Sarah Mitchell
Colorado is a state in the west-central region of the US with a population of around 5.5 million people. The majority of the adult population of Colorado (64%) identifies as Christian, with 15% of Colorado residents being Catholic. Colorado has 3 dioceses: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and the Diocese of Pueblo. The Catholic Church in Colorado has a rich history, dating back to the 16th century when Spanish explorers and missionaries first traversed the southern and western parts of the state. The Colorado Gold Rush in the mid-19th century also played a significant role in the growth of the Catholic population in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Colorado residents who are Catholic | 14% to 15% |
| Number of Colorado residents who are Catholic | 553,000 to 821,100 (based on a population of 4 to 5.5 million) |
| Number of Dioceses in Colorado | 3 |
| Names of Dioceses | Archdiocese of Denver, Diocese of Colorado Springs, Diocese of Pueblo |
| Number of Parishes in Colorado | 122 to 199 |
| Number of Elementary Schools Operated by the Archdiocese of Denver | 37 |
| Number of High Schools Operated by the Archdiocese of Denver | 6 |
| Number of Priests in the Archdiocese of Denver | 326 |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Evangelical Protestants | 26% |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Mainline Protestants | 15% |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Black Protestants | 2% |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Mormons | 2% |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Orthodox | 1% |
| Percentage of Christians in Colorado who are Jehovah's Witnesses | <1% |
| Percentage of Colorado Residents who are Non-Religious or Unaffiliated | 23% to 31% |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic population in Colorado
Colorado has a population of around 5.54 million people. Of this population, about 15% are Catholic. This equates to approximately 553,000 Catholic residents in Colorado.
The state is served by 199 parishes, 102 missions, and assorted pastoral centers distributed across three dioceses: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Pueblo, and the Diocese of Colorado Springs. The Archdiocese of Denver covers 25 of Colorado's 64 counties and oversees 122 parishes. It has 326 priests, 37 elementary schools, and six high schools.
The Catholic population in Colorado has a rich history that began long before Colorado became a state in 1876. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers and missionaries traversed the southern and western parts of the state. In the 17th century, French fur traders reached the mountain areas, and France claimed the land east of the mountains.
The Colorado Gold Rush of the mid-19th century sparked significant population growth, including many Catholics who journeyed to the central Rockies. By 1870, Catholic churches in Colorado could seat 8,575 parishioners across 14 parishes. By 1890, more than half of the Christians in Colorado were Catholics.
In recent years, the Denver metro area has become increasingly religiously diverse, with a notable shift in the religious landscape due to migration. While Catholicism remains a significant religious group in Colorado, the percentage of individuals identifying as Catholic has decreased since 2010.
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Catholic history in Colorado
Colorado's Catholic history dates back to the 16th century when Spanish explorers and missionaries traversed the southern and western parts of the state. In the 17th century, French fur traders reached the mountain areas, and France claimed the land east of the mountains. This section was later transferred to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The western part of Colorado became Mexican territory in 1821 and was later ceded to the US.
The Colorado Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, specifically the discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountains near Denver in July 1858, sparked significant population growth and the establishment of a Catholic diocese in Colorado. John B. Miége, vicar apostolic of Indian Territory, travelled to the Colorado goldfields in May 1860 to build a church for the Catholics who had settled in the region. He established a parish and promised to send a priest. However, he was unable to spare one, so he convinced the Holy See to transfer responsibility for Colorado to the Diocese of Santa Fe.
In October 1860, Bishop Lamy sent Joseph P. Machebeuf and Jean Raverdy to take charge of the Catholic missions in Pike's Peak country. They found an incomplete church building and a discouraged parish. Machebeuf travelled through the goldfields in search of Catholics, while Raverdy offered Masses and learned English. The first religious services were held in the church on Christmas night in 1860. By 1870, Catholic churches in Colorado could seat 8,575 parishioners in 14 parishes, with Catholics outnumbering other Christians. Machebeuf was responsible for the establishment of the Catholic denomination in almost every locality in the state. He founded an academy and a school for boys, a convent, St. Joseph's Hospital, the House of the Good Shepherd, and the College of the Sacred Heart in Denver.
In 1871, Jesuits arrived in Colorado, taking over the southern parishes and allowing Machebeuf's recruits to minister in Denver and the surrounding mining areas. The period of greatest growth for Catholicism in Colorado was from 1885 to 1895, with church societies established in almost every important community. In 1878, the first Catholic church in Fort Collins, St. Joseph's, was funded by Frank Michaud. Sacred Heart of Jesus, the first Catholic church in Boulder, was dedicated in 1877.
