My parents are very orthodox, and I went to Catholic elementary schools, high schools, and two years of a catholic college. When you swim in that bubble you tend to grossly overestimate the influence/size of the church.
It took me years to realize that the catholic church, even in “Catholic” states, has practically zero influence on society. And it’s influence has shrank even more after the scandals of giving Whitey Bulger a catholic funeral, sex scandals, etc.