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+'''Alabama''' is a state in the southeastern [[United States]], part of the Deep South, known for its historical role in the Civil Rights Movement, diverse landscapes from the Appalachian foothills to coastal plains, and a predominantly Protestant religious culture where Catholicism remains a small minority. Covering approximately 135,760 km² (including water), it has an estimated population of around 5.1 million (as of recent 2025 projections). Catholicism, introduced in the early 18th century through French and Spanish colonial efforts, constitutes about 6% of adults according to the Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, though some sources estimate around 7% including adherents (e.g., ARDA 2020 data at approximately 249,650 Catholics). The state is covered by two Latin Rite dioceses: the [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] (southern 28 counties, metropolitan see of the Province of Mobile) and the [[Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama]] (northern 39 counties), forming a modest but enduring Catholic presence with roots in early Gulf Coast settlements and later growth from immigration and military bases.<ref name="pew-al">{{Cite web |title=People in Alabama |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/alabama |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref><ref name="ency-al">{{Cite web |title=Alabama, Catholic Church in |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alabama-catholic-church |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
 {{AdministrativeSubdivision
-|Country=United States
+|subdivision_name=Alabama
-|Diocese1=Diocese of Birmingham
+|country=United States
-|Diocese2=Archdiocese of Mobile
+|continent=North America
-}}'''Alabama''', known as the "'''Heart of Dixie'''" or "'''The Yellowhammer State'''" after its state bird, is located in the southeastern region of the United States.
+|region=Southeast / Deep South
+|area_sq_km=135760
+|population=5100000
+|catholic_population=300000
+|catholic_percentage=6
+|rank_among_religions=Minority (second or third after Protestant groups; varies by source)
+|official_languages=English (de facto)
+|capital_city=Montgomery
+|date_catholicism_introduced=Early 18th century (1700s)
+|catholicism_status=Small minority religion with historical coastal roots and limited growth
+|ecclesiastical_provinces_count=1 (Province of Mobile)
+|dioceses_count=2
+|patron_saints=No single statewide patron; local devotions (e.g., Our Lady of the Gulf in some areas)
+|historic=No
+}}
+== Geography ==
+[[Alabama]] is located in the southeastern [[United States]], bordered by [[Tennessee]] to the north, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] to the east, [[Florida]] to the south (with Gulf of Mexico coastline), and [[Mississippi]] to the west. Covering 135,760 km², its terrain includes northern mountains, central plains, and southern coastal lowlands with Mobile Bay. This geography supported early Catholic missions along the Gulf Coast, with later inland growth in industrial areas like Birmingham.<ref name="wiki-al">{{Cite web |title=Alabama - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
+== History ==
+[[Alabama]] entered the Union in 1819, with Catholicism present from French and Spanish colonial times. The region saw early settlements and missions, formalized through the Diocese of Mobile in 1829 (elevated to archdiocese in 1980). Growth occurred via immigration (Irish, Italian, German) in the 19th-20th centuries, particularly in Birmingham's industrial boom, and post-WWII military expansions in Montgomery.<ref name="mob-history">{{Cite web |title=History & Statistics |url=https://mobarch.org/history |publisher=Archdiocese of Mobile |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref><ref name="ency-al"/>
+== Demographics ==
+[[Alabama]] has a population of approximately 5.1 million, with Catholics estimated at about 6% (Pew 2023-24 adult identification; some sources like ARDA suggest around 7% or 250,000 adherents). Catholicism is a minority in a state where Protestant traditions dominate, amid broader secularization trends.<ref name="pew-al"/><ref name="uscanada-al">{{Cite web |title=Religion in Alabama 2025 |url=https://uscanadainfo.com/religion-in-alabama |publisher=uscanadainfo.com |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>
+== Catholic church ==
+The [[Catholic Church]] in [[Alabama]] consists of two Latin Rite dioceses under the Ecclesiastical Province of Mobile: the [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] and the [[Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama]]. It includes parishes, schools, and institutions like Spring Hill College (Jesuit-founded) and EWTN headquarters in Irondale.<ref name="ency-al"/>
+=== Structure ===
+The Province of Mobile oversees:
+* [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] (metropolitan see, southern 28 counties)
+* [[Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama]] (suffragan, northern 39 counties)<ref name="ency-al"/>
+== Introduction of Catholicism ==
+Catholicism was introduced in the early 18th century through French and Spanish explorations, with permanent settlements in Mobile (1702) and a parish erected in 1703 (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, now Cathedral Basilica). Jesuit and other missionaries served early communities along the Gulf Coast.<ref name="mob-history"/><ref name="ency-al"/>
+== Key historical events ==
+* Establishment of Mobile parish (1703).
+* Erection of Diocese of Mobile (1829).
+* Growth in Birmingham area via immigration and industry (late 19th-early 20th centuries).
+* Division into Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham (1954), then separation into Archdiocese of Mobile and Diocese of Birmingham (1969).
