Ugh, I hate this nonsense. Especially coming from folks who should know better.
He could at least check Wikipedia for the statistics. Catholic identification is NOT in decline, although those with time on their hands can spend it arguing over who is “really” Catholic. Churches are half-empty in places suffering population loss (Democrat places) and in places with long-tenured rotten Bishops (usually the same). In places where people live, churches are huge and packed to the rafters.
That reminds me, a couple of weeks ago when we were in Myrtle Beach, we went to Mass at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday with all 10 of our children. As we herded them all into a pew, carefully breaking up feuding pairs, the lady of a 60-ish couple behind us said, “Oh, look ... children! We hardly ever see children!”