Congressional Believers

An analysis by the Pew Forum on Religion in Public Life found that Catholics are one of several denominations whose representation in Congress exceeds their representation in the U.S. population. Pew reported that with 156 Catholics in the House and Senate, Catholics make up 29.2 percent of the 112th Congress but 23.9 percent of all U.S. adults. Also disproportionately represented are Protestants overall, Jews and Mormons, according to the study, issued on Jan. 6. Numbering 304 out of the 535 members of the new Congress, Protestants comprise 56.8 percent of Congress, versus 51.3 percent of U.S. adults. The Jews in Congress (39) account for 7.3 percent of lawmakers, versus 1.7 percent of U.S. adults. The 15 Mormons make up 2.8 percent of Congress; 1.7 percent of adults are Mormons. The 58 members of Congress who do not specify a Christian denomination come to 10.8 percent, versus 5.1 percent of U.S. adults.