PRINCETON, N.J. – A Gallup poll taken in November found a general increase in church attendance among U.S. Protestants and Catholics in the past year.
The November 2003 data showed 45 percent of Catholics and 48 percent of Protestants attended church weekly. The numbers were up from the 35 percent for Catholics and 47 percent for Protestants surveyed on February 2003.
The poll also showed that church attendance have now “clearly overtaken” that of Catholics.
"Historical Gallup Poll data show that Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance, for the first time in Gallup polling history," said a commentary by George H. Gallup Jr., chairman of the George H. Gallup International Institute.
"The latest November figure shows a decided rebound in attendance at Mass, but Catholics still trail Protestants by a small margin," Gallup said.
