This member profile of the Roman Catholic Church was created using data from the 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, collected by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Compare Roman Catholic Church to members in other denominations:
Demographics |
| Percent female |
54.2% |
| Percent that are currently married |
57.3% |
| Percent that have a B.A., B.S. or other 4-year college degree |
25.9% |
| Percent with a family income of less than $40,000 a year |
34.2% |
| Percent that are white |
83.4% |
| Percent of Hispanic origin or descent |
29.1% |
| Percent that live in a rural area |
11.2% |
| Percent that live in the South |
24.5% |
| Percent with one or more parents born outside the U.S. |
17.8% |
| Percent born in another country |
22% |
Moral Attitudes |
| Percent who think that abortion should be illegal in all cases. |
17.9% |
| Percent that think that "homosexuality" is a way of life that should be discouraged by society. |
30% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that there are "clear and absolute standards for what is right and wrong" |
78.5% |
| Percent who think the government should do more to protect morality in society. |
42.7% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that their values are threatened by Hollywood and the entertainment industry |
42.9% |
Other Beliefs and Attitudes |
| Percent satisfied with personal life. |
87.5% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that "evolution is the best explanation for the origins of human life on earth" |
57.8% |
Political Attitudes |
| Percent that think that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters |
47.7% |
| Percent that think the best way to ensure peace is through military strength. |
24.9% |
| Percent that think the government should do more to help needy Americans. |
62.6% |
| Percent that think that stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs. |
31.8% |
| Percent that prefer a smaller government providing fewer services. |
39.4% |
| Percent registered to vote |
83.2% |
| Percent Republican |
23.5% |
| Percent that describe themselves as conservative or very conservative |
36.4% |
| Percent that voted for Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election |
37.8% |
Religious Beliefs |
| Percent that view God as an impersonal force |
30% |
| Percent that believe in God or a universal spirit |
97.2% |
| Percent that believe in Hell |
60.2% |
| Percent that believe in Heaven |
82.2% |
| Percent that agree: Angels and demons are active in the world |
69.2% |
| Percent that believe in reincarnation |
-- |
| Percent that believe in life after death |
77% |
| Percent that say religion is a very important part of their life |
56.1% |
| Percent that believe that their church or denomination should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices |
35.5% |
| Percent that mostly or complete agree: Religion causes more problems in society than it solves |
32.2% |
| Percent that think there is a natural conflict between "being a devout religious person and living in a modern society" |
34.1% |
| Percent that mostly or completely agree: Miracles still occur today as in ancient times |
83.3% |
| Percent that believe that many religions can lead to eternal life |
79% |
Religious Experiences |
| Percent that speak or pray in tongues |
19.5% |
| Percent that have experienced or witnessed a divine healing of an illness or injury? |
27.8% |
| Percent that feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week |
46.5% |
Religious Practices |
| Percent that attend religious services at least once a week |
41.4% |
| Percent that pray at a shrine or religious symbol in their home |
-- |
| Percent that attend services at a church with 2000 or more members. |
18.4% |
| Percent that pray at least once a day |
57.9% |
| Percent that meditate at least once a week |
36.2% |
| Percent that pray or read the Scripture with their children |
62.7% |
| Percent that read scripture outside of religious services at last once a week |
21.3% |
| Percent that participate in a choir or other musical program at their place of worship |
18.9% |
| Percent that do community volunteer work through their place of worship |
56.4% |
| Percent that share their faith with "non-believers or people from other religious backgrounds" at least once a week |
13.6% |
| Percent that send their children to Sunday School or another religious education program |
51.5% |
| Percent that home school or send their children to a religious school |
19.8% |
