Research Note: Evidence of and Speculations on Catholic de facto Congregationalism

Abstract

Scholars have speculated that the influential de facto congregationalism hypothesis applies to Catholies as well as to Protestants and recent immigrams. Considering that parish choice is central to that hypothesis, we present data from 49.604 Catholic families in the Detroit Archdiocese regarding parish membership in relation to residence. While findings indicate that 43% of these families attend parishes outside their home parish boundaries, which are consistent with the hypothesis, we conclude that the scope conditions of the hypothesis should be questined in the case of Catholics. As a modification of the hypothesis, we propose a mixed-process theory in which de jure factors stemming from Vatican II combine with secular trends in American society in an elective affinity that might better explain Catholic congregationalism.