Sarah Mitchell
The religious composition of Congress has been a topic of interest for many Americans, with a focus on the Catholic representation in the House and Senate. While the percentage of Catholics in Congress has remained stable at around 30-32% in recent years, there is a notable difference between the two parties. According to a recent report, 31% of Democrats in Congress are Catholic, compared to 25-27% of Republicans. This gap has shrunk over time, mainly due to the election of more Catholic Republicans. The increase in Catholic representation in Congress is a significant shift from the 87th Congress in 1961, when only 19% of members were Catholic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Catholics in Congress | 30.5%, 31%, 30%, 28.2% |
| Percentage of Catholics in the House | 32%, 31%, 33%, 31% |
| Percentage of Catholics in the Senate | 26%, 24%, 25% |
| Number of Catholics in Congress | 141, 148, 150 |
| Number of Catholics in the House | 100 |
| Number of Catholics in the Senate | 22 |
| Percentage of Democrats in Congress who are Catholic | 31%, 34%, 37% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Congress who are Democrats | 55% |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics make up 30-34% of Democrats in Congress
The percentage of Catholics in Congress has been steadily increasing over the years. In 1961, Catholics comprised only 19% of Congress, but by 2019, they made up 30.5% of Congress. This number has continued to grow, and as of 2025, Catholics make up 32% of all Democrats in Congress. This is significantly higher than the percentage of Catholics in the general US population, which is around 20%.
The increase in Catholic representation is particularly notable within the Democratic Party. In 1965, Catholics made up only 26% of Democrats in Congress, while by 1995, this number had increased to 33%. This increase in Catholic representation is not limited to the Democratic Party, however, as the percentage of Catholics among Republicans in Congress has also been steadily rising.
While the number of Catholics in Congress has been increasing, the religious makeup of Congress is still predominantly Christian. As of 2025, nearly nine-tenths of Congress identifies as Christian, with Protestants making up the largest share. However, the percentage of Christians in Congress has been slowly declining, while the number of religiously unaffiliated members has been increasing.
The religious diversity of Congress is slowly starting to reflect the religious diversity of the US population. While Congress is still predominantly Christian, the number of members who identify as non-Christian religions, such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, is slowly increasing. This is particularly notable within the Democratic Party, which has a higher percentage of non-Christian members than the Republican Party.
In conclusion, Catholics make up a significant and growing proportion of Democrats in Congress, with around 30-34% of Democrats identifying as Catholic. This percentage is higher than the percentage of Catholics in the general US population and highlights the increasing religious diversity within Congress.
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There are more Catholic Democrats than Republicans
The religious composition of Congress has been a topic of interest for many years. While the majority of Congress members identify as Christian, there are notable differences in the religious makeup of the two major parties. According to a 2021 report by the Pew Research Center, 34% of Democrats in Congress are Catholic, compared to 26% of Republicans. This trend has been consistent over the years, with a 2019 report from the same organization showing that 31% of Democrats were Catholic, compared to 25% of Republicans.
The higher proportion of Catholic Democrats in Congress is a significant shift from the mid-1960s, when Democrats enjoyed a six-to-one advantage among Catholics in Congress. The 2025 Congress includes notable Catholic newcomers such as Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a Democrat, and Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, a Republican. While Catholics are not as well-represented in Senate leadership positions, with only one Catholic among the six highest leadership positions in either party, the presence of Catholics in Congress is still significant.
The religious diversity in Congress is largely driven by one party, with Democrats exhibiting greater diversity among non-Christian members. All of the Unitarian Universalists, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus in Congress are Democrats, and there is even one Democrat who identifies as a humanist. In contrast, Republican members of the Senate and House are overwhelmingly Christian, with 99% identifying as such.
While the percentage of Catholics in Congress has remained relatively stable over the last few decades, there has been a notable increase since the 87th Congress in 1961, when only 19% of members were Catholic. The 118th Congress, which began in 2023, saw a slight decrease in the percentage of Catholics, with 28% in the House and 26% in the Senate. However, these numbers still represent a higher proportion of Catholics in Congress compared to the US population, which is around 20%.
In summary, the statement "there are more Catholic Democrats than Republicans" is supported by the available data. The religious composition of Congress has evolved over time, with a gradual increase in religious diversity. While both parties are predominantly Christian, the higher proportion of Catholic members in the Democratic Party contributes to a more religiously diverse representation in the legislative body.
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Congress has more Catholics than the US population
Congress has a higher proportion of Catholics than the US population. While 20% of the US population identifies as Catholic, 28-32% of Congress is Catholic. This disparity is even more pronounced when looking at the Democrats in Congress, who are 31-37% Catholic.
The religious makeup of Congress has shifted over time. In 1961, when religious data was first collected, 95% of Congress members were Christian. This number has decreased slightly, with 88% of Congress members identifying as Christian in 2019 and 2021. Despite this, Congress remains more heavily Christian than the US population, which is only 71% Christian.
The proportion of Catholics in Congress has remained relatively stable over the past few decades, hovering around 30-32%. This is a significant increase from 1961, when only 19% of Congress was Catholic. The share of Catholics in Congress began to rise in the 1990s, coinciding with the election of more Catholic Republicans.
While Congress has become more religiously diverse, with an increasing number of members identifying as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu, it still does not fully represent the religious diversity of the US population. For example, the religiously unaffiliated, who make up 23% of the US population, only account for 0.2-1% of Congress.
The high proportion of Catholics in Congress, particularly among Democrats, may be due to a variety of factors, including the religious makeup of the US population, the historical influence of Catholicism in certain regions or states, and the political and social views espoused by Catholic individuals and organizations.
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Catholics are the largest religious group in Congress
The percentage of Catholics in Congress has remained stable at around 31% in the last four congresses, according to Pew. This is much higher than the percentage of Catholics in the US population, which is about 20%. The share of Catholics in Congress is also higher among Democrats than Republicans (31% vs 25%).
The Catholic members of Congress include senators such as Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman Democrat from New York.
While Congress is predominantly Christian, with 88% of members identifying as such, there is a notable religious diversity among non-Christians. All of the Unitarian Universalists, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus in Congress are Democrats.
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Congress has more religious diversity than ever before
Congress has long been predominantly Christian, with a Catholic minority. However, the 118th Congress, which began in 2023, is the most religiously diverse Congress in US history. It includes the first two Muslim women, three Muslims overall, three Hindus, two Buddhists, and three Unitarian Universalists.
The religious composition of the 118th Congress is as follows: 469 Christians (88%), including 303 Protestants (57%), and 148 Catholics (28%); eight Orthodox Christians; 34 Jews (6%); one humanist; and one religiously unaffiliated member.
Congress has become more religiously diverse as it has become more representative of the US population. However, it still does not fully reflect the religious makeup of the country. While nearly three in ten Americans claim no religious affiliation, only two members of Congress publicly identify as such.
Furthermore, while the number of Christians in Congress has declined slightly over the decades, the same cannot be said for the general population, where the share of Christians has decreased from 78% to 63% since 2007.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics make up around 30% of Congress, with 28% in the House and 26% in the Senate.
55% of the Catholics in Congress are Democratic. This equates to 31% of all Democrats in Congress.
Catholics are overrepresented in Congress compared to the US population, where only about 20% identify as Catholic.
