| Catholics
now largest group in Congress
By Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the 111th Congress is
sworn in Jan. 6, more than a quarter of its members will be Catholics,
roughly matching the percentage of Catholics in the U.S. population and
consistent with the statistical trends of the past decade.
Four years ago when the 109th Congress convened, it included 153 Catholics.
Two years later there were 155 Catholics in the 110th Congress. But the
new group of senators and representatives has 162 members who identify
themselves as Catholics.
With nearly all the 2008 electoral battles settled by early December,
and the Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama still not filled,
the Catholic delegation included 17 Democrats and nine Republicans in
the Senate and 98 Democrats and 38 Republicans in the House.
Other religious groupings in the 111th Congress are Baptists (64), Methodists
(55), Jews (45), Presbyterians (43); Episcopalians (39); Lutherans (24);
and Mormons (13). Eight members identify themselves as belonging to an
Orthodox church. There are two Muslims and two Buddhists.
Among the Catholics nominated for Cabinet positions are Sen. Ken Salazar
of Colorado (interior secretary), Rep. Hilda Solis of California (labor
secretary), New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (commerce secretary).; former
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota (secretary of health
and human services), and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (agriculture secretary).
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