A decline in religion will likely deepen Ireland’s demographic crisis, according to a new study by a pro-family and pro-life Irish institute. Source: Catholic Review.
Fewer religious people means marriage and fertility rates will likely fall further because people practicing religion tend to have more children.
The study, Religion, Marriage and Fertility: Shall the Religious Inherit Ireland?, published on February 5 by the Iona Institute, has raised concerns over Ireland’s looming demographic crisis.
Speaking ahead of the publication, Vincenzo Bassi, president of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, said loneliness is the “major sickness” afflicting society today and, while family networks are an antidote to loneliness, they need to be supported and nurtured.
The Italian lawyer and father of three gave a January 18 talk in Dublin on “Demography and the Family” hosted by the Irish advocacy group Family Solidarity, which is one of 33 member organisations of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in 20 countries across Europe.
FAFCE’s two-fold mission is to advocate on behalf of the family at the European Union and international level, and to encourage the work of family associations.
On the demographic decline in Europe, Mr Bassi said everybody was aware of the problem of declining and aging populations as well as the lack of intergenerational balance and equity.
“There is no sustainable development without intergenerational balance,” he stressed.
The Iona Institute’s paper said that the proportion of the population over 65 in Ireland is projected to increase considerably.
However, the report also raises the possibility that in the coming decades, the religious share of the population might actually begin to increase simply by virtue of the fact that religious people have larger families.
FULL STORY
Strengthening religious practice could help reverse demographic crisis, says Irish study (By Sarah Mac Donald, OSV News via Catholic Review )
