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Bob Casey Jr. is a Catholic, and attended the College of the Holy Cross and the Catholic University of America. He is the son of Bob Casey Sr., a former governor of Pennsylvania, who was a devout Roman Catholic. Bob Casey Jr. has served as the Pennsylvania Auditor General, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, and U.S. Senator. He ran for reelection in 2024 but narrowly lost to Republican nominee David McCormick. There is also a Robert Gerald Casey, who was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Cincinnati in 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bob Casey Jr. |
| Birthplace | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Date of Birth | April 13, 1960 |
| Parents | Bob Casey Sr. and Ellen (née Harding) |
| Education | Scranton Preparatory School, College of the Holy Cross, Catholic University of America |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician |
| Political Party | Democratic |
| Religious Affiliation | Catholic |
| Notable Positions Held | Pennsylvania Auditor General, Pennsylvania State Treasurer, U.S. Senator |
| Notable Issues Supported | Gun Control, Hate Crimes Prevention |
| Related Individuals | Bob Casey Sr. (father), Ed Rendell (political opponent) |
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What You'll Learn
Bob Casey Jr.'s Catholic education
Bob Casey Jr. is a Roman Catholic. He is the son of Bob Casey Sr., a former governor of Pennsylvania, who was also a devout Roman Catholic.
Bob Casey Jr. attended Scranton Preparatory School, graduating in 1978. He then went on to study at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating in 1982. Between 1982 and 1988, Casey served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, teaching 5th grade and coaching basketball at the Gesu School in Francisville, Philadelphia. He then attended law school at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1988.
After graduating from law school, Casey practiced law in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from 1988 until 1996. During this time, he also married Terese Foppiano, with whom he had four children. In 1996, Casey entered politics, running for Pennsylvania State Auditor General as a Democrat. He won the election and served two terms, from 1997 to 2005. In 2006, Casey ran for the U.S. Senate and successfully defeated the Republican incumbent, Rick Santorum. He represented Pennsylvania in the Senate from 2007 until his reelection defeat in 2024.
Throughout his political career, Casey has advocated for various issues, including gun control, early childhood education, and marriage equality. He has also opposed abortion, following in the footsteps of his father, who was known for his anti-abortion advocacy.
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Bob Casey Jr.'s political career
Bob Casey Jr. is an American politician who served as a Democrat in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025. He is the son of Bob Casey Sr., a former governor of Pennsylvania. Casey Jr. was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982. He received a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1988.
Before beginning his political career, Casey practiced law in Scranton from 1988 to 1996. In 1996, he ran for Pennsylvania State Auditor General, winning the Democratic nomination and the general election. He served two terms, from 1997 to 2005. In 2002, Casey ran for governor of Pennsylvania but lost the Democratic primary to Ed Rendell. After being term-limited out of his position as auditor general, he was elected treasurer in 2004, serving from 2005 to 2007.
In 2006, Casey ran for the U.S. Senate and defeated the Republican incumbent, Rick Santorum. He assumed office on January 3, 2007, and was reelected in 2012 and 2018. During his time in the Senate, Casey established a reputation as a moderate to conservative Democrat. He initially supported gun-ownership rights but later became an advocate for gun control laws, particularly after the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012. He also introduced legislation to increase funding for access to early childhood education and supported marriage equality and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
In terms of social issues, Casey has taken a conservative stance on abortion, opposing Roe v. Wade and taxpayer funding of the procedure. However, he supports access to contraception and funding for Planned Parenthood. In 2022, he reversed his anti-abortion position and expressed support for legislation to codify national abortion rights. Casey also supported or passed legislation to improve the quality of life for senior citizens, such as removing barriers to changing insurance plans for Medicare recipients.
In November 2024, Casey lost his reelection bid to Republican challenger Dave McCormick by a narrow margin of 0.22%.
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Bob Casey Sr.'s Catholic values
Bob Casey Sr. was a devout Roman Catholic. His Catholic values were reflected in his political career, including his anti-abortion stance. In 1989, he successfully pushed for the "Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act", which placed several limitations on abortion, including a ban on partial-birth procedures, except when the mother's life was at risk. This led to a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, which went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Casey's Catholic faith also influenced his expansion of healthcare services for women and introduction of an insurance program for uninsured children, which became a model for the SCHIP program later adopted nationwide. His Catholic values shaped his political career, with his policies often reflecting his religious beliefs.
