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Catholic lawmakers share how faith shapes their work on Capitol Hill
Confirmed
In Short: Catholic members of Congress discuss how their faith influences their public service and personal lives.
Of the Catholic members, 126 serve in the House and 24 in the Senate, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. This current number is slightly higher than the previous Congress, with Catholics accounting for more than 28% of the members of the United States House of Representatives and Senate.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, grew up a cradle Catholic and said his parents instilled in him the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ at a young age. He noted, 'I grew up in St. Louis, which is a very Catholic town and has been referred to as the Rome of the West because per capita, very Catholic.
For many of the 150 Catholics serving in the 119th Congress, faith plays an important role in their lives and work. While serving on Capitol Hill, Bice said she turns to prayer and the comfort of the Blessed Mother. One highlight of her congressional career was meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican.
John Rutherford, R-Florida, also spoke about leaning on his faith when working in a hectic position, often by attending Mass and saying the rosary. He noted, 'I think technology now too has allowed a different avenue for people to … maintain their faith and grow their faith. Even 'if itʼs five or 10 minutes, it really does help me kind of start the day right.
What's still developing
- “So you had a groundswell of women consider running for congressional seats and Senate seats,” she said.
- EWTN News Capitol Hill correspondent Erik Rosales spoke with various Catholic lawmakers about how their faith intersects with their public service.
- The uniquely broad appeal of his work ever surprises.
- If we grasp the reason for his broad appeal, we might see why in large numbers Catholics, too, have been moved by Berry, even though he was a lifelong Baptist with a complicated relationship with organized religion and certain views at odds with Church teaching.