Ethan Walker
Catholics in the United States, who make up about one-fifth of the population, are split down the middle politically. While non-Hispanic white Catholics have voted majority Republican since the 1970s, a majority of Hispanic or Latino Catholics have voted Democrat. In 2018 and 2019, Pew Research Center polls found that 48% of Catholic registered voters described themselves as Republicans or leaned Republican, while 47% identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party. This partisan divide among Catholics has presented a challenge for Catholic preachers, who have traditionally avoided endorsing political candidates or parties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting behavior | Catholics have a diverse range of political opinions, and they are split down the middle politically. |
| Voting behavior | In 2018 and 2019, 48% of Catholic voters described themselves as Republicans or leaned toward the Republican Party, while 47% identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party. |
| Voting behavior | In 2024, 50% of Catholic voters identified as Republicans or leaned toward the Republican Party, compared with 44% who identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic. |
| Voting behavior | Catholics' votes are often more aligned with their political party than with the teachings of their church. |
| Voting behavior | Catholics who disaffiliate from the Church due to clergy abuse scandals tend to experience a leftward shift in their political orientation. |
| Voting behavior | White Catholics who are registered as Republicans are less likely to defect to the Democrats during election years. |
| Voting behavior | Since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. |
| Voting behavior | In the 1880s, the Knights of Labor, the largest labor union in the United States, had at least half of its membership comprised of Catholics. |
| Voting behavior | In 1928, Al Smith became the first Roman Catholic to gain a major party's nomination for president, but his religion became an issue during the campaign. |
| Voting behavior | In 1992, about one-third of Catholics voted for Bush's reelection, but most Catholic defectors switched to independent Ross Perot, not the Democrat Bill Clinton. |
| Political opinions | On abortion, 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholic adults say it should be legal in all or most cases, while 63% of Republican and Republican-leaning Catholics say it should be illegal in all or most cases. |
| Political opinions | On immigration, 91% of Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while 81% of Catholic Republicans favor expanding the wall. |
| Political opinions | Catholics' views of Trump are divided by race and ethnicity. 54% of White Catholics approved of Trump's performance as president, but 69% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved. |
| Political opinions | 59% of Catholics say Biden is "very" or "somewhat" religious, and Democratic Catholics (72%) are more likely than Republican Catholics (46%) to agree. Only 37% of Catholics say Trump is at least somewhat religious. |
| Political opinions | White non-Hispanic Catholics have voted majority Republican since the 1970s, while a majority of Hispanic or Latino Catholics have voted Democrat. |
| Political opinions | Pope John Paul II advocated that countries should accommodate people fleeing from economic hardship. |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics' political views are split between Democrats and Republicans
- Catholic voters' opinions on abortion differ from the Catholic Church's stance
- Catholics' views on immigration differ from Trump's policies
- Catholics' political leanings are influenced by Mass attendance
- Catholics' political views are influenced by their race and ethnicity
Catholics' political views are split between Democrats and Republicans
Catholics in the United States, who make up about a fifth of the population, have diverse political views, with their votes split between the Democratic and Republican parties. From the onset of significant immigration in the 1840s, the Catholic Church in the US was predominantly urban, with its leaders and congregants usually from the laboring classes. Over time, nativism, anti-Catholicism, and anti-unionism became associated with the Republican Party, pushing Catholics towards the Democratic Party. This was particularly evident in the 1880s, when the Knights of Labor, the largest labor union in the US at the time, had a significant Catholic membership.
However, since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan, with many Catholics abandoning their traditional affiliation with the Democratic Party and shifting towards the Republican Party. This shift was noticeable in the 1968 and 1972 elections, where Nixon received 33% of the Catholic vote in 1968, increasing to 52% in 1972. This shift may be attributed to various factors, including cultural changes, policy issues, and the influence of specific politicians.
When it comes to policy issues, Catholics often align more with their political parties than with the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, on abortion, Catholic Democrats largely support its legalization, while Catholic Republicans tend to oppose it. Similarly, on immigration, Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while Catholic Republicans favor its expansion. These divides persist despite the Catholic Church's formal stances on these issues.
