Church Attendance Up After Charlie Kirk's Murder

Church attendance has risen since Charlie Kirk's assassination, according to a Catholic nonprofit organization.

Kirk, co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at a rally in Utah on Wednesday.

A devout Christian who often expressed his faith on his podcast and during public appearances, Kirk especially influenced young people.

Since his death, more Americans have decided to go to church. The people included many college students who are not ordinarily churchgoers, Catholic News Agency reported.

"I have not talked to anyone who has not seen an increase in Mass attendance," Newman Ministry co-founder Matt Zerrusen, whose group operates on about 250 campuses nationwide, told CNA. "Some schools are reporting increases of 15%."

He added that Catholic college ministry leaders told him "they've seen bigger crowds" at Masses and lots of people "they've never seen before."

Zerrusen said that many college students were seeking spiritual direction.

"So many people are asking, 'What do I do? What is evil? How does God allow this?'" he told CNA. "They are asking so many basic questions."

Since Kirk's death, social media platforms have been flooded with posts from users saying they planned to go to church for the first time or to return to church.

"'Charlie Kirk, look what you did. No parking. No parking at all. None. Had to park like 5 blocks away from church cause everyone wants to come now. Amen.' The Charlie Effect. Love this!!" user @TONYxTWO posted on X with video from TikTok.

"'We went to church today. It was the first time in 20 years. We are raising 3 boys that will one day be men. And we want those boys to be as strong in their convictions as Charlie Kirk was. It is because of Charlie Kirk that we went to church today,'" a woman said in a video also posted by @TONYxTWO.

Kirk in 2021 co-founded TPUSA Faith, which is dedicated to empowering Christians to put their faith into action, according to the organization's website.

"We engage, equip, and empower millions of grateful Americans who are prepared to defend our God-given rights, by giving them the tools to expose lies and articulate the connection between Faith and Freedom," the website said.