Joshua Bennett
Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States, with roughly 20% of US adults identifying as Catholic. The US has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, with approximately 77.4 million members as of 2017. The number of Catholics in the US House of Representatives has fluctuated over time, with 122 Catholics out of 435 members as of January 2023. This represents a significant proportion of Catholic influence in American politics, with notable figures such as Joe Biden, the first Catholic Vice President and second Catholic President of the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in the United States House of Representatives | 122 out of 435 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the United States Congress | 30.5% |
| Number of Catholic Representatives | 141 |
| Number of Catholic Senators | 22 |
| Number of Catholic Democrats | 99 |
| Number of Catholic Republicans | 64 |
| Number of Catholics in the United States Senate | 27 out of 100 |
| Total number of Catholics in the United States Senate and House of Representatives | 149 |
| Percentage of US adults who describe themselves as Catholics | 20% |
| Number of US adults who identify as Catholics | 53 million |
| Racial composition of US Catholics | 54% White, 36% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 2% Black, 2% other |
| Regional distribution of US Catholics | Northeast 26%, Midwest 20%, South 29%, West 25% |
| Number of Catholics in the US | 77.4 million |
| Percentage of US population that is Catholic | 22% |
| US ranking in Catholic population | 4th |
| Top three states with the highest Catholic population | Rhode Island (42%), Massachusetts (34%), New Jersey (34%) |
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What You'll Learn
- There are 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives as of January 2023
- Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the US
- Rhode Island is the state with the largest Catholic population
- Catholics are spread relatively evenly across the US
- Hispanic Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics
There are 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives as of January 2023
As of January 2023, there are 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives, out of a total of 435 members. This means that Catholics make up around 28% of the House of Representatives. The Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the United States, with approximately 77.4 million members as of 2017. This accounts for roughly 22% of the population of the United States, making it the country's largest religious denomination.
The number of Catholics in the United States has grown significantly over time. In the 19th century, the population of Catholics in the US started to increase rapidly, mainly due to immigration. The acquisition of former Mexican, French, and Spanish territories, which were predominantly Catholic, contributed to this growth. Following this, there was a large influx of immigrants from Catholic countries in Europe, such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Poland. More recently, the Catholic population in the US has continued to grow due to immigration from Latin America.
The distribution of Catholics across the United States is not uniform. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Catholic residents, with 42% of the state's population identifying as Catholic. Other states with high Catholic populations include Massachusetts (34%), New Jersey (34%), and New York (31%). In terms of regions, the South has the largest number of Catholics, with 32% of the total US Catholic population, followed by the Northeast (24%), the West (25%), and the Midwest (19%).
Catholics in the United States hold a range of sociopolitical positions. For example, Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, is Catholic, and there have been two Catholic Vice Presidents: Joe Biden and JD Vance. Additionally, there have been two Catholic First Ladies: Jacqueline Kennedy and Melania Trump. In the United States House of Representatives, the current House Majority Leader, Steve Scalise, is also Catholic.
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Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the US
Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States, with roughly 22% of the population identifying as Catholic as of 2017. This accounts for approximately 77.4 million members, making the US the country with the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. The US is also home to the largest Catholic population of English speakers and the largest population of Catholic minorities.
The history of the Catholic Church in the US dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries with the arrival of Spanish and French missionaries. The population of Catholics in the US started to grow rapidly in the 19th century, mainly due to immigration from predominantly Catholic countries such as Mexico, France, and Spain. This was followed by an influx of immigrants from Europe, including Poland, Germany, Ireland, and Italy, as well as from Quebec. As a result, the Catholic Church became the largest Christian denomination in the country.
Catholics in the US are spread out relatively evenly across the country. Approximately 29% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest. The racial and ethnic makeup of Catholics varies by region. For example, in the Midwest, the majority of Catholics are White (78%), while in the South, there is a larger population of Hispanic Catholics (45%) compared to White Catholics (44%). The West also has a relatively larger population of Hispanic Catholics (58%) and the highest percentage of Asian Catholics (10%) compared to other regions.
Catholics are well-represented in US politics, with two Catholic presidents, John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, and two Catholic vice presidents, Joe Biden and JD Vance. As of January 2023, there are 27 Catholics in the United States Senate and 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, there have been Catholic first ladies, secretaries of state, and speakers of the House. The Catholic Church in the US also has a central leadership body, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which is made up of the hierarchy of bishops and cardinals in the country.
