The Catholic Church in the United States At A Glance
Laity
There are 67,515,016 Catholics in the United States1 (22% of the U.S. population), and 1 b
Catholics worldwide2.
News Releases
New Church Members3
Statistics
Additional Resources
Infant Baptisms: 953,688
Adult Baptisms: 64,464
Received into Full Communion: 92,975
Backgrounders
Communications Policy
Dioceses and Archdioceses (alphabetical listing)
Publications & Programs
Listing by population
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
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope John Paul II
Special Projects
Clergy and Religious
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an assembly of the hierarchy
United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cardinals
There are 15 U.S. Cardinals
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6 Cardinals currently lead U.S. archdioceses
Cardinal Francis George - Chicago
Cardinal Adam Maida – Detroit
Cardinal Roger Mahony – Los Angeles
Cardinal Edward Egan – New York
Cardinal Justin Rigali – Philadelphia
Cardinal Sean O'Malley - Boston
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5 U.S. Cardinals are not currently diocesan bishops
Cardinal Avery Dulles – Professor of Theology, Fordham University
Cardinal James Stafford – Major Penitentiary
Cardinal Bernard F. Law – Archpriest of St. Mary Major Basilica, Rome
Cardinal Edmund Szoka – President, Pontifical Commission for Vatican City
Cardinal William J. Levada, Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
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4 U.S Cardinals are retired
Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua – Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia
Cardinal William Baum – Major Penitentiary Emeritus
Cardinal William Keeler - Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - Archbishop Emeritus of Washington
Bishops
There are 431 active and retired U.S. bishops in the United States:
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268 Active Bishops:
o 6 Cardinal Archbishops
o 25 Archbishops
o 0 Coadjutor Archbishop
o 193 Diocesan Bishops
o 74 Auxiliary Bishops
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164 Retired Bishops:
o 5 retired Cardinal Archbishops
o 16 retired Archbishops
o 93 retired Diocesan Bishops
o 48 retired Auxiliary Bishops
Currently, 6 dioceses are vacant (sede vacante):
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Birmingham
Des Moines
Knoxville
Little Rock
Shreveport
St. Thomas
Priests4
There are 42,307 diocesan and religious-order priests in the United States.
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28,462 diocesan priests
13,845 religious-order priests (Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.)
Seminarians5
There are 5,180 seminarians enrolled in the United States.
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3,383 enrolled in diocesan seminaries
1,797 enrolled in religious-order seminaries
Permanent Deacons6
There are 15,868 men who are ordained as permanent deacons in the United States. A per
deacon is a man, either married or single, who is ordained to the order of deacons, the first
ranks in ordained ministry. They assist priests in administrative and pastoral roles.
Vowed Religious7
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Sisters: 64,877
Brothers: 5,095
Catholic Education8

Elementary Schools: 6,197 schools educating 1,638,114 students
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High Schools: 1,350 schools educating 672,426 students
Colleges and Universities: 236 institutions educating 785,619 students
Non-residential Schools for Handicapped Persons: 82 schools educating 8,659 stu
Public School Students Receiving Religious Education:
o Elementary School students: 3,387,142
o High School students: 732,917
Catholic Health Care9
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Hospitals: 556 Catholic hospitals treated 84,736,305 patients
Other Health Care Centers: 429 centers treated 6,517,561 patients
Specialized Homes: 1,517 assisted 653,719 residents
Residential Care of Children: 986 locations assisted 60,861 residents
Catholic Charities
Social Services10
More than 1,673 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions provided services to 7,44
unduplicated individuals in need of help in 2004.
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Provided Services that Build Strong Communities to 3,618,993 people
Social support services 1,698,047
Education and enrichment 768,021
Socialization and neighborhood services 609,149
Health-related services 234,635
Services to at-risk populations 331,141
Provided Food Services to 6,360,939 people
Food banks and food pantries 2,373,087
Soup kitchens 1,826,738
Congregate dining 1,232,217
Home delivered meals 279,345
Other food services 649,520
Provided Services that Strengthen Families to 1,093,339 people
Counseling and mental health services 468,844
Immigration services 341,087
Addiction services 97,980
Refugee services 77,801
Pregnancy services 65,718
Adoption services 41,909
Provided Housing Related Services to 474,999 people
Housing services 171,787
Temporary shelter 139,938
Supervised living 102,297
Permanent housing 41,424
Transitional housing 19,553
Provided Other Basic Needs Services to 1,384,101 people
Financial Assistance (not rent, mortgage, etc.) 154,637
Clothing Assistance 533,828
Utilities Assistance 167,510
Assistance with Purchase of Prescriptions 47,136
Additional Other Basic Needs Assistance 480,990
Provided Disaster Services to 99,863 people
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2.
The Official Catholic Directory 2007, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, New Providence, NJ. 20
Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2004; population estimated as of June 30, 2002
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The Official Catholic Directory 2007.
The Official Catholic Directory 2007.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Catholic Charities USA 2006 Annual Survey At A Glance.
Catholic Church in the United States and Abroad: 1965-2005