In Gods they trust, new study finds of House and Senate members

When the 111th Congress convenes on Jan. 6, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus will be underrepresented in its membership.

No shocker there perhaps. But a new analysis of incoming members' religious affiliations by the Pew Forum indicates there's no small measure of change in Congress' religious ties: It's much more diverse than just half a century ago.

Yeh, sure, those Protestants still form a majority of these high-paid talkers (54.7%), slightly more than their 51% of the population. (But way down from the 74.1% of 1961.)

Pew finds that other religious followers -- Catholics, Jews and Mormons -- are actually overrepresented in Congress. (Quick, who's the highest-ranking Mormon there? Answer below.)

Catholics make up 30% of Congress, better than their population percentage of just under 25%. Baptists are next largest at 12.4% of members when they make up 17.2% of the adult population.

Now, watch out for the Methodists, who are apparently on a methodical march, constituting 10.7% of the members when they're only 6.2% of the population. (By the way, 100% of the outgoing first family are Methodists. The incoming first family lists its religious affiliation as "Christian," as will be represented in the two pastors participating in the Jan. 20 inauguration.)

Jews make up only 1.7% of the U.S. adult population but 8.4% of congressional members, including 13% of senators, which, come to think of it, means 13 senators. Mormons are 1.7% of the population and 2.6% of members. Episcopalians, 1.5% population and 7.1% members. Presbyterians, 2.7% population, 8.1% members, according to the new Pew analysis.

As this fall's congressional economic bailout bill revealed, members of all religions really like pork.

No Hindus have served in Congress yet, and California's own Democratic Rep. Pete Stark is the first and only member of Congress to publicly declare no faith in a supreme being.

There are two Muslims in Congress now and two Buddhists, plus one Quaker.

For the purposes of the Pew study, "Washington Redskins" was classified a "faith," not an official religion.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Congress gathers for the State of the Union in 2003. Credit: House of Representatives

Answer: The highest-ranking Mormon in Congress is Happy Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader from Nevada.

Comments

[asokasitz]

Over represented...what a stupid statement...there are no quotas on who does or does get elected. The Times should report the news, not comment. The language used suggests that to have 8+% Jewish elected officials when they make up than 2% of the population is just ridiculous. "Now watch out for Methodists"...what type of statement is that. The Times is bereft of reporting.

[Miguel Cuddy]

So What??? Last time I read the United States Constitution, I did not see there to be any religious qualification for being a Senator or Representative.

Perhaps this is a reason why no one laments the bankruptcy of the Los Angeles Times, the once great and now no longer newspaper of record in California.

[therockofages]

Where is it written in the U.S. Constitution or anywhere else that a certain 'percentage' of diverse groups are to be represented in Congress? More drivel for the uninformed. Seems someone is trying to 'stir the pot' of discontent. They don't do anything, anyway; what's the point?

[Ken]

Yea latimes should just report the news. It is interesting how many articles they do on gay marriage and yet it is not a front page issue everyday. What are they trying to push without saying it?

[socalbob]

so, what's your point. we've had one catholic president, i don't know the number of mormon presidents, and no jewish presidents. money and power are the ingredients for washington politics not members of certain faiths.

[Ken Montsinger]

Does it matter what religion one practices when running for public office? I never considered that a positive or negative when I voted. I do however feel that some who promote their religion in order to be elected as being less effective as those who promote the best needs of their voters.

[Brian]

Wyoming has just 0.17% of the US Population but 2% of the US Senate...

[Rational Thinker]

Godless, religion-hating liberals are grossly overrepresented on the staff of the L.A. Times.

[Xiphos]

You forgot Babtists, Presbyterians and the Church of Whats Happening Now and others.

Really........what a non article!

[Ray Pierce]

Does this author suggest Obama (Christian) will not represent citizens of the USA if they are of a different faith?
Likewise does this author suggest that certain citizens of the USA will not be represented by their REPRESENTATIVES because of their faith?
I would suggest this author write articles encouraging all faiths vote for the one of their choosing.
Ray Pierce

[steve rodriguez]

Who paid money to fund that useless study?

[steve rodriguez]

As a Christian, I am not going to lose sleep over this one!

[you said it !]

Godless, religion-hating liberals are grossly overrepresented on the staff of the L.A. Times.

Posted by: Rational Thinker | December 22, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Right on the button

[Fair Shaker]

"We despise all reverences and all the objects of reverence which
are outside the pale of our own list of sacred things. And yet,
with strange inconsistency, we are shocked when other people
despise and defile the things which are holy to us."
[Mark Twain, "Following the Equator"]

Thank you for the revelation :-P