Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057-1033
202-687-8080,  fax 202-687-8083
Web site: cara.georgetown.edu
email cara@georgetown.edu

 CARA, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, is an independent, non-profit Catholic research center affiliated with Georgetown University in Washington, DC.  Established in 1964, its mission is to discover, promote, and apply scientific research methods in service to the Church in the United States.  Currently, CARA’s areas of research include national-level projects, demographic profiles, program evaluations, parish surveys, and projects focused on religious life.  CARA publications include The CARA Report and a series of books about the Catholic experience.  These various areas of research and services are described below.

National Projects

CARA has conducted studies for national organizations such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Council for Pastoral Planning and Council Development.  CARA works with national-level Catholic organizations to design research projects to gather the information they need to make informed decisions.  Some of this information is gathered through the CARA Catholic Poll, a national telephone survey of a representative sample of U.S. Catholics which CARA conducts annually. 

Demographics and Statistics

In consultation with dioceses and other Catholic organizations, CARA collects information about trends taking place that affect the U.S. Church.  Using U.S. census data to supplement its databases of Catholic life, CARA is able to project where significant growth or decline is most likely to occur in the diocese in the near future. Presbyterate surveys we conduct give dioceses projections for the number of priests and pastoral ministers they will likely have in the near future.  CARA’s annual National Parish Inventory survey provides an overview of trends in parish life across the country.

Program Evaluations

CARA has conducted many program evaluations for Catholic organizations interested in improving the effectiveness of their ministries.  Recent organizations have included Catholic Relief Services and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association.  We have also completed program evaluations for seminaries and other Catholic colleges and universities, including campus ministry programs.

Parish Studies

Through its Pastoral Assistance Surveys and Services (PASS) program, CARA has conducted over 300 parish surveys since the program’s creation in 1996.  Individual parishes contracting with CARA for a portrait of parish life can choose from different levels of services depending on their needs and budgets.  Dioceses wishing to gather information for diocesan-level planning can also have CARA conduct surveys at all parishes in the diocese. 

Religious Life

Annually, CARA collects information about religious institutes throughout the United States, providing information about their members and ministries.  The Directory of Religious Institutes, published biennually, provides information about both men and women’s religious communities.  CARA also conducts membership surveys for religious orders looking for information to plan for the future.

Publications

The CARA Report, a newsletter published quarterly, summarizes research within and about the Catholic Church in the United States.  CARA also publishes biennually a Catholic Ministry Formation Directory, which includes a seminary directory, a diaconate formation directory, and a lay formation directory.  In addition, project reports, special reports, and working papers are often available.  Finally, in partnership with Orbis Books of Maryknoll, New York, CARA is publishing a three-volume examination of the Catholic experience.  The first volume, Catholicism USA, published in 2000, covers the Catholic Church in the United States.  Subsequent volumes will provide a portrait of Catholicism worldwide and the challenges and opportunities facing Catholicism as it enters the twenty-first century.

For more information about CARA, please click on the web connection below.