Grace Thompson
North Carolina is home to two Roman Catholic dioceses: the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte. The former was established in 1924, becoming the first Catholic diocese in the state, while the latter was founded in 1972.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Dioceses in North Carolina | 2 |
| First Diocese | Diocese of Raleigh |
| Year of Establishment | 1924 |
| Number of Counties | 46 |
| Area Covered | 20,700 square miles (54,000 sq. km) |
| Number of Parishes and Missions | 93 |
| Catholic Population | 565,000+ |
| Catholic Population (2010) | 174,689 |
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What You'll Learn
The Diocese of Charlotte
The Catholic population of the diocese has grown significantly over the years. In 2010, the Catholic population of the diocese was approximately 174,689 registered Catholics. By 2024, the number of Catholics in the diocese had doubled to over 530,000, with more than 565,000 Catholics in 93 parishes and missions. This growth has led to plans to build a new cathedral, with construction scheduled to begin in 2030.
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The Catholic population of the diocese
North Carolina is home to two Catholic dioceses: the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte. The former was the first Catholic diocese in the state, established in 1924. The latter was founded in 1972 and covers the western half of the state, including 46 counties and bordering states of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina.
The Catholic population of North Carolina has grown over time, with the Diocese of Charlotte reporting over 565,000 Catholics in 93 parishes and missions as of 2021. This number had already reached 530,000 by 2024, showing a steady increase. The diocese operates 20 schools and over 50 ministries and programs, including food banks, counseling, prison ministry, youth and elder care services, campus ministry, anti-poverty initiatives, refugee resettlement, and pro-life advocacy.
The Diocese of Charlotte encompasses a diverse geographical area, including both urban and rural communities. The Catholic population is spread across these areas, with some parishes being more densely populated than others. For example, the Matthew Catholic Parish in Charlotte had over 35,000 members as of 2017, making it the most populous parish in the country at that time.
The history of Catholicism in North Carolina dates back to the early 19th century when Irish Catholic immigrants began arriving in the state to work on railroads and construction projects. St. Peter's Church, founded in Charlotte in 1851, was the first permanent Catholic church in the region. However, discrimination and persecution of Catholics were common in the North Carolina colony until it became a royal colony in 1729, and freedom of worship was guaranteed after the American Revolution with the passage of the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
The Diocese of Raleigh, the first official Catholic diocese in North Carolina, was established in 1924. Since then, the Catholic population in the state has continued to grow and organize, with the establishment of parishes, schools, and social service programs. The Diocese of Raleigh covers the eastern half of the state and serves a significant number of Catholics, although specific population numbers for this diocese are not as readily available as for the Diocese of Charlotte.
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Discrimination and persecution of Catholics
There are two Catholic dioceses in North Carolina: the Diocese of Raleigh, which covers eastern North Carolina, and the Diocese of Charlotte, which covers the western half of the state.
Catholics in North Carolina have historically faced discrimination and persecution, particularly during the colonial era. Before and during the American Revolutionary War, Catholics in the British colonies of America, including North Carolina, were under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of the London District in England. During this period, discrimination and persecution of Catholics in the North Carolina colony were common. Anyone seeking to hold public office was required to sign an oath declaring Protestantism as the true Christian faith. This anti-Catholic sentiment was not unique to North Carolina but was prevalent in the Thirteen Colonies of British North America, brought by Protestant settlers from Europe.
English, Scottish, and Scots-Irish identities were often closely tied to opposition to Catholicism. Robert Curran writes, "To be English was to be anti-Catholic." Many early American religious cultures exhibited extreme anti-Catholic bias, influenced by the theological heritage of the Protestant Reformation and the European wars of religion. This bias was also fueled by xenophobic, ethnocentric, nativist, and racist sentiments directed at waves of Catholic immigrants, particularly from Ireland, Italy, Poland, Germany, Austria, and Mexico.
