> * A Catholicism-oriented email provider doesn't mean they're from the US. For instance, they might live in Ireland, another country with horrifically bad urban design and a lot of Catholic people
I'm sure you're aware since you live here, but for the benefit of other HN users, Catholics in Ireland and Catholics as perceived by US media are quite different. US media perceives Catholics as one of the more conservative and devout Christian variants, and my understanding is that even within Catholic institutions the US branches are considered much more conservative than Rome. However, between the decline in the Catholic Church's societal influence and the various abuse scandals that led to that, your median self-reported Catholic in Ireland is much less religiously focused than the imported born-again churches and actual overt religious devotion is much less common in Ireland overall.
So even living in Ireland, with the census figures claiming the Catholic share is as high as you mention, I too would assume anyone who is actively and outwardly religious enough to seek out an email provider on that line is American or at least influenced by American religious culture. Add to that that our population of devout Catholics are aging, so are also not the demographic who generally seeks out niche email providers anyway.
Certainly, but my point is that it's still entirely possible they're not in the US. Plenty of Catholics throughout the Americas for one thing.
Also if you come to the midlands you'll find a huge number of "Jesus I Trust in You" sacred heart posters all over the damn place. I've been asked if I'm C or P more than I ever expected. Our neighbours told us they were Catholic within literally 10 seconds of meeting us. They tried to suss out what we are by asking where our kids go to school - they fancy themselves clever. But maybe that's what I get for moving to Offaly.
I'm sure you're aware since you live here, but for the benefit of other HN users, Catholics in Ireland and Catholics as perceived by US media are quite different. US media perceives Catholics as one of the more conservative and devout Christian variants, and my understanding is that even within Catholic institutions the US branches are considered much more conservative than Rome. However, between the decline in the Catholic Church's societal influence and the various abuse scandals that led to that, your median self-reported Catholic in Ireland is much less religiously focused than the imported born-again churches and actual overt religious devotion is much less common in Ireland overall.
So even living in Ireland, with the census figures claiming the Catholic share is as high as you mention, I too would assume anyone who is actively and outwardly religious enough to seek out an email provider on that line is American or at least influenced by American religious culture. Add to that that our population of devout Catholics are aging, so are also not the demographic who generally seeks out niche email providers anyway.