Sarah Mitchell
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth of Americans identifying as Catholic. In the past, Catholics were staunch Democrats, but since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. While there has been a shift towards the Republican Party among white Catholics, Hispanic Catholics are more likely to identify as Democrats. Every U.S. presidential election since 2004 has featured a Catholic candidate, and with Joe Biden's win in 2020, he became only the second Catholic president after John F. Kennedy. So, are any of the current Democratic presidential candidates Catholic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic vote since 2004 | At least one Catholic candidate from a major party |
| First Catholic presidential candidate | Al Smith, 1928 |
| First Catholic president | John F. Kennedy, 1960 |
| Second Catholic president | Joe Biden, 2020 |
| Catholic voters' party preference | Diverse, but leaning towards the Republican Party |
| Catholic Democrats' stance on abortion | Against, except in cases of rape or the imminent death of the mother |
| Catholic Democrats' stance on immigration | Oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border |
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What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president
- Joe Biden is the second Catholic president
- Catholics are one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the US
- Catholic voters have swung between Republican and Democratic candidates
- Catholic Democrats support Pope Francis's stance on social issues
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the first Roman Catholic president of the United States. He was the 35th president, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was also the youngest person elected president, at 43 years old.
JFK was a member of the Democratic Party and represented Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress before his presidency. He was a war hero, having served in the US Naval Reserve during World War II, where he commanded PT boats in the Pacific theater and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
JFK's Catholicism was a divisive issue during his presidential campaign in 1960. He faced widespread prejudice and anti-Catholic sentiment, with some Protestants believing that he would take orders from the Pope in Rome if he were elected. To address these concerns, JFK famously told the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September 1960:
> "I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who also happens to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my Church on public matters — and the Church does not speak for me."
JFK promised to respect the separation of church and state and not allow Catholic officials to dictate public policy to him. Despite his assurances, religion remained an underlying issue in the election, and it is believed that JFK lost some heavily Protestant states due to his Catholicism.
JFK's victory made him the first Catholic president, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future Catholic candidates.
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Joe Biden is the second Catholic president
Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, is the second Catholic president in US history. Biden was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2021, at 78 years old, becoming the oldest person to assume office. He is the first president from the state of Delaware and the first person since George H. W. Bush to have been both vice president and president.
Biden is an open practitioner of his faith, often speaking of his religious convictions and quoting the Bible. He attends Mass regularly and had a Catholic wedding ceremony. In fact, Biden has stated that his political positions are deeply influenced by Catholic social teaching. According to political scientist Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, Biden represents an Americanized form of Christian democracy, adopting positions characteristic of both the center-right and center-left.
However, Biden's views on abortion have caused controversy within the Catholic Church, with some arguing that he should be disqualified from receiving Communion. Despite this, Biden's election as the second Catholic president in the US marks a significant shift from the widespread prejudice against John F. Kennedy's Roman Catholic religion during his campaign in 1960.
Prior to the 1960s, Catholics were staunch Democrats, and Al Smith became the first Catholic presidential candidate by a major party in 1928. Since then, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan, with many Catholics defecting to the Republican Party during election years.
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Catholics are one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the US
Catholics in the US are largely white (59%), but 34% are Hispanic, making up a sizable minority. This diversity is also reflected in the political sphere, with Catholic Democrats and Catholic Republicans holding different views on various issues. For example, Catholic Democrats tend to support Pope Francis's stances on war, poverty, unintended pregnancy, preventable illness, the death penalty, instability of the family, and supporting the dialogue balancing medical advances and the dignity of the individual. On the other hand, Catholic Republicans tend to focus on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality.
Historically, Catholics were staunch Democrats. In 1928, Al Smith became the first Catholic presidential candidate nominated by a major party. Since then, the Catholic vote has become more bipartisan, with many Catholics defecting to the Republican Party during election years, especially during Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns.
The issue of religion has sometimes been divisive in US politics. In the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, faced widespread prejudice due to his religious beliefs. Many Protestants believed that he would take orders from the Pope if elected. To address these concerns, Kennedy famously stated that he was "not the Catholic candidate for President" but rather a Democrat who happened to be Catholic. He promised to respect the separation of church and state and not allow Catholic officials to dictate public policy to him.
