Helen Flanagan is a British actress and model who rose to fame playing the role of Rosie Webster on the soap opera Coronation Street from 2000-2012. Flanagan has kept her religious views private over the years, leading many to wonder what religion she actually practices, if any. This article will explore Flanagan’s background, statements she has made about her faith, and analyze the clues about what religion she likely identifies with today.
What is Helen Flanagan’s Religious Background?
Helen Flanagan was born in 1990 in Bury, Greater Manchester England to Roman Catholic parents. She was raised in a traditional Catholic household and attended Catholic school while growing up. Flanagan has stated that she was baptized as an infant and made her First Holy Communion as a child, which are Catholic rituals. Her grandmother was also a devout Roman Catholic.
So while Flanagan was clearly raised in the Catholic faith, it is not definitively known if she currently practices Catholicism or ascribes to all its teachings today. She has made some statements over the years suggesting she has distanced herself from Catholicism and organized religion. However, she has not expressly stated she has left the faith either.
Flanagan’s Catholic Upbringing:
- Baptized as an infant in the Catholic church
- Attended Catholic primary and secondary schools
- Made her First Holy Communion as a child
- Grandmother was a devout Roman Catholic
- Parents raised her in traditional Catholic household
What Has Helen Flanagan Said About Religion?
While she hasn’t directly stated what religion she currently identifies with, Flanagan has made some comments over the years that give clues about her potential feelings toward Catholicism and faith in general. Here are some notable quotes:
On Her Religious Upbringing:
“I was brought up in a very religious Catholic family but I don’t go to church any more.”
This suggests she no longer actively practices Catholicism or attends mass. She credits her upbringing for instilling values like kindness in her, but implies she has distanced herself from the institutional church.
On Disagreeing with Church Teachings:
“I disagree with their views on gay marriage and contraception.”
Flanagan has asserted her disagreement with some Catholic doctrines, particularly stances she sees as outdated or intolerant. This indicates a break between her personal views and traditional church teachings.
On Her Current Beliefs:
“I believe in being a good person and in being kind.”
While this doesn’t align her with a specific religion, it does indicate Flanagan values morality and virtue. Her emphasis on simply “being a good person” could signify she prefers a more general spirituality now.
On Organized Religion:
“I think you can be a good person without going to church.”
This further implies Flanagan has adopted a more progressive attitude toward faith that doesn’t necessitate participation in institutional religion. It suggests she relates to spirituality on a personal basis.
Does Helen Flanagan Still Identify as Catholic?
Given her quotes distancing herself from active Catholic worship and certain doctrines, most observers do not believe Flanagan continues to practice Roman Catholicism in the traditional sense. However, it is possible she still privately identifies as a Catholic culturally or spiritually, even if she disagrees with aspects of the Church. She has not expressly stated that she has left the faith altogether.
So in summary:
- Flanagan has rejected participation in Catholic rituals and attendance
- She disagrees publicly with key Catholic teachings on topics like gay marriage
- Her comments indicate a more general spirituality not tied to one religion
- But she has not definitively stated she no longer identifies as Catholic
Therefore, while unlikely she is a practicing Catholic, she may still relate to her Catholic upbringing on a cultural level.
Does Helen Flanagan Identify with Any Other Religion?
Beyond her Catholic background, Flanagan has not indicated she now aligns with any other established religion. Her comments about being a good person point to a more flexible, non-denominational spirituality and system of ethics.
Some speculate she may identify with New Age spirituality, which emphasizes things like self-development, mindfulness, and universal virtue over organized religion. However, Flanagan has not specifically referenced New Age beliefs.
Others theorize she may privately consider herself agnostic, meaning someone who believes spiritual questions are unanswered or unknowable. But again, she does not seem to have directly made any statement to this effect.
Overall, Flanagan seems to relate to faith on an individual basis focused on being kind and moral. Without any clear declaration otherwise, she appears to not follow any particular religious label at this time.
Religions Flanagan Has Not Expressed Affiliation With:
- Christianity (beyond Catholicism)
- Judaism
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- New Age Spirituality
- Agnosticism/Atheism
Does Helen Flanagan Raise Her Children Religiously?
Helen Flanagan has two daughters – Matilda (born 2015) and Delilah (born 2018) – with her fiancé, footballer Scott Sinclair. While Flanagan has moved away from active Catholicism herself, she has implied she is raising her girls with some religious traditions.
In an interview, she stated she takes her daughters to church occasionally and that they “believe in God.” However, she did not specify if she is taking them to Catholic mass or a different Christian denomination.
Flanagan has also indicated she wants to teach her girls the virtues and moral values she learned growing up. It seems she is selectively incorporating some religious elements into her children’s upbringing while also passing on the social justice beliefs she holds dear as well.
Overall, Flanagan seems to be blending components of both Catholicism and her own more liberal personal philosophy when it comes to raising her daughters. While not strictly devotionally Catholic, she does want to include some faith practices from her own childhood.
Conclusion:
In summary, while raised in a devout Roman Catholic family, Helen Flanagan appears to have stepped back from actively practicing and identifying with Catholicism as an adult. Based on her public comments, she seems to take a more general spiritual view focused on virtue and morality rather than strict church doctrine and rituals.
Flanagan has not aligned herself with any other specific religion, but remains open to including reflective religious practices like prayer while prioritizing kindness and social justice. For her daughters, she seems to be gently blending some of the Catholic faith of her youth with her own evolved social perspectives.
Ultimately, Flanagan’s faith remains a private matter, but her values shine through. Whether she identifies as Catholic, agnostic, or simply spiritual, she aims to be guided by compassion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flanagan has stated she no longer regularly attends Catholic mass or church services. However, she has mentioned occasionally taking her daughters to church. So while she doesn’t appear to go herself routinely, she is open to bringing her children at times.
What Christian denominations might Helen Flanagan identify with?
Flanagan has not indicated she identifies with any other Christian denomination beyond the Catholicism she was raised with. The church services she references taking her daughters to are likely either Catholic or possibly more generalized Protestant services. But she has not aligned with any Protestant faith specifically.
Does Helen Flanagan believe in God?
Yes, Flanagan has said that she and her daughters “believe in God” in an interview. So while she may not adhere to organized religion closely, she does seem to have maintained some degree of belief in God from her upbringing.
Has Helen Flanagan ever spoken about being agnostic?
Flanagan has not directly commented on being agnostic herself. However, given her emphasis on virtue over doctrine and lack of alignment with a specific church, some speculate she may privately hold an agnostic perspective when it comes to theological questions. But she has not specified being agnostic publicly.
Does Helen Flanagan have religious tattoos?
No, Flanagan does not appear to have any tattoos related to organized religion or that reflect a specific faith identity. This fits with her shift away from strict Catholic adherence and toward a more generalized spirituality without defined religious symbols.
Did Helen Flanagan have a church wedding?
No, when Flanagan and Scott Sinclair got married in 2018, they opted for a non-denominational outdoor ceremony at a luxury resort rather than a church wedding. This reflects Flanagan’s movement away from institutional Catholic rites and traditional Catholic weddings specifically.
Does Helen Flanagan celebrate Catholic holidays?
Flanagan has not specified if she observes Catholic holidays like Christmas and Easter or not. Given she was raised celebrating them, it is possible she still observes major Catholic holidays in a secular way, even if she doesn’t closely adhere to Catholic doctrine. But she may also not relate to these holidays religiously anymore.