Casey's family, of Irish descent, was originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania. His father, a former coal miner who started working in the mines at just 10 years old, was also a devout Roman Catholic. The family moved to New York so his father could attend Fordham University School of Law. After Casey's birth, they returned to Scranton. Casey attended Scranton Preparatory School and later graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a basketball scholarship.
Casey's Catholic values were evident in his personal and professional life. As a politician, he advocated for social justice and the welfare of the disadvantaged, reflecting the teachings of the Catholic Church. His policies and legislation often aimed to uphold the dignity of human life, which is a fundamental principle in Catholic social teaching.
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Bob Casey Jr.'s views on gun control
Bob Casey Jr. is a Democrat from Pennsylvania, a state with traditionally pro-gun views. He is also a Catholic, and the son of Bob Casey Sr., a former governor of Pennsylvania.
Casey was once an advocate for lax gun control laws. In 2009, during his first term in the U.S. Senate, he voted to allow guns on Amtrak trains. However, in the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre in 2012, he completely flipped his views on several gun issues. This change of heart was largely influenced by his wife and daughter, who challenged him on his stance.
Since then, Casey has become an evangelist for gun control laws, embracing every major proposal to counter gun violence. This includes supporting a renewed ban on assault weapons and enhanced background checks before gun purchases. He has also introduced legislation to prevent people convicted of hate crimes from buying guns, such as after the Orlando Pulse nightclub massacre.
Casey's views on gun control have evolved significantly, and he is now one of the most unlikely evangelists for sweeping gun-control laws. He faults himself for not thinking deeply about the gun issue until the Sandy Hook tragedy, and for coasting along with Pennsylvania's traditional pro-gun stance.
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Bob Casey Sr.'s political career
Robert Patrick Casey, or Bob Casey Sr., was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as the 42nd governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995, after practising law for a decade.
Casey was born on January 9, 1932, in Jackson Heights, Queens, to Alphonsus Liguori and Marie (née Cummings) Casey. His family, of Irish descent, was originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania. However, his parents moved to New York so that his father, a former coal miner, could attend Fordham University School of Law. The family returned to Scranton after Casey was born, and he attended Scranton Preparatory School. In 1949, Casey turned down an offer to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, opting to go to college instead. He attended the College of the Holy Cross on a basketball scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. He then received his Juris Doctor from George Washington University in 1956. Upon graduation, Casey worked for the Washington, D.C., law firm Covington & Burling until 1958, when he returned to Scranton to enter solo practice.
Casey served as a Democratic Party member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd district from 1963 to 1968. He first sought the office of Governor of Pennsylvania in 1966 but lost the Democratic Party primary to Milton Shapp. In 1968 and 1972, Casey was elected to the post of Auditor General of Pennsylvania. During his term as Auditor General, he was noted for exposing corruption and feuding with then-Governor Shapp over Pennsylvania's pension system.
In 1986, Casey made a fourth bid for governor, billing himself as the "real Bob Casey" to distinguish himself from his previous unsuccessful attempts. He hired two then-unknown political strategists, James Carville and Paul Begala, to lead his campaign staff. Casey won the Democratic primary, defeating Philadelphia district attorney Ed Rendell. He then faced Bill Scranton in the general election, defeating him by 79,216 votes.
As governor, Casey brought what he called an activist government to Pennsylvania, expanding healthcare services for women, introducing reforms to the state's welfare system, and introducing an insurance program for uninsured children. He was also known for leading the anti-abortion wing of the Democratic Party, spearheading the opposition in the landmark Supreme Court case Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The case concerned the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, which Casey pushed through the legislature in 1989. The Act placed several limitations on abortion, including the notification of parents of minors, a twenty-four-hour waiting period, and a ban on partial-birth procedures except in cases of risk to the mother's life.
Casey's son, Bob Casey Jr., has also pursued a career in politics. He has served as Pennsylvania Auditor General, state treasurer, and U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bob Casey Jr. is a practicing Catholic. He attended the Catholic University of America and served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Bob Casey Jr. is an American politician and the son of former Pennsylvania governor Bob Casey Sr. He served as Pennsylvania's auditor general from 1997 to 2005 and as state treasurer from 2005 to 2007. Casey was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 and served until 2024.
Bob Casey Sr. came from a devoutly Roman Catholic family. He was a well-known anti-abortion advocate and passed the "Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act" in 1989.
Yes, there is a Robert Gerald Casey, who is the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cincinnati as of February 12, 2025. He was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1994.
Yes, Robert G. Casey is the Archbishop-designate of Cincinnati, according to the Catholic Telegraph.
