Catholic Church
Traces its origin to Christ and the apostles, with the bishop of Rome as Peter's successor. It is the largest Christian body in the U.S. and the world.
- U.S. size
- ≈ 62 million (Official Catholic Directory / CARA, c. 2023 (approx; Pew estimates about 19% of U.S. adults identify as Catholic, 2023–24 RLS))
- Founded
- 1st century; U.S. dioceses since 1789
- Church government
- Episcopal: bishops in communion with the Pope
- Ordains women as pastors
- No (priesthood is reserved to men)
- Official website
- www.usccb.org
- Statement of faith
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
Core beliefs
| Topic | What they teach | Scripture they cite |
|---|---|---|
| Scripture & authority | Scripture and Sacred Tradition together, interpreted by the Church's teaching office (Magisterium). | 2 Thess 2:15; Matt 16:18-19; 1 Tim 3:15 |
| Salvation | By God's grace through Christ, received in faith and baptism and lived out in love and the sacraments; good works done in grace are meritorious. | Eph 2:8-10; James 2:24; John 6:53; Phil 2:12-13 |
| Baptism | A sacrament that washes away original sin and gives new birth. Infants are baptized. | John 3:5; Acts 2:38-39; Rom 6:3-4 |
| Lord's Supper | The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Christ (transubstantiation) and the sacrifice of the Mass made present. | Matt 26:26-28; John 6:51-56; 1 Cor 11:23-29 |
| Worship | Liturgical: the Mass following the church year. | Luke 22:19; Acts 2:42; Mal 1:11 |
| Mary & saints | Mary is honored as Mother of God, sinless, assumed into heaven. Saints are asked to intercede. | Luke 1:28,48; Heb 12:1; Rev 5:8 |
| Spiritual gifts | All gifts continue. Charismatic renewal is accepted within the Church. | 1 Cor 12:4-11 |
About these numbers: figures are approximate and come from each body's own most recent report or the National Council of Churches' Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Bodies count members differently (baptized, confirmed, adherents, publishers), and some historically Black denominations have not published new figures in years. See also the Pew Religious Landscape Study and the ARDA. Belief summaries are our own short descriptions. Please read each church's own confession.