Mark Ambinder highlights some interesting new data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown. It shows that 60 percent of American Catholics support the Democratic party, or lean toward the Democratic party, while 36 percent support or lean toward the Republican party. Stripping out Hispanics changes the numbers only marginally: 57-40. This marks a distinct change from 2004, as Republican support has fallen a full 10 percentage points.
Especially interesting is the breakdown. The Catholic Republicans always made a great deal of the fact that the most devout were on their side, aligned with the evangelicals. This is simply not true, as the Democrats still lead by 10 percentage points among those who attend Mass at least once a week (53-43). Another myth is the generational divide: again, there are hardly any differences between those born before Vatican II, the Vatican II generation, the post-Vatican II crowd, and the younger “millenials”. Democrats also enjoy strong leads among Catholics who believe it is important to live a consistent ethic of life (59-38) and those who turn to Catholic teaching (in particular statements by the pope and bishops) when forming consciences (54-44).
So what are the issues? The study highlights three shifts: military force, taxes, and immigration. Asking a sequence of questions on different aspects of Catholic social teaching and comparing the results with similar questions posed in 2002 reveals the following:
Use of military force to overthrow governments “that support terrorism”: down 20 (43-63)
Increase taxes on the wealthiest: up 13 (65-52)
Decrease rate of immigration: down 6 (54-60)
An equitable society entails focusing on the needs of the poor: up 4 (54-50)
All life from conception to natural death is sacred: down 4 (41-45)
Women should have “right to choose”: up 3 (58-55)
Government should guarantee basic healthcare for all: up 3 (78-75)
Workers have right to living wage and to join unions: down 1 (82-83)
Support death penalty: no change (67)
These results are interesting. While American Catholics are becoming more aligned with Catholic teaching on numerous issues, the support for a consistent ethic of life is not that high. Witness the majorities in favor of abortion and the death penalty. Despite claims to the contrary, this was not the reason many Catholics flocked to the Republicans in 2004, and it is not the reason they are shifting again in 2008.
Any polling data on;
*frequency of Mass attendance
*believe in the Real Presence
*adherence to the Magisterium
Results on thsoe questions might be interesting, otherwise, these constant posts on political polling data might give the impression that there is nothing “new” to the voice here. Just more cultural conformity seeking justification in numbers. The wordly we will always have with us.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Conclusion: There is nothing particularly Catholic about American Catholics.
Fascinating, and in line with at least some of the Pew forum findings. It strengthens my belief that the reactionary right of the Church is indeed small and not gaining adherents. The dicotomy between anti-abortion/anti-gay but pro death penalty, anti poverty assistence pro war etc is glaringly absent among the vast Catholic population. And I think that they did control for attendance at mass. But again, those who are most “orthodox” just cannot get away from that superior than thou attitude which I find so unhelpful in trying to dialogue about real issues.
Huh? Except for the “right to choose” and the death penalty, Catholics seem to be trending more in the Catholic direction.
Is there a control group here? If we’re just surveying Catholics, it’s hard to tell whether or not the people surveyed are becoming any more or less “Catholic”, or if they’re just following general trends in the American population. If it’s more of the latter that’s going on, then it’s probably just a matter of time before trends are reversed.
I don’t like it, but I don’t doubt the numbers are right. It is easy for decent people to fall for the rhetoric and believe all those policies that are sold as being caring and compassionate are good for society without having any understanding of the long term consequences. It is more work to actually think how the policies will play out. I know a lot of good Catholics who are lifelong Democrats because that is how they were raised. If you don’t include party labels and just talk specific policy some are relatively conservative. Same thing with another monolithic voting group – African Americans. Most black friends I have seem as conservative as I am, but they don’t vote in line with their values.
It is easy for decent people to fall for the rhetoric and believe all those policies that are sold as being caring and compassionate are good for society without having any understanding of the long term consequences.
Yep. That’s why otherwise decent people sometimes vote Republican.
“anti-abortion/anti-gay but pro death penalty, anti poverty assistence pro war etc”
How does stereotyping the “reactionary right” HELP in “trying to dialogue about real issues”? How about really listening to an opposing viewpoint, hmm?
The position of the Church against abortion seems unequivocal. Whatever “anti-gay” means, the Cathecism condemns what is seemingly implied by this term, while trying to definitively state that homosexual behavior is disordered and not part of God’s plan. To equate these two issues with the others is deceptive because they are not equivalent. For example, there are many approaches to alleviate poverty which may be each characterized as a “liberal” or “conservative” or “middling” approach. How about let’s “dialogue” about what has worked? There may be times when “war” is just. Recent church teaching certainly is much more narrowly defining the acceptability of the death penalty.
It is so sadly comical how the series of posts this week have revealed to whom many of your frequent vistors’ ultimate allegiances are.
Even Turd blossom has has his advocates/willing martyrs.
I must say I had to laugh at the stat of those who inform their faith by reading Bishops and Papal statements
Can we admit that both on the right and the left that the Universe of people that do that here in the UNited States is insignifcant. I would love to know among that sample what they actually did as to that.
I think I belong a pretty average Parish. I suspect the munber of people that have read for instance ” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” I could fit in phone booth.
