Alabama
Stored in Cargo: Alabama
| Alabama | |
| Historic: | Yes |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| Continent: | North America |
| Region: | Southeast / Deep South |
| Area: | 135760 km² |
| Population: | 5100000 |
| Catholic population: | 300000 (6%) |
| Catholicism introduced: | Early 18th century (1700s) |
| Catholicism status: | Small minority religion with historical coastal roots and limited growth |
| Dioceses: | 2 |
| Patron saint(s): | No single statewide patron; local devotions (e.g., Our Lady of the Gulf in some areas) |
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.[1][2]
Geography
Alabama is located in the southeastern United States, bordered by Tennessee to the north, 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.[3]
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.[4][2]
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.[1][5]
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.[2]
Structure
The Province of Mobile oversees:
- Archdiocese of Mobile (metropolitan see, southern 28 counties)
- Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama (suffragan, northern 39 counties)[2]
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.[4][2]
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).[2]
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.[1]
Administrative structure
Alabama is divided into 67 counties for civil governance. The two Catholic dioceses align with northern and southern divisions.
Cultural influence
Festivals and traditions
Limited statewide Catholic festivals; ethnic traditions (e.g., Italian, Hispanic) in parishes.
Education and charity
Institutions include Spring Hill College (Mobile, Jesuit) and Catholic Charities services.
Art and architecture
Historic structures like the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Mobile).
Notable Catholic sites
Pilgrimage sites
Cathedral Basilica sites and coastal churches with Marian devotions.
Historical churches
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Mobile); various parish churches.
Saints and blesseds
Patron saints
No statewide patron; local titles include Our Lady of the Gulf (devotion in some southern parishes).
Associated saints and blesseds
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).[2]
Challenges to Catholicism
Secularization, minority status in Protestant-majority culture, and historical anti-Catholic sentiment.
Social and political influence
The Church engages in charity, education, and advocacy aligned with Catholic Social Teaching, though limited by size.
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
| diocese name | Type | Rite | CatholicPercentage | Priests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Birmingham | Suffragan diocese |
Populated places
No results
Shrines
No results
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "People in Alabama". Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/state/alabama.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Alabama, Catholic Church in". Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alabama-catholic-church.
- ↑ "Alabama - Wikipedia". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History & Statistics". Archdiocese of Mobile. https://mobarch.org/history.
- ↑ "Religion in Alabama 2025". uscanadainfo.com. https://uscanadainfo.com/religion-in-alabama.