More and more young people are turning to the Catholic Church, leaving behind other denominations, religions, or no faith at all. Sydney Johnston, a millennial from the Upper West Side of New York City, grew up in a non-denominational Christian household but found a deeper connection to the Catholic Church after experiencing the pandemic and revisiting her criticisms of Christianity. After a two-year quest visiting different churches, Johnston confirmed her conversion in December 2024 at the Church of Notre Dame in Morningside Heights. She was drawn to the rituals and ancient history of the Catholic mass that she found lacking in the more liberal and laissez-faire approach of non-denominational churches.
The pandemic, the internet, and a distaste for what some consider “lax” Protestant alternatives are cited as reasons for young people turning to Catholicism. Father Raymond Maria La Grange of Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan noted that at least three-quarters of his new converts are in their 20s or early 30s. Adrian Lawson, a software developer from Southern California, found Catholicism through the internet after being raised non-denominational and briefly being an atheist. After watching a debate about church history between a Catholic and a Protestant, Lawson decided to convert and has since noticed significant improvements in his mental health and overall happiness.
Cameron Bertuzzi, a Protestant content creator, had a public conversion to Catholicism following a debate on church history. This conversion has been influential for many young Catholics, including Lawson. Despite strong negative reactions from his parents, Lawson began attending Catholic services in 2022 and converted a year later. He has seen a 50% year-over-year increase in converts at his parish and attributes this to the more traditional and fervent beliefs held by younger converts. Marin Minamiya, a former Shinto practitioner from Japan, found a positive outlook on life and a supportive community in Catholicism after studying information sciences at Columbia University.
Taylor New, originally from Cincinnati, initially resisted converting to Catholicism despite studying the history of the Catholic Church and finding it compelling. However, after continued research and internal conflict, she decided to attend OCIA classes to convert in 2024. New credits the internet for guiding her towards Catholicism, as it provided abundant resources for her search for truth. Father La Grange suggests that young people are seeking moral order and reasons for living in a particular way, which they may find lacking in the culture of license that has left them feeling unmoored. As more young people continue to gravitate towards the Catholic Church, it appears that the deep history, rituals, and sense of community found within the faith are fulfilling a spiritual need for many individuals seeking purpose and belonging.
