[Ads-l] Catchphrase Origin: Is the Pope Catholic?

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Scholar Charles Clay Doyle calls the phrase in the subject line a
sarcastic interrogative, and he mentions other phrases in this family
such as "Is water wet?", "Can birds fly?", and "Is the sky blue?".

[ref] 1975 Spring, Midwestern Journal of Language and Folklore, Volume
1, Number 1, Sarcastic Interrogative Affirmatives and Negatives by
Charles Clay Doyle, Start Page 33, End Page 34, Indiana State
University, Terre Haute, Indiana. (HathiTrust Full View) [/ref]

The wonderful website "Green's Dictionary of Slang" lists several
examples together with citations. Here is a link:
https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/6dklozy

Way back in February 2011 sarcastic interrogatives were discussed on
this mailing list in two threads:
https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2011-February/107011.html
https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2011-February/107021.html

Recently, I was communicating with quotation expert Nigel Rees, and he
suggested exploring "Is the Pope Catholic?".

The earliest match for the target phrase with the desired sense I
found appeared on August 24, 1952, within a San Antonio, Texas
newspaper. An article about adventurer Jim Furlong described his
journey sailing half-way around the world in a small sailing boat.
Unfortunately, he suffered an accident that damaged his foot. Furlong
was asked about his experience:

[Begin excerpt]
Would he do it all over again?
"Is the Pope a Catholic," grinned Furlong. "Sure I would. I'm already
planning my next trip -- and it's going to be the biggest yet."
[End excerpt]

I also found multiple earlier instances which were comical, but not
sarcastic. For example, on December 28, 1854, "The Boston Herald" of
Massachusetts printed the following short item titled "A Catholic Know
Nothing":

[Begin excerpt]
An Irishwoman in this city, not long since, while listening to some
conversation respecting Nicholas and the Pope, inquired, very
innocently -- "Is the Pope a Catholic?" Fact.
[End excerpt]

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/11/07/pope-catholic/

Feedback and interesting material about "Is the Pope Catholic?" would be welcome
Garson O'Toole
QuoteInvestigator.com

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