dwindling rapidly, with many young people drifting away from the faith and few Catholics marrying in the Church. The synod concluded that “care for those who have left the Church, or who have been pushed away from it,” is now a top priority for pastors.

 

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Further information:

• Archbishop says there is a ‘deep sense of crisis’ in Japanese Church (CNS)