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| ] represent the largest Christian denomination in ] with about 65 million professing the faith in ]. The ] census bureau estimates that 25.9% of the population of adults identify themselves as Catholics . 85% of these Catholics find their faith to be “somewhat” or “very important” to them. It is even said that Catholics have represented up to 30% of the voting population in recent elections. | ] represent the largest Christian denomination in ] with about 65 million professing the faith in ]. The ] census bureau estimates that 25.9% of the population of adults identify themselves as Catholics . 85% of these Catholics find their faith to be “somewhat” or “very important” to them. It is even said that Catholics have represented up to 30% of the voting population in recent elections. | ||
| Traditionally, Catholic voters have voted more for the ], opting for ] and ]. However, in recent decades, the Catholic vote is less uniform, and many voters are influenced through issues of abortion and ]. Once many affluent Catholics emerged from poverty, they tended to vote less on religious issues and more on financial issues, leaning towards the ]. This is coupled by the drifting apart of some Catholics from the church through questions of ] usage and ] issues. When it comes to personal issues such as marriage and the family, Catholics are usually ], but social issues concerning ] they are typically ]. This has created a divergence in the Catholic vote, thus making it a good demographic target around election time. Most recently, ] has appointed two Catholic judges to the ]: ] and ]. | Traditionally, Catholic voters have voted more for the ], opting for ] and ]. However, in recent decades, the Catholic vote is less uniform, and many voters are influenced through issues of abortion and ]. Once many affluent Catholics emerged from poverty, they tended to vote less on religious issues and more on financial issues, leaning towards the ].{{fact}} This is coupled by the drifting apart of some Catholics from the church through questions of ] usage and ] issues. When it comes to personal issues such as marriage and the family, Catholics are usually ], but social issues concerning ] they are typically ]. This has created a divergence in the Catholic vote, thus making it a good demographic target around election time. Most recently, ] has appointed two Catholic judges to the ]: ] and ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 18:56, 11 May 2007
Catholics represent the largest Christian denomination in America with about 65 million professing the faith in 2003. The 2001 census bureau estimates that 25.9% of the population of adults identify themselves as Catholics . 85% of these Catholics find their faith to be “somewhat” or “very important” to them. It is even said that Catholics have represented up to 30% of the voting population in recent elections.
Traditionally, Catholic voters have voted more for the Democratic Party, opting for civil rights and social security. However, in recent decades, the Catholic vote is less uniform, and many voters are influenced through issues of abortion and gay marriage. Once many affluent Catholics emerged from poverty, they tended to vote less on religious issues and more on financial issues, leaning towards the Republican Party. This is coupled by the drifting apart of some Catholics from the church through questions of birth control usage and feminist issues. When it comes to personal issues such as marriage and the family, Catholics are usually conservative, but social issues concerning social justice they are typically liberal. This has created a divergence in the Catholic vote, thus making it a good demographic target around election time. Most recently, George W. Bush has appointed two Catholic judges to the Supreme Court: John Roberts and Samuel Alito.
History
Catholics were somewhat late-comers in American history. There were small populations that existed, but for the most part Catholics suffered much Anti-Catholic sentiments. During the American Revolution until the late 18th century, there existed only about a 1% population of Catholics (about 30,000). Then, there was mass immigration of Catholics from Ireland, Germany, Southern Europe, Philippines, and Latin America. By 1830, there were roughly 600,000 Catholics in the United States. 200,000 Irish had immigrated in the 1830s due to poverty in Ireland. The Irish Potato Famine in 1845 caused the Irish population in America to reach 962,000, the number doubling in the next ten years. Anti-Catholic laws were established during the 1830s and 1840s. Groups such as the Know Nothings formed in the late 19th century and were even associated with the Republican Party against the Irish Catholics.
But by the end of the 19th century, Catholics represented 14 percent of the total U.S. population, and by the early 1900s, Catholicism was the single largest religious denomination in the country. Still, Catholics did not hold many high offices in politics. Of the first 54 judges, only one was Catholic. It wasn’t until the 1890’s that more were elected.
In October 1960, John F. Kennedy, the Catholic candidate for president, drew the line as to how he would deal with his religion as president.
“I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate who happens also to be Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters and the Church does not speak for me.”
Recent politics 1965-present day
Catholics have been in congress since the early 17th century, and today represent 28.8% of Congress. The first Roman Catholic Supreme Court Justice was Roger B. Taney, appointed in 1836.
- demographic table… http://www.adherents.com/adh_sc.html
This discrepancy between the percentage of Catholic Supreme Court Justices and the percentage of Catholics in America is testament of the upward movement of Catholics. While there are more Protestants in the Nation, they are less unified and scattered into different sects.