+* Desegregation of Catholic schools (1960s under Bishop Toolen).<ref name="ency-al"/>
+== Catholicism status ==
+Catholicism is a small minority religion in [[Alabama]] (around 6%), with historical presence on the coast but limited statewide influence amid Protestant dominance.<ref name="pew-al"/>
+== Administrative structure ==
+[[Alabama]] is divided into 67 counties for civil governance. The two Catholic dioceses align with northern and southern divisions.
-Alabama features diverse landscapes from the Gulf Coast's sandy beaches in the south to the Appalachian foothills in the north. It has numerous rivers, with the Tennessee River cutting through its northern region.
+== Cultural influence ==
+=== Festivals and traditions ===
+Limited statewide Catholic festivals; ethnic traditions (e.g., Italian, Hispanic) in parishes.
-==Catholic Church ==
+=== Education and charity ===
-===Diocese of Birmingham===
+Institutions include [[Spring Hill College]] (Mobile, Jesuit) and Catholic Charities services.
-Established on December 9, 1969, the [[Diocese of Birmingham]] encompasses the northern 39 counties of Alabama. It was originally part of what is now the [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] but was split off to form its own diocese, with St. Paul's Cathedral in Birmingham serving as its episcopal see.
-Located in Birmingham, the Cathedral of Saint Paul is central to the diocese's religious life. It offers multiple mass times throughout the week and serves as a significant historical and spiritual landmark since its establishment in 1872.
+=== Art and architecture ===
+Historic structures like the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Mobile).
-===Archdiocese of Mobile===
+== Notable Catholic sites ==
-The [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] covers the southern part of Alabama. It was established as the Vicariate Apostolic of Alabama and the Floridas in 1825, and later became a diocese in 1829 when the Diocese of Mobile was created. It was elevated to an archdiocese in 1980. The Archdiocese of Mobile includes the Mobile and Baldwin counties along with other southern counties in Alabama.
+=== Pilgrimage sites ===
+Cathedral Basilica sites and coastal churches with Marian devotions.
-The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile serves as the cathedral for this archdiocese, playing a central role in the religious life of Catholics in southern Alabama.
+=== Historical churches ===
+[[Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Mobile)]]; various parish churches.
-===Parishes===
+== Saints and blesseds ==
+=== Patron saints ===
+No statewide patron; local titles include Our Lady of the Gulf (devotion in some southern parishes).
-=== Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament ===
+=== Associated saints and blesseds ===
-Situated in Hanceville, Alabama, the [[Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Diocese of Birmingham)|Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament]] is not only a place of pilgrimage but also home to the [[Our Lady of the Angels Monastery]], where the [[Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration]] reside. The shrine invites visitors for spiritual renewal, offering daily masses, adoration, and a serene environment for prayer.
+No major saints born or martyred in Alabama; associations include missionaries and figures linked to early settlements, with modern institutions tied to broader U.S. Catholic figures (e.g., EWTN founded by Mother Angelica, though not canonized).<ref name="ency-al"/>
-=== Eternal Word Television Network ===
+== Challenges to Catholicism ==
-The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) is headquartered in Irondale, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. This location serves as the main studio and broadcast center for the network, which [[Mother Angelica]] founded in 1981. From here, EWTN broadcasts its Catholic programming worldwide.
+Secularization, minority status in Protestant-majority culture, and historical anti-Catholic sentiment.
-What started in a converted garage has grown into the largest religious media network in the world, broadcasting to over 140 countries. EWTN provides 24-hour programming that includes Mass, devotions, talk shows, news, documentaries, and educational series, all from a Catholic perspective.
+== Social and political influence ==
+The Church engages in charity, education, and advocacy aligned with [[Catholic Social Teaching]], though limited by size.
-== Dioceses list ==
+== Fun facts ==
+* Catholicism in [[Alabama]] traces to 1703 with the parish in Mobile, one of the oldest continuous Catholic sites in the U.S. Gulf region.
+* The [[Archdiocese of Mobile]] includes Spring Hill College, founded 1830 by Jesuits, Alabama's oldest institution of higher learning.
+* EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), headquartered in Irondale (Diocese of Birmingham), is one of the world's largest Catholic media organizations, founded by Mother Angelica in 1981.
+* Bishop Thomas J. Toolen oversaw significant growth in the mid-20th century, building numerous institutions despite segregation challenges.
+* The Diocese of Birmingham includes parishes and sites tied to industrial-era Catholic immigration from Europe.
+== Dynamic content ==
+=== Dioceses ===
 {{State dioceses}}
-== Related ==
+=== Populated places ===
+{{State Populated Places}}
+=== Shrines ===
+{{State Shrines}}
+== References ==
+<references />
+== External links ==
+* [https://mobarch.org Archdiocese of Mobile]
+* [https://bhmdiocese.org Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama]
+* [https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/country/US-AL.htm GCatholic.org: Alabama dioceses]