Joshua Bennett
The number of Catholics in the Deep South is a topic that has seen much interest, especially given the region's history of anti-Catholic bigotry. While the South has traditionally been a predominantly Protestant area, with states like Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina having few Catholic churches, there are pockets of the Deep South that have a significant Catholic presence. Louisiana, especially Southern Louisiana, is known for its large Catholic population, influenced by its French and Italian immigration and historical control by Catholic France. Texas also has a large Catholic population due to its Hispanic and German communities. The South has seen the fastest growth of Catholicism in recent years, with the number of Catholics increasing by 12% since 1937.
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What You'll Learn
Louisiana has a large Catholic population
The French influence in Louisiana, including the naming of settlements after Catholic saints, such as St. Louis, Sault Ste. Marie, and St. Ignace, has contributed to the state's Catholic character. Additionally, heavy immigration from Catholic countries like Italy has also played a role in shaping the religious landscape of the state.
Cajuns in rural southern Louisiana are predominantly Catholic. Cajuns are French Canadian Catholics who migrated to Louisiana, further contributing to the significant Catholic presence in the state. The area around Lafayette, Louisiana, also known as Acadiana, is known for its rich Cajun culture and high concentration of Catholic people.
Louisiana stands out in the Southern US, where most states have a predominantly Protestant population. The settlement patterns and historical immigration trends in the Southeast have contributed to a stronger Protestant presence in those states. Louisiana's unique history and cultural influences have made it an exception within the region, fostering a vibrant Catholic community.
While the Deep South typically has a smaller Catholic population compared to other regions, Louisiana is an outlier with its sizable Catholic community. The state's French and Catholic influences, combined with immigration patterns, have shaped its religious landscape, making it a notable Catholic stronghold in the Southern United States.
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Historical anti-Catholic sentiment in the South
Anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States dates back to its colonial history. Protestant settlers from Europe brought anti-Catholic attitudes to the Thirteen Colonies of British North America during the British colonization of the Americas. This anti-Catholic sentiment was derived from the theological heritage of the Protestant Reformation and the European wars of religion (16th–18th century). The Pilgrims and Puritans who settled in New England in the 1600s brought fresh anti-Catholic venom from Europe’s religious conflicts, including the idea that the Pope was the “anti-Christ” and the “whore of Babylon”.
In the Southern United States, specifically, anti-Catholic sentiment was influenced by the fact that most of the people who settled in the region were of English descent and therefore Protestant. The Southern aristocracy was primarily high-church Anglican (and royalist), and the poorer Southern whites were primarily Ulster Scots, who were very Protestant. The Roman Catholic Relief Act was not passed until 1829, so the Protestant influence was dominant in the region for a significant period.
Additionally, the rapid growth of the second Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in the 1920s further intensified anti-Catholic rhetoric. The KKK, which was originally a southern response to Reconstruction efforts to bring African Americans into state and local governments, targeted various groups, including Catholics. The murder of Father James Coyle in Alabama in 1921 by a Southern Methodist Episcopal minister is an example of the violent expression of anti-Catholic sentiment in the South.
In 1916, Georgia was considered the most anti-Catholic state in the Union, largely due to the influence of Catholic-baiter Thomas Watson. The low number of Catholics in the South, particularly in states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, may be a result of this historical anti-Catholic sentiment.
While anti-Catholic sentiment has diminished over time, particularly after John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic president, it has left a significant mark on the religious landscape of the Southern United States.
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Catholic population growth in the South
The Catholic population in the Southern United States has historically been small due to several factors. Firstly, most of the people who settled in the Southeast were of English descent and practiced Protestantism. The South was also predominantly colonized by the British, who were Anglican, and the Roman Catholic Relief Act was not passed until 1829. After US independence, the South was primarily settled by Scotch-Irish (Ulster Scots) immigrants, who mostly came from either Anglican, Presbyterian (Calvinist), or Methodist backgrounds. In addition, groups like the KKK, which was particularly strong in the South, discriminated against Catholics, causing many to move or change religions to avoid persecution.
However, in recent years, there has been significant Catholic population growth in the South. Between 1937 and the time of reporting in 1940, the number of Catholics in the South increased by 12%. The diocese of Savannah-Atlanta, for example, made proportionately 14 times as many converts as Boston and four times as many as Chicago during this period. This growth can be attributed to the efforts of Catholic missionaries, who used trailer chapels with living quarters and kitchens for the priests, as well as permanent altars for open-air services.
