Chris Christie (52): The governor of New Jersey launched his presidential bid at his high school in Livingston, New Jersey on June 30. Once considered a frontrunner, the 'Bridgegate' scandal and economic troubles in his home state have damaged his reputation, though not counted him out of the race entirely.
Christie was brought up in the Catholic faith, and attends Mass with his family at St Joseph's in Mendham, New Jersey, where his wife Mary Pat led Sunday school for many years, according to WNYC. He went to a Catholic University, Seton Hall, and his children go to Catholic schools. He counts the Archbishop of Newark as a friend.
But he doesn't follow the teaching of the Catholic Church on all issues. One issue where he diverges from Church is homosexuality. In an interview with Piers Morgan in 2011 he said: "My religion says it's a sin. But for me, I have always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so I think if someone is born that way it's very difficult to say then that that's a sin. I understand that my church says that. But for me personally, I don't look upon someone who's homosexual as a sinner."
He supports civil unions for same-sex couples but is not in favour of gay marriage. "I believe marriage is an institution between one man and woman. I think it's special and unique in society... but I am in favour of making sure that homosexual couples have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples," he told Morgan. Speaking after the Supreme Court's decision to uphold gay marriage, he said he didn't agree with the decision, because each state should have been able to decide. But unlike some, he has said that people should comply with the law.
Christie is pro-life, apart from exceptional cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. He has said that he was pro-choice before going for the pre-natal scan of his daughter (who is now 19) and hearing the baby's heartbeat. Although he has said that he sees religion as "a personal thing" he said at a Catholic Conference last year that his faith is a "huge part" of his life and "At every stage of life our faith is there to help guide us... While I admire and absolutely support the diversity in our state, I am who I am."