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Rhode Island is the state with the largest Catholic population
Catholicism has a long and complex history in the United States. The religion first came to the country through Spanish and French colonial expansion in the 16th and 17th centuries, with several settlements in California and Texas being named after Catholic saints. The first Catholic church in Rhode Island was established in 1828 in Newport, with the oldest existing Catholic church in the state, St. Mary's, being founded in West Warwick in 1844.
The Diocese of Providence, established in 1872, plays a significant role in serving the spiritual needs of Catholics in Rhode Island. The diocese includes the entire state of Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts, such as Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence serves as the mother church of the diocese and is a focal point for the Catholic community.
According to a government report on the census of religious bodies, 76.5 percent of the population of the City of Providence, Rhode Island's capital, are Catholics. The Catholic population in the diocese has experienced significant growth, increasing from 325,000 to 425,000 during the tenure of Bishop Francis Keough. The Catholic Church in Rhode Island also has a strong presence in education, with 30 parishes supporting parochial schools, and various social welfare institutions under Catholic auspices, including hospitals and homes for the aged poor.
While Rhode Island has the largest Catholic population by state, the regional distribution of Catholics in the United States shows that the South has the highest percentage of Catholics, with 32% of the total U.S. Catholic population. This is due to the growing number of Catholics in states like Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Additionally, as of January 2023, there are 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives, representing 28% of the chamber, and 27 Catholics in the United States Senate, representing 27% of the chamber.
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Catholics are spread relatively evenly across the US
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, with roughly 22% of the population identifying as Catholic. This equates to approximately 77.4 million members as of 2017. The United States has the fourth-largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the country, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination. The Catholic population is spread relatively evenly across the US, with 29% living in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest.
Historically, the number of Catholics in the US started to grow rapidly in the 19th century, largely due to immigration from predominantly Catholic countries such as Mexico, France, and Spain. This was followed by an influx of immigrants from European countries such as Poland, Germany, Ireland, and Italy. More recently, the Catholic population in the US has been influenced by immigration from Latin America and Asia, resulting in a more diverse racial and ethnic makeup.
The regional distribution of Catholics in the US varies, with the Northeast having the second-highest percentage of Catholics (24%), after the South (32%). The Midwest has the lowest percentage of Catholics (19%), while the West is close to the national average at 25%. Within these regions, the percentage of Catholics in each state can vary. For example, Rhode Island has the highest percentage of Catholic residents at 42%, followed by Massachusetts (34%), and New Jersey (34%).
The presence of Catholics in US politics is also notable, with two Catholic presidents, John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, and two Catholic vice presidents, Joe Biden and JD Vance. Additionally, there have been several Catholic first ladies, secretaries of state, and speakers of the House.
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Hispanic Catholics tend to be younger than White Catholics
As of January 2023, there are 122 Catholics in the United States House of Representatives out of a total of 435 members, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. While this is a substantial number, it is worth noting that the number of Catholics in the House has historically been higher. For context, Catholics represented 30.5% of the United States Congress as of January 2019, with 141 Representatives and 22 Senators who were Catholic.
Now, focusing on the comparison between Hispanic and White Catholics:
The decline in Catholic affiliation among Latinos is also evident in the findings that nearly a quarter of U.S. Hispanics are former Catholics. While two-thirds of Hispanic adults (65%) say they were raised Catholic, only 43% currently identify as Catholic. This indicates a significant shift away from Catholicism within the Hispanic community.
It is worth noting that the decline in Catholic affiliation among Latinos is not necessarily due to a rejection of religion altogether. While the percentage of religiously unaffiliated Latinos has grown, there has also been a modest increase in those identifying as Latino evangelical Protestants. This group expresses especially high levels of religious commitment, with nearly three-quarters saying that religion is very important to them.
In summary, the younger age distribution among Hispanic Catholics compared to White Catholics is evident in the demographic data and the declining Catholic affiliation among young Latinos. However, it is important to acknowledge the dynamic nature of religious affiliation and the potential for future shifts in these trends.
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Frequently asked questions
122 out of 435 members.
30.5%. There were 141 Catholic Representatives and 22 Catholic Senators.
Two: John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden.
Two: Joe Biden and JD Vance.
20% as of 2024, which equates to roughly 53 million Catholic adults nationwide.
