---
title: "Religion Weekly Update, Sept. 16, 2026"
description: "Religion & Public Life A weekly digest of the Center’s latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ Media mentions Faith on the Hill: Catholic members of Congress share how faith shapes their lives and work Sept. 8 – EWTN News In the news At AI conference, religious […]"
date: "2026-09-15"
authors:
  - name: "Rebecca Leppert"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/religion-weekly/religion-weekly-update-sept-16-2026/"
---

# Religion Weekly Update, Sept. 16, 2026

---

September 15, 2026

## Religion & Public Life

*A weekly digest of the Center’s latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · [**Subscribe ↗**](https://pewresearch.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=3e953b9b70)*

---

## [**Religion among Latino Americans**](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/)

This week marks the start of [Hispanic Heritage Month](https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/hispanic-heritage-month), which recognizes Latino Americans’ culture, history and contributions to society.

When it comes to religion, Catholics are the largest group among U.S. Latinos. Roughly four-in-ten Latino Americans (42%) are Catholic, according to Pew Research Center’s [2023-24 Religious Landscape Study](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/) (RLS).

Most of the remaining share of Latino Americans either identify with no religion (27%) or with evangelical Protestantism (17%). Smaller shares identify with other Christian and non-Christian faiths.

**Related:**

- [Among U.S. Latinos, Catholicism continues to decline but is still the largest faith](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/04/13/among-u-s-latinos-catholicism-continues-to-decline-but-is-still-the-largest-faith/)

- [Key facts about U.S. Latinos](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/22/key-facts-about-us-latinos/#the-religious-affiliation-of-u-s-latinos-is-changing)

#### Media mentions

[Faith on the Hill: Catholic members of Congress share how faith shapes their lives and work](https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/faith-on-the-hill-catholic-members-of-congress-share-how-faith-shapes-their-lives-and-work)
Sept. 8 - EWTN News

#### In the news

[At AI conference, religious leaders confront what technology could cost humanity](https://religionnews.com/2026/09/15/at-ai-conference-religious-leaders-confront-what-technology-could-cost-humanity/)
Sept. 15 - Religion News Service

[16th Street Baptist Church marks bombing anniversary with a new visitor center](https://apnews.com/article/sixteenth-street-baptist-bombing-anniversary-center-07c0de19fc4bda89857bc8ff3f6f2cca)
Sept. 15 - The Associated Press

[Connecticut court upholds state law: No religious exemptions to vaccines](https://ctmirror.org/2026/09/15/court-upholds-ct-law-no-religious-exemptions-school-vaccines/)
Sept. 15 - Connecticut Mirror

[They are paid to bring rain. When it fails – or leads to floods – violence can follow](https://apnews.com/article/africa-rainmakers-climate-change-violence-6080fa9dbc838ba75b9bab29cfd48fc9)
Sept. 15 - The Associated Press

[Landmark vote held in restive Muslim autonomous region in the Philippines](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/world/asia/muslim-mindanao-philippines-election.html)
Sept. 14 - The New York Times *

[Southern Baptist theologian Al Mohler reverses course, rejects blasphemy laws after controversy](https://religionnews.com/2026/09/14/al-mohler-reverses-course-rejects-blasphemy-laws-after-controversy/)
Sept. 14 - Religion News Service

[Why a lawyer who launched the Christian legal movement believes it’s gone astray](https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2026/09/14/why-lawyer-who-launched-christian-legal-movement-believes-its-gone-astray/)
Sept. 14 – The Washington Post *

[Washington state defeats church’s appeal over healthcare coverage for abortion](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/washington-state-defeats-churchs-appeal-over-healthcare-coverage-abortion-2026-09-14/)
Sept. 14 - Reuters *

[Republicans cast Muslim Democrats as chief enemies in ‘dangerous’ midterm pitch](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6085055-gop-cruz-muslim-democrats-midterms/)
Sept. 13 - The Hill

[Austrian headscarf ban for under-14s faces first test as schools reopen](https://www.reuters.com/world/austrian-headscarf-ban-under-14s-faces-first-test-schools-reopen-2026-09-07/)
Sept. 7 - Reuters *