Michael Brooks
The religious affiliations of US senators are often a topic of discussion among the media and the public. While the religious preferences of elected officials may not necessarily reflect their voting records, they can be a source of appeal for religious groups and the general public on various issues. As of January 2023, there are 27 Catholic senators out of 100 in the United States Senate, a slight increase from previous years. This number represents around 28% of the Senate and is higher than the percentage of Catholics in the general US population, which is about 20%.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | January 2023 |
| Total number of US senators | 100 |
| Number of Catholic US senators | 27 |
| Percentage of Catholic US senators | 27% |
| Percentage of US population that is Catholic | 20% |
| Number of Catholic Democrats in the Senate | 13 |
| Number of Catholic Republicans in the Senate | 11 |
| Total number of Christians in the Senate | 86 |
| Percentage of Christians in the Senate | 86% |
| Number of Jewish members in the Senate | 9 |
| Percentage of Jewish members in the Senate | 9% |
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What You'll Learn
There are 22 Catholic US senators
The religious affiliation of senators is a topic of interest and discussion among the media, public, and religious groups. While it is not indicative of their voting records, people often appeal to senators of their denomination on religious or moral issues. Catholics are overrepresented in Congress, with 28% of Americans identifying as Catholic.
Catholics are well-represented in leadership positions within the House of Representatives, including three of the top five Republicans and two of the top five Democrats. In 2019, Nancy Pelosi became the first woman elected as Speaker of the House and the first Catholic speaker since 2011.
The Catholic "bloc" in Congress has seen changes, with the addition of senators such as Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio, and the departure of others like Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Mike Braun of Indiana.
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Catholics make up 30.5% of Congress
Catholics are the largest Christian denomination represented in Congress, with 126 members of the House and 24 Senators being Catholic as of the 119th Congress. The majority of Catholics in both chambers are Democrats, with 70 in the House and 13 in the Senate. There are 56 Catholic Republicans in the House and 11 in the Senate. The previous year, in 2019, there were 66 Democrats and 56 Republicans who were Catholic in the House, with 15 Democrats and 11 Republicans in the Senate.
While there is no Catholic bloc in Congress, Catholic members of the House and Senate are still very important. Catholics have peak clout in the new U.S. Congress, with the previous Congress being largely sympathetic to President Donald Trump's agenda. With the Democrats now in charge of the House, Catholic leaders may find themselves shifting gears in terms of advocacy.
The Catholic newcomers to Congress in 2025 include two senators: Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio. With the addition of Mr. Gallego and Mr. Moreno, there are now seven Latino senators, a historical record. However, four Catholic senators will be missing: Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Mike Braun of Indiana, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
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Catholic newcomers to Congress in 2025
The religious affiliation of members of the United States Senate is varied and does not necessarily reflect the religious affiliation of the general population. That said, the religious affiliation of senators is a topic of interest to the media, the public, and religious groups.
In 2025, the United States Congress will convene for its 119th session. According to the Pew Research Center, 28.2% of the members in the newly elected Congress identify as Catholic, compared to about 20% of the US population. This makes Catholicism the single denomination with the most members in Congress.
The Catholic newcomers to Congress in 2025 include two senators: Democrat Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Republican Bernie Moreno of Ohio. With the addition of Mr. Gallego and Mr. Moreno, there are now seven Latino senators, a historical record.
Overall, there are 150 Catholic members in the new Congress, with 22 out of 100 US senators being Catholic. Catholics are well represented in House leadership positions, with three of the top five Republicans and two of the top five Democrats identifying as Catholic. However, in the Senate, only one of the six highest leadership positions in either party is held by a Catholic: Richard Durbin of Illinois, the minority whip for the Democrats.
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The Catholic 'bloc' in Congress
Catholicism is the largest religious denomination in the United States Congress. As of January 2023, there are 27 Catholic senators out of 100, and 122 Catholic representatives out of 435. This means that Catholics make up 27% of the Senate and 28.05% of the House of Representatives.
Catholics have not always been a significant religious group in the United States. Before 1840, they constituted a small minority, making up about 1% of the population. However, this began to change with the mass immigration of Catholics from Europe, particularly Germany and Ireland. By 1840, there were about 600,000 Catholics in the United States, and the community has continued to grow since then, with most immigration to the U.S. coming from predominantly Catholic nations.
The number of Catholics in Congress has also risen over time, increasing by roughly 50% since the Kennedy administration. In recent years, Catholics have consistently been the largest religious denomination in Congress, making up 30.5% of Congress as of January 2019. While there is no official "Catholic bloc" in Congress, Catholic members of the House and Senate are still very influential. For example, in 2006, Cardinal Roger Mahony lobbied senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to consider a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
Additionally, Catholics have held powerful positions in Congress, such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden. In the 117th Congress, Catholics held 29% of the seats and the roles of House Speaker and U.S. President. Catholic Democrats in Congress have also released statements of principles, outlining their commitment to helping the poor, disadvantaged, and oppressed, and protecting human life and dignity.
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Catholics are overrepresented in Congress
Catholics are indeed overrepresented in the US Congress. While they constitute about 20% of the US population, they represent 30% of the 117th Congress, according to the Pew Research Center. This is a notable increase from 1965 to 2021, when the Catholic share of the House rose from 22% to 31%, and the Catholic share of the Senate rose from 14% to 24%. As of January 2023, there are 27 Catholic senators out of 100, and 122 Catholic representatives out of 435.
This overrepresentation is not limited to Congress. Catholics also dominate vast swaths of the US geographically and are the predominant faith in several different ethnic communities. For example, in New Mexico, representatives are quite likely to be Catholic because there are not many other religious options. Similarly, Jews and Episcopalians are classic examples of relatively small religious groups with an outsized presence in Congress.
The religious affiliation of senators and representatives is of interest to religious groups and the general public, who may appeal to politicians of their denomination on religious or moral issues. This dynamic was evident when Cardinal Roger Mahony lobbied senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein on immigration reform.
Catholics' overrepresentation in Congress is also notable given their relatively minor role in early American history. Before 1840, Catholics constituted a small minority. However, their role in American culture and elections changed dramatically due to mass immigration from Europe, especially from Germany and Ireland. By 1840, there were about 600,000 Catholics in the United States, and this number continued to grow with immigration from predominantly Catholic countries.
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Frequently asked questions
As of January 2023, there are 27 Catholic senators out of 100 in total.
In 2019, there were 22 Catholic senators.
As of 2023, there are 122 Catholic members of the House of Representatives out of 435.
Catholics represent 30.5% of Congress, while about 20% of US adults consider themselves Catholic.
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