Stephen Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, media critic and television host who is best known for hosting the satirical news program The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014 and the CBS talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since 2015. When it comes to Colbert’s personal religious beliefs and practices, he has been open about his devout Catholic faith throughout his career.
Denomination of Christianity is Stephen Colbert?
Stephen Colbert is a practicing Roman Catholic. He grew up in the Catholic Church, attending church regularly with his family and going through the traditional Catholic sacraments such as First Communion and Confirmation.
As an adult, Colbert remains a committed Catholic who credits his faith as a core pillar of his life. He has taught Sunday school classes and is known to attend mass. So while Christianity has many denominations and traditions, Colbert would be considered simply a devout Roman Catholic.
Where did Stephen Colbert go to church as a child?
According to interviews, Stephen Colbert primarily attended two Catholic churches with his family while growing up in Charleston, South Carolina in the 1960s and 1970s:
- The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: This is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston where the Colbert family were parishioners.
- St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church: The Colbert also attended this historic Catholic church in Charleston’s historic district.
So the comedian has childhood roots in Charleston’s Catholic community from worshipping at these two historic churches in the area.
Colbert’s father and family have on his Catholicism
By all accounts, Stephen Colbert’s father James had a substantial impact on ingraining Catholicism and overall faith into his children.
Colbert has spoken movingly about his father’s dedication to raising the kids in the Church even though James Colbert himself converted to Catholicism as an adult. He served as a deacon and parish doctor at Charleston’s Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
The deep influence of Colbert’s father and family environment growing up is a driving force behind his unwavering Catholic worldview to this day. He has commented: “I learned to be a Catholic from my father.”
Does Stephen Colbert regularly attend Catholic Mass?
Yes, attending Sunday Catholic Mass and receiving the sacraments is still seen as an essential part of Colbert’s dedication to his faith.
Even with his extremely busy schedule between television hosting duties and family life, Colbert makes time every weekend to attend church services.
He typically attends mass close to his home with family members when he’s not traveling or working. Guests on his late night show have noted that he makes sure to always leave in time for Sunday mass no matter what is happening in his professional life.
So while balancing career with worship, he remains rooted in the Catholic practice of observing the Sabbath by attending weekly Mass even amidst intense demands. His long-time viewers say that this commitment has never wavered.
Who are some major Catholic figures or saints that Colbert admires or references?
Colbert is well-educated in Catholic tradition, frequently making biblical references or mentioning key saints and historical Catholic figures in interviews and commentary about his faith:
Pope Francis
Stephen Colbert has expressed great admiration for Pope Francis, the current head of the Catholic Church. He references Pope Francis’ teachings as an influence and wrote the forward section of the U.S. edition of the Pope’s book The Joy of Discipleship.
Saint Patrick
As an Irish-American Catholic, Colbert often mentions his connection to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland known for bringing Christianity to the country in the 5th century.
J.R.R Tolkien
Colbert discusses the influence that Tolkien’s epic literature had on his imagination and sees the symbolism of faith reflected through the fantasy works. As a lifelong Catholic, Tolkien incorporated subtle yet noticeable Catholic themes and imagery throughout novels like The Lord Of The Rings.
St. Ignatius Loyola
As a student at Jesuit institutions, St. Ignatius Loyola had a formative impact through his foundational writings and teachings for the Catholic order known as the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
Venerable Fulton Sheen
Sheen was an American Bishop known for his preaching in the 1950s and 60s. Colbert regards Bishop Sheen as an accomplished American Catholic scholar.
What Catholic or Christian themes does Colbert highlight on his shows?
As a comedian who often avoids overt political or social advocacy on principle, Colbert does regularly reference, quote, and incorporate his Catholic faith and knowledge:
Scripture and Theology Discussions
Colbert enjoys analyzing or sometimes parodying scripture and complex Catholic philosophy for audiences. He engages guests using concepts like the Trinity or issues like morality and ethics from a theological lens.
Holidays and Events
Of course major Catholic holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Holy Week receive recognition through everything from costumes to special Colbert Report episodes structured around seasonally relevant topics.
Social Justice
While his advocacy is implied more than outright, Colbert does frequently address issues of caring for marginalized groups, anti-racism efforts, and reforming injustices—all concepts emerging from Catholic and biblical teachings to love one’s neighbor.
Humor and Joy
There is often an undercurrent of redeeming lightheartedness amidst suffering. Colbert displays a devout yet tongue-in-cheek irreverence that aligns with many biblical calls to rejoice, give praise, and retain playfulness on one’s journey.
Conclusion
In the end, Stephen Colbert stands out as exceptional among famous comedians and talk show hosts. Unlike most entertainers who avoid factious topics, Colbert has never backed away from freely expressing his steadfast Catholic faith throughout decades in the public eye since first emerging on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show in the late 1990s.
Whether it’s displaying encyclopedic knowledge of obscure theological concepts or imparting reflections from recent Sunday mass teachings in interviews, Colbert manages to articulate nuanced religious ideas even to secular audiences through his trademark wit and humor.
Yet he balances religious advocacy with an uncanny ability to appeal across beliefs and creeds as well. These qualities offer glimpses into how a bold and sincere faith informs his worldview both on and off-camera to this day. Audiences seem increasingly drawn to such authentic conviction blended with comic relief during contentious times.
So for anyone still wondering all these years later, “What religion is Stephen Colbert?” – the answer lies in understanding this spiritual anchor sourced in a 1st-century Galilean fisherman turned saint with a simple directive to followers: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Colbert’s Religion
Stephen Colbert’s Catholic faith is an essential part of understanding him both personally and professionally. Here are answers to some common FAQs:
Is Stephen Colbert still a practicing Catholic?
Absolutely! Colbert remains a dedicated, lifelong Catholic to this day. Even with a mega successful television career, he stays actively involved with the Church by attending weekly mass, participating in holidays/feasts, referencing theological concepts frequently, and raising his children Catholic as well.
What Catholic sacraments has Stephen Colbert received?
As a Catholic educated in Church doctrine, Colbert has received all major Catholic sacraments at appropriate times in his life, including: infant baptism, first confession & First Communion around age 7-8 years old, confirmation in late adolescence, and the marriage sacrament with his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert.
Did Colbert attend Catholic school?
While Colbert did not attend Catholic parochial elementary/middle school, he did enroll in two prestigious Catholic prep schools for his secondary education:
- Portsmouth Abbey School (Rhode Island)
- Northwestern University (Illinois)
So powerful Catholic institutions helped shape Colbert intellectually in his formative youth and college years. He remains connected to these schools and their religious foundations today.
Is Stephen Colbert raising his children as Catholic?
Colbert and his wife are dedicated to passing on their Catholic faith to their three children (Madeleine, Peter, and John). They wish to give them a similar religious upbringing by attending Church as a family and observing all the Catholic rituals and sacraments.
How involved is Stephen Colbert in the Catholic community?
Beyond just his famous commentary on political/entertainment platforms, Colbert does give back to Catholic educational causes by serving on the board of the Montessori school attached to Manhattan’s St. Patrick Cathedral. Additionally, he taught Sunday school to kids for several years at a New York church.