The passage of the Quebec Act at the start of the American Revolutionary War, granting Catholic emancipation and freedom of religion to Catholics in Quebec, angered many in the Anglican colonies, including those in North Carolina. This act was seen as one of the Intolerable Acts that sparked the American Revolution, with American Patriots designing the George Rex Flag in protest against Catholicism.
During the early 19th century, Irish Catholic immigrants began arriving in North Carolina, working on railroads and construction projects. This influx of Catholic immigrants further fueled anti-Catholic sentiment, with claims that they were spreading violence and drunkenness. The "nativist" movement of the mid-19th century led to mob violence, the destruction of Catholic property, and the killing of Catholics.
However, historians note that wars, such as the War for Independence and the Civil War, helped reduce anti-Catholic sentiment as Catholic support for these causes dispelled notions of Catholic disloyalty. Additionally, the friendship and collaboration between Reverend James Gibbons, the first vicar apostolic of North Carolina, and many Protestants in the state contributed to breaking down prejudices and converting Protestants to Catholicism.
With the passage of the U.S. Constitution in 1789, Catholics were guaranteed freedom of worship throughout the nation. This marked a significant shift toward religious freedom and away from the persecution that had previously been endured by Catholics in North Carolina and other colonies.
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The Diocese of Raleigh
North Carolina is home to two Catholic dioceses: the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte. This answer will focus on the former.
History
Geography
Leadership
The current bishop of Raleigh is Luis Rafael Zarama, who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 and installed at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. He is the sixth bishop of Raleigh, succeeding Michael Burbidge, who served from 2006 to 2017. Burbidge oversaw the construction of the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, which was completed in 2017.
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The Diocese of Baltimore
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore is the oldest diocese and oldest archdiocese in the United States. In November 1784, Pope Pius VI erected the Prefecture Apostolic of the United States, encompassing the entire country. Since Maryland had the largest Catholic population, Pius VI placed the prefecture see in Baltimore and appointed Carroll as its first prefect apostolic. In 1789, Carroll ordained the first American-born Catholic priest, Reverend William Matthews, at St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral in Baltimore. Four years later, Pius VI elevated the prefecture to the Diocese of Baltimore, making it the first diocese solely within the United States.
The new Diocese of Baltimore covered the entire nation. Carroll asked the Fathers of the Company of Saint Sulpice to come to Baltimore to train priests for his new diocese. They arrived in 1791 and started the nucleus of St. Mary's College and Seminary in that city. Also in 1791, Carroll convened the first diocesan synod in the United States. As the Catholic population of the United States grew, the Vatican saw the need to create more dioceses. In 1808, Pope Pius VII erected four new dioceses from what now became the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The pope named Carroll as the first archbishop of Baltimore.
After Carroll died in 1815, Neale automatically succeeded him as archbishop of Baltimore. However, due to Neale's bad health, Pope Pius VII in 1816 appointed Reverend Ambrose Maréchal as coadjutor archbishop. When Neale died in 1817, Maréchal succeeded him as archbishop of Baltimore. Throughout his tenure, Maréchal believed that his most pressing problem was a shortage of priests. It was aggravated by parish trustees who thought they had the reverend's power to assign these priests.
In January 1828, Reverend James Whitfield of Baltimore was appointed coadjutor archbishop of the archdiocese by Pope Leo XII. Whitfield was finally consecrated as archbishop in June 1828. He convened a synod for the diocesan clergy in 1831 and the Second Provincial Council of Baltimore in 1833. Throughout his tenure, Whitfield worked for the welfare of the African American community. He authorized the foundation of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious order of African-American women in the United States.
As of 2020, the archdiocese had an estimated Catholic population of 525,000 with 198 diocesan priests, 193 religious priests and 169 permanent deacons in 139 parishes. The Archdiocese of Baltimore has two major seminaries: St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore and Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 2 Catholic dioceses in North Carolina.
The names of the Catholic dioceses in North Carolina are the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte.
The Diocese of Raleigh was established in 1924 and was the first Catholic diocese in North Carolina.
The Catholic population in the Diocese of Charlotte was approximately 174,689 in 2010. This number doubled to over 500,000 during the bishop's term.
