A survey of recent headlines highlights a fascinating trend: Celebrities are publicly embracing Catholicism at an increasing rate. This phenomenon raises the question: Why are those who seemingly have it all — fame, fortune and influence — turning to a faith that calls for humility and service? The answer may lie in the very nature of our digital age and the spiritual hunger it exacerbates.
Even more encouraging is that these high profile cases mirror increasing conversions to the Catholic faith in the population at large. Although not all dioceses have reported data for 2024, those that have are reporting significant increases in conversions this year anywhere from 30 to 70%. The dioceses of Fort Worth, Marquette, and Des Moines all saw increases upwards of 70%, with Des Moines topping the charts at 84%.
What is it that is driving people to return to the Faith that our culture promotes at best as traditional and outdated, and at worst as abusive and corrupt?
The religious conversions of several high-profile figures are a sign of our times, providing key insights into what is attracting people to the Faith in our culture, and how we might more effectively live out our call to be fishers of men.
Celebrity conversions
Conservative commentator Candace Owens recently announced her conversion to Catholicism, describing it as a “decision to go home.” Owens, who plans to release more details about her decision soon, was likely influenced by her Catholic husband, George Farmer, and his witness in a theological debate on her podcast that garnered over a million views.
Actor Andrew Garfield’s spiritual awakening came unexpectedly as he prepared for his role as a Jesuit priest in Martin Scorsese’s “Silence.” Through the “Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius” of Loyola, Garfield found himself falling in love with Jesus, a surprising outcome for someone who had previously resisted organized religion. Though the actor has announced no formal conversion, he continues to study Christianity and take roles that reflect his deeply religious sensibilities.
Comedian, actor and YouTube personality Russell Brand’s conversion to Christianity is the culmination of a long-standing public spiritual quest, including his study of Christian texts and the life of Jesus. Brand revealed that baptism provided spiritual transcendence where drugs had failed: “As a person who in the past has taken many, many substances and always been disappointed with their inability to deliver the kind of tranquility and peace and even transcendence that I always felt I’ve been looking for, something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming… so I felt changed, transitioned.”
Another film and television actor, Shia LaBeouf, frames his conversion to Catholicism as a story of redemption and discovery. After a tumultuous period marked by personal and legal troubles, LaBeouf found solace in the Catholic faith while preparing for his role as Padre Pio. His confirmation on New Year’s Eve completed his initiation into the Catholic Church, where he was welcomed by Bishop Robert Barron and the Capuchin Franciscan friars.
The digital age and spiritual hunger
Celebrity conversions are not merely personal expressions of spiritual preference, they are public witness that the search for spiritual truth transcends the boundaries of fame and fortune. As these public figures navigate their newfound beliefs, they spark cultural conversation around faith, spirituality and the quest for meaning in a chaotic world.
Celebrity conversions are not a new phenomenon. Actors John Wayne (’79), Gary Cooper (’59), and Dolores Hart (’48) all became Catholic, with Hart even leaving Hollywood to become a nun at the height of her career.
Still, the rate does appear to be accelerating, both on and off-screen. Why?
Our era is marked by unprecedented connectivity and access to knowledge. Yet, paradoxically, it’s also a time of great disconnection — from ourselves, from others, and from a sense of greater purpose. The constant barrage of information and the relentless pace of digital life leave little room for reflection and contemplation. In this environment, the soul’s yearning for meaning and depth often goes unmet, leading to a profound spiritual hunger.
Catholicism’s answer to modern longing
Catholicism, with its rich traditions, deep-rooted community values, and emphasis on the sacredness of life, offers a stark contrast to the fleeting and often superficial interactions of the digital world. The Catholic Church has unceasingly witnessed the truth for centuries, refusing to conform to the age no matter how caustic its critics. For celebrities whose lives are under constant scrutiny, the Church provides a sanctuary where they can find solace, a sense of belonging, and the understanding that their identity is rooted in a Creator infinitely more loving and constant than the mercurial ebb and flow of public approval.
Many converts cite significant transitions, personal relationships or even crucibles of suffering as turning points for conversion. Servant of God Dorothy Day converted while pregnant out of wedlock, going on to become a founder of the Catholic Worker Movement that continues to foster solidarity with the poor in 200 communities worldwide nearly 100 years later. Catholicism, with its focus on conversion and redemption, offers a framework for understanding and integrating these transformative experiences.
In a culture that values appearance over substance, Catholicism’s call to authenticity and cultural renewal resonates deeply with those seeking something more. The Church’s teachings on the dignity of the human person and the common good provide a counter-narrative to the individualism and consumerism that dominate much of modern life.
The conversions of high-profile figures to Catholicism are a sign of the times. They reflect a broader societal search for meaning and connection in an age where the digital landscape often leaves us feeling empty and adrift. For celebrities and laypeople alike, Catholicism offers a path to our only hope for genuine fulfillment — Christ — who transcends the material and satisfies the soul’s deepest longings.
Suspicion and scrutiny
The public conversions of celebrities to Catholicism have not been without their critics. Some observers express suspicion, questioning the authenticity of these high-profile transformations.
Many commentators dispute the authenticity of Brand’s conversion and remain critical of his understanding of Church doctrine, speculating that his brand of faith will prove less than orthodox, and LaBeouf, in particular, has been subject to scathing critiques. In general, these critics tend to doubt that celebrity conversions represent genuine repentance and not merely strategic rehabilitation of tarnished image.
Still, others wisely caution against making famous new converts the public face of the Faith. They voice concern that recent conversions may prove short-lived or these individuals may fail to live up to the demands of the Faith (a condition that affects all, limelight or not), creating scandal and casting shadow over the Church’s witness.
Biblical teaching on mercy and humility
The reality is that all celebrity converts have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God — and the one among us who is without sin is the only one with any business casting stones.
When welcoming new converts into the Body of Christ, we must remember our biblical call to humility and mercy. Jesus taught us to take the plank out of our own eye before pointing out the speck in our brother’s eye (cf. Mt 7:5). This teaching urges us to examine our own lives before passing judgment on others.
The parables of the prodigal son and of the workers in the vineyard (cf. Lk 15:11-32; Mt 20:1-16) alike warn us against the jealousy that can arise when someone we perceive as less deserving receives the same mercy we’ve been given, or with less effort. In both cases, envy steals the joy of the kingdom from those who harbor it.
Proclaiming mercy to the ends of the earth
As members of Christ’s body, it is our mission to proclaim the Gospel of Christ Jesus to the ends of the earth. Our call is not to covet grace as if it were a scarcity but to rejoice in its abundance. Every conversion, whether it occurs in the public eye or in the quiet of a heart, is a victory for the kingdom of God. With each new Christian comes an opportunity for the Church to extend the same love and mercy that God has shown to us.
As Catholic author Kennedy Hall points out, “We should all rejoice that Christ left the 99 and found the one sheep who needed saving.”
As we are called to be fishers of men, we should delight that the lure of Catholicism — with its rich tradition and sacramental life — captivates our wayward hearts, drawing us all into a deeper communion with Jesus.
While it certainly is prudent to exercise discernment regarding the public conversions of celebrities, it is equally important to extend welcome and encouragement. After all, the Church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners, where all are welcome to find healing and hope. If we are not sick, we have no need of the divine physician. If we are not sinners, we have no need for a Savior. Let us then rejoice in the mercy of Jesus, who draws all to himself, famous or not, through the gates of salvation.