Religion plays an important part in American politics, and it will continue to shape policies in the future. Specifically, the emergences of gay rights, abortion rights, and current immigration issues have a huge impact on voting patterns. Both gay rights, abortion rights, and even Terry Schiavo’s “right to die” case have not only tested the values of the Catholic Church, but united the evangelicals and Catholics. This is remarkable considering that National Association of Evangelicals formed in the 1940’s was anti-Catholic. At the same time, many Catholics have separated from the Church in lieu of their stance on birth control and the role of women in the church. According to Dr. John Green of University of Akron,
"There isn't a Catholic vote anymore; there are several Catholic votes."
| Candidate | Party | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Reagan | Republican | 1980,1984 |
| Clinton | Democratic | 1992,1996 |
| Al Gore | Democratic | 2000 |
| George W. Bush | Republican | 2004 |
Twenty years ago, there had only been one Catholic judge on the U.S. Supreme Court, but this all started to change during the 1980s. President Reagan appointed Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy to the court, both Catholic. The first President Bush appointed Clarence Thomas along with David Souter, an Episcopalian. President Clinton appointed two Jewish Judges: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. The second President Bush appointed John Roberts and nominated Alito, both Catholics.
The four Catholic Supreme Court judges nominated in the last decade have become reliable votes for abortion restriction. In Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989), City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health (1990), Hodgson v. Minnesota (1990), and Rust v. Sullivan (1991), Scalia and Kennedy upheld the restrictions in question . This is not to say that all Catholics vote a certain way, the majority of Catholic judges have been appointed by Republicans, while Protestant and Jewish judges have been appointed by Democrats, but there is still a great difference between Catholic judges and Protestant judges. While many Protestant judges were pro-choice, only one Catholic judge has ever ruled against abortion restrictions, and that was in one of six cases. This makes for very reliable voting patterns in the Supreme Court, when it comes to abortion issues at least.
Gay rights
The traditional view of family is what most Catholics defend today: a father, mother, and subordinate children. The Catholic church teaches that homosexual behavior is a sin, and that practicing homosexuals are sinners like other sinners. "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." Some Catholics take this to mean that voting in favor of "benefits for lifelong partners" is a compassionate act, whereas others take this to mean that they should vote against the same benefits because those benefits help people to continue living in sin.
Abortion rights
The Catholic Church has always condemned abortion. Archbishop John Francis Donoghue (Atlanta, GA), Bishop Robert Joseph Baker (Charleston, SC), and Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis (Charlotte, NC) wrote that "Catholics in political life have the responsibility to exemplify in their public service this teaching of the Church, and to work for the protection of all innocent life" and that politicians who support abortion rights are "cooperating with evil." This issue was highlighted when Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke of St. Louis, Missouri said he would deny Senator John Kerry communion because of his stance on abortion rights. However, very few priests are actually announcing that they will deny communion due to opinion on abortion. Pope John Paul II having given communion to Francisco Rutelli, a strong supporter of abortion in Italy, is an example many follow. Most recently, with the nomination of Alito, a Catholic-based political advocacy group warned liberals that, "Given the likelihood of a vigorous debate, we remain steadfast in our insistence upon a fair and dignified process free of any attack on Judge Alito's Catholic faith and personal beliefs, early attacks by left-wing interest groups are particularly worrisome." There were many questions related to Alito's Catholicism and how that might effect his interpretation of law, particularly on his known anti-abortion sentiments.
Immigration
The immigration debate has also changed relations between Republicans and Roman Catholic voters. Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke has been involved in rallies to allow undocumented workers a chance at citizenship. By welcoming migrant workers, many of whom are Catholic, Burke says, "we obey the command of Our Lord, who tells us that when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Christ Himself."
In 2006, Roger Cardinal Mahony controversially announced that he would order the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to ignore H.R. 4437 if it were to become law. Cardinal Mahony personally lobbied senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein to have the Senate consider a comprehensive immigration reform bill, rather than the enforcement-only bill that passed the House of Representatives. Cardinal Mahony also blamed the Congress for the illegal immigration crisis due to their failure to act on the issue in the previous 20 years, opposed H.R. 4437 as punitive and open to abusive interpretation, and supported S. 2611.
Roughly 30% of the Roman Catholic population is Hispanic, and many popes, including Pope John Paul II have advocated that countries should accommodate people fleeing from economic hardship if they are able.
Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix says immigration is a debatable issue in the Catholic faith.
References
- Donald Kerwin (2006-05-08). "Immigration reform: what the Catholic Church knows". Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
- John L. Allen, Jr. (2006-04-14). "Mahony on immigration". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
- "Cardinal Mahony speaks out on immigration reform". Day to Day. National Public Radio. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
- "Catholic Church officials spurn immigration reform plan". American Morning. CNN. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-11.