Just wait till you get older...

I've frequently wondered if the oft-noted trend of young people to get "more conservative" as they age was as universal as all that. Now at last some clear evidence that it isn't. It will be interesting to see what sociologists turn up as they go about investigating the causes. In particular, I'll be interested in seeing the role ascribed to childlessness (which is double for our generation what it was for our parents), since many people I know personally have identified this as a driver of returns to the fold. How many of us, on articulating our liberal views to our elders, have heard the words, "You'll feel different when you have kids." I didn't have kids and I don't feel different, but I'm not sure what connexion there might be between those two things, if any. It is worth noting, however, that of us four kids, the only one who's still a practicing Catholic is also the only one with any offspring.

An interesting side note on that: my generation was also the "most Catholic" in USA history, with a fully a third identified with the religion in the 70s. Now it's down to a quarter and still dropping, something conservative pundits are ascribing to "confusion" about what the RCC actually teaches as a result of Vatican II. Hate to break it to you, guys, but I know in pretty thorough detail what the RCC actually teaches and that's precisely why I could never again be a practicing Catholic.