Catholic America got a little bigger last year, according to USA Today. The official Catholic Directory, due out this week, counts just over 64 million of us. Give or take:

There are probably “ghosts” in the lists, says demographer Mary Gautier, senior researcher for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, in Washington, D.C. The center analyzes data for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CARA’s analysis counts 64.4 million Catholics in 2006, up from 63.9 million in 2005. (The directory’s overall totals are higher because they include Puerto Rico, Guam and American protectorates.)

Totals are up, with minor fluctuations — 1% a year for the past 25 years, Gautier says. “But counting Catholics is more art than science.”

Catholics drift from parish to parish without ever formally moving their membership. Heirs neglect to tell parish secretaries that Mom or Dad has died.

And those who have stopped going to church or switched denominations rarely bother to formally quit, she says.

Please slide over in the pew to make more room for people standing in the back. Thank you.