THe latest Statement on Iraq by AMerican Bishops is rarely quoted on the net even.
Well, this is about as relevant as saying the Catholic vote went for the GOP in recent years. If you were prone to champion that statement as a trend, you’d be hard-pressed to deny a counter-trend. Because if you’d want to closely define “Catholic” in the current instance, you’d also have to do so in the previous instance. Which, as best I can tell, is not being done…and is not surprising.
“Among Catholics, just 16% said they thought their religion was “the one, true faith leading to eternal life,”
Indifferentism is the new Orthodoxy.
http://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=b904d27b-9dae-4ad2-9d51-35ab393c560b
“Among Catholics, just 16% said they thought their religion was “the one, true faith leading to eternal life,”
Indifferentism is the new Orthodoxy.
Of course, the orthodox Catholic view is NOT that Roman Catholicism is “the one, true faith leading to eternal life.” Nor does the fact that 84% of Catholics disagree with that statement mean that they necessarily hold a position of “indifferentism.”
“The one true faith leading to eternal life”
Kind of depends upon what you mean by that – that the whole of God’s truth revealed to man for his salvation subsists within the Catholic Church? Then yes.
That only those who belong to the visible Catholic Church on earth make it to heaven? then not necessarily (although it is the ordinary means leading to salvation, not to say there are not extra-ordinary means).
What I always say about polls,, nobody called me to get my opinion.
This talk about polls is sad,,, first of all our country has become lazy, Catholics and everyone else. I’m sure if there was a poll taken on how many people spend time reading each day the number would be very low.
If the population out there doesn’t take time for God why would they take time to study issues. The liberal media on television is where the majority of folks get their opinions and they are not even their own opinions, people go by what the talking heads say.
Great example of this was yesterday (Saturday June 28th) CNN covers McCain speech and breaks away after hecklers get on McCain and didn’t show the open forum dialogue McCain had with people. I had to switch over to Cspan to finish talks… By far the most informative talks by any candidate so far.
Catholic religious and clergy in this country are not doing what needs to be done at the pulpit.
There is so much they need to say to direct Catholics down the right road but it’s not being said.
I guess if we just look at the recent USCCB conference in Florida we can tell some bishops have no desire in teaching anymore. Erie, PA bishop Trautman doesn’t want to use certain words during mass because people will not understand… so lets dumb down the church because Trautman doesn’t want to teach.
Bottom line is Catholic’s that are in line at the cafeteria need to grab some vitamin filled vegetables not just desserts.
Remember if you are truly a Catholic there are 5 non negotiable issues we must follow as we decide our future leaders.
1. Abortion
The Church teaches that, regarding a law permitting abortions, it is “never licit to obey it, or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or to vote for it” (EV 73). Abortion is the intentional and direct killing of an innocent human being, and therefore it is a form of homicide.
The child is always an innocent party, and no law may permit the taking of his life. Even when a child is conceived through rape or incest, the fault is not the child’s, who should not suffer death for others’ sins.
2. Euthanasia
Often disguised by the name “mercy killing,” euthanasia also is a form of homicide. No one has a right to take his own life (suicide), and no one has the right to take the life of any innocent person.
In euthanasia, the ill or elderly are killed out of a misplaced sense of compassion, but true compassion cannot include doing something intrinsically evil to another person (cf. EV 73).
3. Fetal Stem Cell Research
Human embryos are human beings. “Respect for the dignity of the human being excludes all experimental manipulation or exploitation of the human embryo” (CRF 4b).
Recent scientific advances show that any medical cure that might arise from experimentation on fetal stem cells can be developed by using adult stem cells instead. Adult stem cells can be obtained without doing harm to the adults from whom they come. Thus there no longer is a medical argument in favor of using fetal stem cells.
4. Human Cloning
“Attempts . . . for obtaining a human being without any connection with sexuality through ‘twin fission,’ cloning, or parthenogenesis are to be considered contrary to the moral law, since they are in opposition to the dignity both of human procreation and of the conjugal union” (RHL I:6).
Human cloning also ends up being a form of homicide because the “rejected” or “unsuccessful” clones are destroyed, yet each clone is a human being.
5. Homosexual “Marriage”
True marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Legal recognition of any other form of “marriage” undermines true marriage, and legal recognition of homosexual unions actually does homosexual persons a disfavor by encouraging them to persist in what is an objectively immoral arrangement.
“When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral” (UHP 10).
* * * CATHOLIC ANSWERS ALERT * * *
Oh wait: * * * Pope Benedict Alert!!! * * *
Any Catholic that subscribes to the Democratic party line of abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia and the creation of embryos for scientific research cannot call themselves a Catholic. They are “cafeteria Catholics”.
SB – I have no problems with the Pope Benedict quote you cited. Thank you for sharing it.
Scott –
Any Catholic that subscribes to the Democratic party line of abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia and the creation of embryos for scientific research cannot call themselves a Catholic. They are “cafeteria Catholics”.
Agreed. But I think folks at VN who have discerned that they should vote Democrat would say that there is a big distinction to be made between voting for a Democratic candidate and “subscribing to the Democrat party line.”