In 1890, more than half of the Christians in Colorado were Catholics (47,111 out of 86,837). According to the Official Catholic Directory FY 2000, approximately 14% of Colorado's population, or about 553,000 people, were Catholics. As of 2018, about 15% of Colorado residents, or around 550,000 people, are members of the Catholic faith, served by three dioceses: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and the Diocese of Pueblo.
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Catholic sex abuse allegations
Colorado is home to a population of around 5.54 million people, of whom about 14-15% are Catholic. This amounts to about 553,000-831,000 Catholics in the state. Colorado has 3 dioceses: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and the Diocese of Pueblo. The Archdiocese of Denver covers 25 of Colorado's 64 counties and has 326 priests, according to 2018 data.
The Catholic Church has been plagued by numerous sexual abuse allegations over the years, with cases reported as far back as the 11th century. In recent decades, there have been many cases of sexual abuse of children by priests, nuns, and other members of the Catholic Church. The abused include mostly boys but also girls, some as young as three years old, with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14. The United States has seen the majority of reported cases of sexual abuse of minors (approximately 80%), with over 11,000 allegations made against 4,392 priests.
The Catholic Church has been criticized for its handling of these cases, with accusations of cover-ups and attempts to obstruct justice. In some instances, abusive priests were moved to other parishes where they continued to have access to youth, rather than being removed from positions of authority. This has resulted in financial settlements with victims totaling billions of dollars.
While some Church authorities have offered apologies and met with victims, others have denied the allegations or claimed that the media coverage was excessive and disproportionate. Pope Francis, for example, initially accused victims in Chile of fabricating allegations but later apologized for his "tragic error."
The Catholic Church is not the only religious institution to face sexual abuse allegations, and it is important to recognize that such abuse occurs in other religions and institutions as well. However, the large number of cases and attempts to cover them up have severely damaged the Church's reputation and led to a loss of trust among many Catholics.
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Catholic vs non-religious population
Colorado has a population of around 5.54 million people. The state is known for its religious diversity, with a variety of Christian denominations and minority religions represented. The majority of the adult population of Colorado (64%) identifies as Christian, with the largest group being Evangelical Protestants (26%).
Within the Christian population, Catholics are the second-largest group, making up around 14% to 16% of the total population. This translates to about 553,000 to 886,400 Catholic individuals in the state, based on the total population estimate. The Catholic population in Colorado has experienced a decrease since 2010, which could be due to various factors, including survey sample size.
In contrast, the non-religious or religiously unaffiliated population in Colorado is quite significant. While exact figures for this group are not provided, it is noted that they represent the second-largest religious identity in the state. The non-religious adults in Colorado are predominantly white (75%) and between the ages of 18 and 49 (64%). Their educational attainment varies, with 32% holding a high school degree or less, 35% having attended some university, 21% holding a university degree, and 12% having a postgraduate education.
The religious landscape of Colorado, particularly in the Denver metro area, is constantly evolving due to migration within and outside the U.S. The presence of various religious groups, including a growing number of unaffiliated individuals, contributes to the state's reputation as a place of religious freedom and experimentation.
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Catholic population by county
Colorado has a population of around 5.54 million people, with about 15% of residents identifying as Catholic. This equates to approximately 553,000 Catholics in the state. The Catholic population in Colorado is served by 199 parishes, 102 missions, and assorted pastoral centres distributed across three dioceses: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Pueblo, and the Diocese of Colorado Springs.
The Archdiocese of Denver covers 25 of Colorado's 64 counties and oversees 122 parishes. It has 326 priests and operates 37 elementary schools and six high schools. The Denver diocese was established during the Colorado Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, which brought an influx of Catholics to the region. The diocese covers the area north of the Arkansas River and east of the Rocky Mountains, which was historically Native American land.
The Diocese of Colorado Springs was established more recently, in 1984. It covers 10 counties and oversees 39 parishes. There are 68 priests in this diocese, and it operates five elementary schools and one high school.
The Diocese of Pueblo covers 35 counties and oversees 52 parishes. There are 65 priests in this diocese, and it operates one high school and four elementary schools.
While Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States, with approximately 77.4 million members, the percentage of Catholics in Colorado is relatively low compared to other states. For example, Rhode Island has the largest percentage of Catholic residents, with 42% identifying as Catholic.
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Frequently asked questions
Approximately 15% of Colorado residents are members of the Catholic faith, according to statistics from The Official Catholic Directory and U.S. Census Bureau. This equates to about 553,000 people.
There are three Catholic dioceses in Colorado: the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and the Diocese of Pueblo.
The majority of Colorado's population of around 5.54 million people identify as Christian (64%). The second-largest religious identity is those who identify as non-religious or unaffiliated with a particular religion.
Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel, also known as Chapel on the Rock, is a famous Catholic church in Colorado. The Denver parish was established in the 1800s and, by 1870, Catholic churches in Colorado could seat 8,575 parishioners in 14 parishes.
