Heidi Hall

For The Tennessean

Looks like Nashville Catholics have been doing a little evangelical dating.

At least, that's what a Georgetown University-based researcher credits for the local diocese ranking eighth in the nation for its rate of converts: Catholics date outside their religion and then marry spouses who convert.

Knoxville and Memphis also made the list, tying at No. 10.

The actual number of Catholics in Nashville, headquarters of the 16-million-member Southern Baptist Convention, is relatively small, said researcher Mark Gray, who oversees Catholic polling at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. So that means men and women aren't necessarily looking inside the church for a mate.

"People say they're looking for their soul mate, not saying that person needs to be Catholic," Gray said.

Since Catholics commit to raising any children born into their marriages as Catholic, the spouse can either convert or worship elsewhere alone — a strong motivator.

The data, released earlier this month, spans 2010-12. Gray dismissed the notion that future converts would be motivated by Pope Francis, who was elected last year and swiftly gained fans by stressing service, not judgment. "People don't leave the church because of who's pope, and not many join for it," Gray said.

The data didn't surprise Bishop David Choby of the Nashville diocese, who routinely sees 400 to 500 potential converts in the pews for the annual Rite of Election at St. Henry Catholic Church. It's a major step in the conversion process.

Typically, a good many of those folks are spouses of Catholics, Choby said. Plus, there's more potential for growth in the South since there are fewer Catholics here to begin with than, say, in the Northeast.

Marriage had nothing to do with the conversion of Preston Brogdon of Nashville. His parents were a Methodist and a Baptist, he attended a Catholic high school and celebrated Passover with Jewish neighbors growing up.

But even with all that ecumenicalism in his life, he felt the calling to be Catholic and started the process two years ago. Right now, it's being stalled with getting his first marriage annulled.

"I wish it was easier, but you know what? Sometimes things don't need to be easier," Brogdon said.

In fact, he said, it's the church's solid pillars that attracted him. There's comfort in that.

Reach Heidi Hall at 615-726-5977 and on Twitter @HeidiHallTN.

Catholic Converts by Diocese (2010-12)

Source: Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University