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Catholic voters have swung between Republican and Democratic candidates
The voting behaviour of Catholics in the United States has been subject to change over the years. Before the 1960s, Catholics were staunch Democrats. In 1928, Al Smith became the first Catholic to be nominated for president by a major party. However, his religion became an issue during the campaign, and he lost. In 1960, John F. Kennedy became the Democratic Party's nominee for president and was vying to become the nation's first Catholic president. Kennedy's Catholicism was a divisive issue during the campaign, with some Protestants believing that he would take orders from the Pope if elected.
Since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. In the 1960s and 1970s, some Catholics abandoned their affiliation with the Democratic Party and began to support the Republican Party. This shift is evidenced by Nixon receiving 33% of the Catholic vote in the 1968 election, which increased to 52% in 1972. As a group, Catholics represented a quarter of the nation's electorate and were now one of the nation's largest swing groups.
In recent years, Catholic voters have swung back and forth between the Republican and Democratic candidates. In 2008, Catholics chose Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of 54% to 45%. In 2012, Catholic voters were split almost exactly in half between Obama and Mitt Romney, and the same was true in 2000 between Bush and Al Gore. White Catholics are a strongly Republican group and have been trending that way for a while, with 57% identifying with or leaning toward the Republican Party. On the other hand, Hispanic Catholics lean Democratic, with 68% identifying as Democrats or leaning Democratic.
The Catholic vote is not a monolith, and Catholic voters are evenly divided politically between Democrats and Republicans. Catholics' voting behaviour is influenced by various factors, including personal political beliefs, geographic location, and ethnicity.
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Catholic Democrats support Pope Francis's stance on social issues
Before the 1960s, Catholics were staunch Democrats. The Democratic Party ran Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential candidate by a major party, in 1928. Since then, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. In the 60s and 70s, many Catholics abandoned the Democratic Party and began to support the Republican Party. This trend continues today, with white Catholics registered as Democrats defecting to the Republican Party in large numbers during election years.
Despite this shift, there remains a group of Catholic Democrats who support Pope Francis's stances on central issues within Catholic social teaching, including war, poverty, unintended pregnancy, preventable illness, the death penalty, family instability, and supporting the dialogue balancing medical advances and the dignity of the individual. They feel that the Republican Party neglects these issues in favor of abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality. During the 2008 presidential election, Catholic Democrats launched the Catholics for Barack Obama website, which included a petition of endorsement for Catholics to sign in support of Obama's candidacy.
Catholic Democrats have also been active in other ways, such as sending a letter to Catholic members of Congress asking them to give up divisive partisan rhetoric and pass health care reform. They have also issued a Catholic Pledge to America, calling on Catholic voters to support candidates whose policies reflect Catholic social justice.
Archbishop Dolan, while not explicitly endorsing the group, has expressed support for their efforts to address poverty, unemployment, and income inequality, stating that these issues are a high priority for the Church. However, Archbishop Chaput has criticized Catholic Democrats, arguing that the group politicizes religious faith.
Pope Francis himself has clashed with conservative U.S. Catholics and attempted to install more liberal-leaning church leaders. He has denounced what he sees as "backward" attitudes among conservatives in the U.S. Catholic Church, arguing that they have replaced faith with ideology. He has also declined to promote conservative-leaning archbishops and taken a more welcoming stance towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite this, there is a growing movement toward conservatism among Catholics, particularly with the election of Pope Leo XIV, who is firmly committed to Church teaching on key moral issues. However, liberals have welcomed his election due to his past criticism of Trump and his reputation as a moderate, hoping that he will lead the Church in a more liberal direction.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in the 2024 United States election, Vice President Kamala Harris, a member of the Democratic Party, is Catholic.
Yes, John F. Kennedy was the first and only Catholic US president, elected in 1960. Al Smith was the first Catholic presidential candidate by a major party, in 1928, but he was defeated. John Kerry, Joe Biden, and Ed Muskie are other notable Catholic Democratic candidates.
Yes, in 2024, about a dozen candidates sought the GOP presidential nomination, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and former President Donald Trump. J.D. Vance, Trump's vice-presidential pick, also converted to Catholicism.
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth identifying as Catholic. In recent years, the Catholic vote has been split between the Democratic and Republican candidates. Hispanic Catholics are more likely to identify as Democrats and vote for Democratic candidates, while White Catholics have defected to the Republican Party in large numbers during election years.
