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The Catholic Church in the United States At A Glance
(Figures Represent the U.S. Catholic Church Through 2007 Unless Otherwise Indicated)


Laity

There are 68,115,001 Catholics in the United States1 (22% of the U.S. population),
and 1 billion Catholics worldwide2.

New Church Members3

Infant Baptisms: 887,145
Adult Baptisms: 42,629
Received into Full Communion: 81,775


Dioceses and Archdioceses4

In the United States, there are 195 archdioceses and dioceses:

145 Latin Catholic dioceses
33 Latin Catholic archdioceses
15 Eastern Catholic dioceses
2 Eastern Catholic archdioceses

Currently, 9 dioceses are vacant (sede vacante):

  • Austin
  • Eparchy of St. Josaphat of Parma for Ukrainians
  • Milwaukee
  • Ogdensburg
  • Owensboro
  • Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark for Syriacs
  • Scranton
  • Springfield in Illinois


Clergy and Religious

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an assembly
of the hierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cardinals5
There are 16 U.S. Cardinals

  • 5 Cardinals currently lead U.S. archdioceses
    Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Galveston-Houston
    Cardinal Francis George - Chicago
    Cardinal Roger Mahony - Los Angeles
    Cardinal Sean O'Malley - Boston
    Cardinal Justin Rigali - Philadelphia
  • 4 U.S. Cardinals are not currently diocesan bishops
    Cardinal John P. Foley - Grand Master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher
    Cardinal Bernard F. Law - Archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, Rome
    Cardinal William J. Levada, Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
    Cardinal James Stafford - Major Penitentiary
  • 7 U.S Cardinals are retired
    Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua - Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia
    Cardinal William Baum - Major Penitentiary Emeritus
    Cardinal Edward Egan - Archbishop Emeritus of New York
    Cardinal William Keeler - Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore
    Cardinal Adam Maida - Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit
    Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - Archbishop Emeritus of Washington
    Cardinal Edmund Szoka - Former President, Pontifical Commission for Vatican City

Bishops6
There are 424 active and retired U.S. bishops in the United States:

  • 258 Active Bishops:
    • 5 Cardinal Archbishops
    • 28 Archbishops
    • 1 Coadjutor Archbishop
    • 153 Diocesan Bishops
    • 71 Auxiliary Bishops
  • 166 Retired Bishops:
    • 7 retired Cardinal Archbishops
    • 16 retired Archbishops
    • 94 retired Diocesan Bishops
    • 49 retired Auxiliary Bishops

Priests7
There are 41,489 diocesan and religious-order priests in the United States.

  • 28,061 diocesan priests
  • 13,428 religious-order priests (Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.)

Seminarians8
There are 4,973 seminarians enrolled in the United States.

  • 3,274 enrolled in diocesan seminaries
  • 1,699 enrolled in religious-order seminaries

Permanent Deacons9
There are 16,935 men who are ordained as permanent deacons in the United States. A permanent deacon is a man, either married or single, who is ordained to the order of deacons, the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. They assist priests in administrative and pastoral roles.

Vowed Religious10

  • Sisters: 60,715
  • Brothers: 4,905


Catholic Education11

  • Total Catholic elementary and high school enrollment: 2,283,767
  • Elementary Schools: 6,133 schools educating 1,609,387 students
  • High Schools: 1,341 schools educating 674,380 students
  • Colleges and Universities: 234 institutions educating 795,823 students
  • Non-residential Schools for Handicapped Persons: 66 schools educating 6,304 students
  • Public School Students Receiving Religious Education:
    • Elementary School students: 3,080,838
    • High School students: 722,599


Catholic Health Care12

  • Hospitals: 562 Catholic hospitals treated 85,283,351 patients
  • Other Health Care Centers: 373 centers treated 6,703,167 patients
  • Specialized Homes: 1,643 assisted 936,900 residents
  • Residential Care of Children: 403 locations assisted 33,952 residents


Catholic Charities

Social Services13
More than 1,688 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions provided services to 8,522,997 unduplicated individuals in need of help in 2004.

  • Provided Services that Build Strong Communities to 3,646,222 people
    Social support services 1,837,964
    Education and enrichment  775,968
    Socialization and neighborhood services 359,574
    Health-related services 276,400
    Services to at-risk populations 396,316
  • Provided Food Services to 6,287,891 people
    Food banks and food pantries 2,984,089
    Soup kitchens 1,247,290
    Congregate dining 1,291,982
    Home delivered meals 274,253
    Other food services 490,277
  • Provided Services that Strengthen Families to 1,071,463 people
    Counseling and mental health services 387,856
    Immigration services 350,164
    Addiction services 94,027
    Refugee services 92,034
    Pregnancy services 98,064
    Adoption services 49,318
  • Provided Housing Related Services to 598,953 people
    Counseling and Assistance 203,063
    Temporary shelter 251,671
    Supervised living 70,121
    Permanent housing 52,384
    Transitional housing 21,715
  • Provided Other Basic Needs Services to 1,741844 people
    Financial Assistance (not rent, mortgage, etc.) 176,304
    Clothing Assistance 592,899
    Utilities Assistance 330,721
    Assistance with Purchase of Prescriptions 47,484
    Additional Other Basic Needs Assistance 594,436
  • Provided Disaster Services to 331,727 people

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Executive 2009

Catholic Church in the United States and Abroad: 1965-2005

 

1 The Official Catholic Directory 2009, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, New Providence, NJ. 2006
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Executive 2009
5 Ibid.
6 Ibid.
7 The Official Catholic Directory 2009, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, New Providence, NJ. 2006
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Catholic Charties USA 2008 Annual Survey At A Glance

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Department of Communications | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.



Department of Communications | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.