MARYLAND – Maryland’s religious identity is as complex and diverse as its history. While no single denomination holds an outright majority, Christianity is the state’s most popular religion, with a significant portion of the population identifying as either Protestant or Catholic. This diverse Christian landscape is a direct reflection of Maryland’s unique founding as a haven for religious freedom in colonial America.
A Haven for Catholics and a Pioneer of Toleration
Maryland was founded in 1634 by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, as a proprietary colony and a sanctuary for English Catholics fleeing religious persecution. This made Maryland one of the few places in the British colonies where Catholicism…..