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Catholic Lawmakers Share How Faith Shapes Their Work on Capitol Hill
Developing
In Short: Catholic members of Congress, including Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, emphasize the role of prayer and faith in their public service.
Catholic lawmakers, comprising 126 members in the House and 24 in the Senate, share how their faith influences their work on Capitol Hill, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, reflects on his upbringing in a very Catholic town and the importance of prayer in his busy schedule.
Schmitt, who grew up in St. Louis, notes that technology allows for maintaining faith even in short moments, stating, 'Even if it's five or 10 minutes, it really does help me kind of start the day right.' Other lawmakers, like John Rutherford, R-Florida, also find comfort in attending Mass and saying the rosary.
Lawmakers like Rep. Bice turn to prayer and the comfort of the Blessed Mother, while Sen. Schmitt highlights the unique appeal of his work, which has resonated with many Catholics despite his Baptist background. The current number of Catholic lawmakers on Capitol Hill is slightly higher than the previous Congress, accounting for more than 28% of the members of the House and Senate.
EWTN News Capitol Hill correspondent Erik Rosales spoke with various Catholic lawmakers about how their faith intersects with their public service, underscoring the importance of faith in their lives and work.
Background
Capitol Hill is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in both the Northeast and Southeast quadrants. It is bounded by 15th Street SE & NE, F Street NE, Southeast Boulevard SE, and South Capitol Street SE.
What's still developing
- 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.
- When working busy days on the Hill, Schmitt said he looks to prayer.
- 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.
- Wendell Berry was a prophet of the extraordinary beauty and importance of the ordinary in human life — a reality that Catholics have particular reason to reverence as central to God’s providential plan.