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Is Conan O’Brien Catholic?
Conan O’Brien’s religious affiliation has been widely debated in recent years, with varied answers from the comedian himself. Despite numerous queries and plentiful speculation, Conan O’Brien’s spiritual leanings remain somewhat of a mystery. While it’s widely assumed that the talk show host is Catholic due to his upbringing, definitive proof is difficult to come by.
Conan O’Brien was raised in an upper-class Irish-American Catholic family in Brookline, Massachusetts. According to various reports, O’Brien was a very active member of the Catholic Church while growing up in the greater Boston area. He attended a Jesuit school and often described himself as a “devout Catholic.” During his early years, he was an altar server and was even elected “Altar Boy of the Year” by his peers. This evidence leads many to assume that he was raised as a devout Catholic.
However, as he matured, O’Brien began to distance himself from his religious roots. In a 2010 interview on The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert, O’Brien quipped that he was “sort of the black sheep of the Catholic Church.” Despite this, he has been quick to credit his Catholicism as one of the core values that have shaped his life. In a 2010 Rolling Stone profile, O’Brien stated that he believes the “bible and Catholic doctrine” have “been very helpful to me in developing my moral compass.”
In the same interview, O’Brien made it clear he no longer considers himself a practicing Catholic or a member of any organized religion. During a 2017 visit to Harvard University, O’Brien elaborated on his religious views and stated that he believes “all religions are basically ways of getting people to behave better.” Despite this, he has occasionally referenced Catholicism in his comedic work and even in his 2009 public break-up of NBC.
While Conan O’Brien’s religious beliefs are not entirely clear, it appears he is no longer a practicing Catholic. That stated, it is clear that the comedian’s Catholic upbringing has had a considerable influence on his life and his work. O’Brien may no longer consider himself a Catholic, but it’s safe to say that his faith has been a major formative influence.
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