The growth of the Catholic population in the South has continued into the 21st century. From 2010 to 2020, the number of practicing Catholics increased nationwide, even as the number of churches decreased. While the Northeast and Midwest—historically Catholic strongholds—saw a decline in the number and percentage of congregants, the South and West experienced growth. The Catholic population in the South grew by 6 million during this period, with states along the southern border seeing some of the largest influxes. Florida's Catholic population rose from 14.6% in 2010 to 21.3% in 2020, and in Arizona, the Catholic population increased from 14.6% to 21.3%.
This shift in the geographic center of US Catholicism from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and West is due to the continuing growth of the American Hispanic community. In 2008, the growth in the Latino population accounted for 9 million of the 11 million additional Catholics in the US since 1990. By 2014, Latinos made up 32% of all American Catholics, up from 20% in 1990. While the percentage of Hispanics identifying as Catholic has since dropped, Catholicism is still growing most among Hispanics in the United States.
While the percentage of Americans identifying as Catholic has decreased slightly in recent years, the South now has more Catholics than any other region. In 2020, 45% of US Catholics were in the South, up from 71% in the Northeast and Midwest 50 years prior. Missouri and Virginia, for example, now have more Catholics than Southern Baptists. Large Catholic congregations are especially common in the West, with 4,700 Catholics per congregation.
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Southern states with low Catholic populations
The South has more Catholics than any other region in the United States, with 45% of the country's Catholics living in this region as of 2020. However, there are Southern states with low Catholic populations, and the Catholic Church is the largest religious body in only 36 states.
Historically, the South has been predominantly Protestant, with the majority of settlers in the Southeastern US being of English descent and therefore Protestant. The South was also largely colonized by the British, who were Anglican. The KKK, which was once a powerful force in the South, discriminated against Catholics, causing many to move or change their religion.
Even today, Southern Protestants view with mixed emotions the Catholic effort to proselytize in this almost 100% Protestant area. One reason for anti-Catholic sentiment in the South may be that comparatively few Southerners know any good Catholics.
North Carolina, for example, has a low percentage of Catholics, with only 10,219 Catholics in a population of 3,563,174. Fifty of its counties have no Catholic church at all. Georgia also has a rarefied Catholic population, with only 16 of its 159 counties having enough Catholics to make a resident priest possible.
Other Southern states with low Catholic populations include Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. In these states, Catholicism is largely confined to urban areas or specific regions, such as the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and Alabama, which has a significant Catholic presence.
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The South's largest religious bodies
The South has a complex religious history, shaped by various cultural, social, and political factors. During the colonial era, the region was predominantly Anglican due to British colonization and the influence of the Southern aristocracy. The South was also home to a significant number of Ulster Scots, who were predominantly Presbyterian (Calvinist) or Methodist. In the 19th century, a wave of German and Italian immigrants, who were mostly Catholic, settled in the region, particularly in Louisiana and Texas. Additionally, the Catholic Church has been making concerted efforts to proselytize in the South, resulting in a steady increase in the number of Catholics in the region.
Catholicism's presence in the South is evident through the establishment of churches, parishes, and schools. The diocese of Savannah-Atlanta, for example, has seen significant growth in the number of converts. Mobile, Alabama, is home to the oldest Catholic parish in the state, established in 1703. Louisiana, especially Southern Louisiana, has a strong Catholic presence due to its French and Italian influences and the immigration of Cajuns, who are French Canadian Catholics. New Orleans, in particular, has deep Catholic roots, with a prominent cathedral and a significant number of Catholic schools.
The growth of Catholicism in the South is also reflected in the increasing number of Catholic congregations and adherents. In 2020, the South had more Catholics than any other region, marking a shift from the past when the majority of Catholics were concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest. The average Catholic congregation in the South has approximately 3,000 adherents, which is unusually high compared to other religious groups. This growth can be attributed to various factors, including the proselytizing efforts of Catholic missionaries, the appeal of Catholicism to former Protestants, and the increasing Hispanic population in the region, particularly in Texas.
While the Catholic Church has made significant gains in the South, it is important to note that anti-Catholic sentiment and bigotry have also been prevalent in the region's history. The Ku Klux Klan, for example, discriminated against Catholics, leading many to relocate or change their religious affiliation. Additionally, Southern Protestantism has viewed Catholic proselytizing efforts with mixed emotions, as the South has traditionally been an almost 100% Protestant region. Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church continues to grow and establish itself as one of the largest and most influential religious bodies in the South.
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Frequently asked questions
While there are no official numbers for the Deep South, a 2020 survey reported that there were 61.9 million Catholics in the US, about 18.7% of the population. The South has more Catholics than any other region, with a large Catholic population in Texas and Louisiana.
The Deep South has historically been an area with a high number of Protestants. The KKK, which was anti-Catholic, also had a strong presence in the region.
Louisiana is an exception to other Southern states, with a large Catholic population, especially in New Orleans and South Louisiana.
