I have to wonder to what extent Roe v. Wade/wider availability of birth control, the feminist movement and Baby-Boomer divorce rates played in a greater percentage Gen Xer's going without having children. Among my friends, or people I knew in college who got married, children are the exception and not the rule. My best friend from high school and I are both childless and unmarried. Most of my women friends from college are also childless, and entirely by choice. Most of my women friends from grad school, similarly not having kids in their 20s or at all. I think it became more acceptable/expected that women would go to college and have careers however they manage the issue of children. It was culture shock to be in the South most people are married in their early 20s.

Mucke, correct me if I am wrong, but hadn't the methodical chipping away of Vatican II (under John Paul and Ratzinger), coupled to the revelations of financial and sexual abuse crises and the Vatican's reaction played a big role in the declining numbers? A few years back, I recall reading that were it not for immigration from Latin America, the population of Catholics in the U.S. would be even smaller.