Albanian Catholic church concerned about declining population

Tirana, July 8, 2024 - The Catholic Church in Albania has voiced serious concerns about the 2023 Census results, which reveal a significant drop in the number of citizens identifying as Catholic Christians.

According to the census, the Catholic population has declined by about 80,000, or 30%, compared to the 2011 census, leaving the current count at just over 201,000 Catholics, down from about 281,000 previously.

The Church, represented by Dom Mark Pashkja of the Episcopal Conference of Albania, has questioned these findings with skepticism. Pashkja argues that the decrease isn't due to people abandoning Catholicism, but rather stems from emigration, as many Catholics have left Albania for Western countries, mainly in Europe and North America.

"We're concerned about two things as the Catholic Church. First, the overall population has shrunk by around 410,000 individuals since 2011. We think the number might be even higher. As for the number of Catholics, we can't say for sure if this reflects the true count in Albania. The population decline has naturally led to fewer Catholics, with many leaving for Western countries," explained Pashkja.

In response to these census results, the Catholic Church plans to conduct its own census among its dioceses and parishes to get a more accurate count of the Catholic population in Albania.

The Church has also taken a stand on a recent parliamentary debate held on June 27th between the Ministry of Health and opposition MPs regarding surrogacy. The clergy believes there should be more transparency and broader public involvement in this process.

"The Albanian parliament and government need to foster a genuine public debate on a draft law that could profoundly impact our social fabric, ethical values, and the fundamental rights of families and citizens of Albania, including the future of Albanian children," emphasized the Church spokesperson.

The draft law on surrogate mothers is currently open to public consultation and has become one of the most contentious issues in Albania.