This is a list of prime ministers of Canada by religious affiliation. It notes party affiliation after the name. Of the 24 persons to have held the office, 13 have been Protestants and 11 have been Catholics. However, Catholicism is the denomination that has provided the most prime ministers, as all 11 Catholic prime ministers have been Roman Rite Catholics, while the Protestant ones have belonged to no less than five denominations.
In early Canadian history, religion played an important role in politics. The Conservative Party was composed mainly of Anglicans and conservative French-Canadian Catholics while the Liberal Party was backed by reform-minded French Canadian Catholics and non-Anglican English Canadians due to their support in Quebec and Ontario.
List of prime ministers by religious affiliation
Name Party Religion Branch Denomination In office Notes Liberal-Conservative Christian Anglican –, – Raised Presbyterian, converted in 1875. Liberal Christian Protestant Baptist – Raised Presbyterian, but converted to Baptist at age 19 or 20. Liberal-Conservative Christian Protestant Anglican – Liberal-Conservative Christian Catholic Latin Church – Born a Methodist but converted to Catholicism when he married. Conservative (historical) Christian Protestant Presbyterian – Orange Order leader Conservative (historical) Christian Protestant Baptist – Born a Baptist, married an Anglican and attended that church with his family. On his own sometimes attended Baptist churches. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Strongly anti-clerical. Conservative (historical) Christian Protestant Anglican – Raised Presbyterian. Conservative (historical) Christian Protestant Presbyterian –,– Became a major fundraiser for the Salvation Army. Liberal Christian Protestant Presbyterian –,–,– Also a believer in various forms of mysticism. Conservative (historical) Christian Protestant United Church of Canada – Was a Methodist before that denomination merged into the United Church of Canada. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Progressive Conservative Christian Protestant Baptist – Liberal Christian Protestant United Church of Canada – Was a Methodist before that denomination merged into the United Church of Canada. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church –,– Believer in Catholic Personalism. Former board member of the Humanist Fellowship of Montreal. Progressive Conservative Christian Catholic Latin Church – Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Progressive Conservative Christian Catholic Latin Church – Progressive Conservative Christian Protestant Anglican – Does not attend church and criticizes the treatment of women by organized religion. In 2004 she stated that religion "gets in the way of morality". Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Strongly anti-clerical in his youth. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Came into conflict with the Catholic Church over his support for the Civil Marriage Act, by not allowing Cabinet ministers to have conscience votes. Conservative (modern) Christian Protestant Christian and Missionary Alliance – Raised in the United Church of Canada. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church – Baptized and raised as a Catholic, became a lapsed Catholic in his youth until the death of his brother Michel. His mother is Anglican. Liberal Christian Catholic Latin Church –present
Timeline
See also Religion in Canada
Other countries Religious affiliations of chancellors of Germany Religious affiliations of presidents of Lebanon Religious affiliations of prime ministers of the Netherlands Religious affiliations of presidents of the United States
References