Census sense

August 9 is Census Night in Australia.  Every five years the ABS takes a snapshot of the nation's population, capturing details of their age, ethnic background, employment, education, housing, transport use and even religion.

The religious question always stirs controversy.  It is the only question on the census form that is voluntary.  Those reporting "no religion" have been on the increase, being the second largest group after Catholics in the 2011 census.  This time around, the option to choose "no religion" has been put at the top of the list -- leading most commentators to expect a significant drop in the numbers claiming affiliation with any organised religion.

Really that won't be telling us anything new.  We all know that active participation in religious practice has fallen to all time lows, only a fraction of those who name themselves as belonging.  The numbers game isn't important in itself.

But census data does have practical uses.  Planning for new schools, parishes, hospitals and community services by church groups is greatly assisted when accurate demographic data is available.  Where a large nominally Catholic child population is located we can reasonably expect demand for church schooling, whatever of the minimal number attending Sunday Mass.  And so it goes.  The demographic data available to our church planners after this census will probably be much less useful than in the past, and will call for new skills of interpretation and even crystal ball gazing.

No doubt the secularists will rejoice to proclaim the approaching death of religion in our country.  But make no mistake, we still rely on the religious few to provide care for the many.  Take away all our church schools, hospitals, nursing homes and community services such as the Salvos and Vinnies and Lifeline, and where would we all be?