The Thriving Catholics

Roman Catholics in the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) have increased by 38.1% in the last decade, the 1958 edition of The Official Catholic Directory reported last week. Current total: 36,023,997, an increase of 1,460,126 in 1957. Priests total 50,813, up 1,088 over the number reported last year, and the hierarchy numbers 225: four cardinals, 31 archbishops, 190 bishops. Converts to Catholicism topped the 100,000 mark for the twelfth year in succession, with 140,414 (the previous year's figure: 141,525).

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