The partisan divide among Catholics is a challenge for Catholic preachers, as they strive to avoid alienating half of their congregation. As a result, Catholic leaders traditionally refrain from endorsing specific political candidates or parties, instead focusing on encouraging political involvement and dialogue. This nonpartisanship, combined with the diverse political views within their congregations, presents an opportunity for Catholic churches to model proper civic behavior and engage in respectful political conversations.
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Catholic voters' opinions on abortion differ from the Catholic Church's stance
The Catholic Church has long been one of the foremost opponents of legal abortion, teaching that human life is sacred and that unborn children have a “right to life” from the moment of conception. The Church's official teachings, promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992, oppose all forms of abortion procedures that aim to destroy a zygote, blastocyst, embryo, or fetus. Canon 1397 §2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law imposes automatic excommunication on Latin Catholics who procure an abortion.
However, the views of Catholic voters on abortion differ from the Catholic Church's stance. While the Church teaches that abortion is immoral and opposes its legality, many Catholics hold different views. A 2019 survey found that 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholic adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 63% of Republican and Republican-leaning Catholics say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. This divide persists despite the Church's formal opposition to abortion.
The abortion issue is not clear-cut for U.S. Catholics, and their opinions vary. While some Catholics oppose abortion entirely, others allow for exceptions, and some accept the general legality and morality of abortion. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 76% of U.S. Catholics think abortion should be illegal in some cases but legal in others. The frequency of Mass attendance also influences Catholic voters' views on abortion. Catholics who attend Mass less frequently are less likely to say abortion should be illegal at each stage of pregnancy. Only 20% of Catholic voters agree that they accept all of the Church's teachings and live by them.
The political affiliation of Catholic voters also plays a role in their abortion views. Catholic Democrats tend to resemble other Democrats in their opinions on abortion, and most say abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Catholic women are more likely than Catholic men to hold this view. On the other hand, Catholic Republicans are more conservative on abortion questions, with a majority saying abortion should be illegal in most or all cases.
In summary, while the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, the views of Catholic voters differ, with many holding more nuanced and diverse opinions on the legality and morality of abortion.
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Catholics' views on immigration differ from Trump's policies
Catholics in the United States make up about one-fifth of the population and hold a diverse range of political opinions. While they are split down the middle between the two major parties, their views on immigration differ from Trump's policies.
Historically, Catholics have gravitated towards the Democratic Party. This trend began in the 1840s with the influx of Catholic immigrants, who were predominantly urban and from the laboring classes. The Democratic Party's stance on issues such as unions and immigration aligned more closely with Catholic teachings and values.
Catholic social teaching and the Church's stance on migration emphasize the need to address the root causes of migration, particularly in cases of forced migration. They believe that people should have the right to flourish in their homeland, but when conditions for a dignified life are absent, migration becomes a natural right. Countries, therefore, have a duty to accommodate this right. The Church has consistently called for a just reform of the US immigration system, advocating for policies that uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the dignity of all persons, and promote the common good.
In contrast, Trump's immigration policies have been characterized by increased enforcement and a focus on border security. His administration has proposed a bill that would allocate $170 billion for immigration and border-related operations, primarily benefiting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This surge in funding is expected to lead to more raids and deportations, disrupting communities and families. Trump's plan to expand the wall along the US-Mexico border has been widely criticized, including by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Pope Francis, who described the desire to build a border wall as "not Christian."
While Catholic voters may differ in their political affiliations, their views on immigration are influenced by their religious teachings and values. The Catholic Church's emphasis on humanitarian protections and the inherent dignity of all persons stands in contrast to Trump's hardline immigration policies, which prioritize enforcement and border security over humanitarian concerns.
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Catholics' political leanings are influenced by Mass attendance
Catholics in the United States make up about one-fifth of the population and hold a diverse range of political beliefs. While there is no clear-cut answer to whether Catholics lean Democrat or Republican, there are several factors that influence their political leanings, including Mass attendance.
Historically, Catholics in the US tended to gravitate towards the Democratic Party, particularly those from the laboring classes. This changed in the 1960s when cultural shifts led to an incremental liberalization of the Democratic Party, causing some Catholics to shift towards the Republican Party. Since then, Catholic voters have become more evenly split between the two major parties, with some differences based on demographics and Mass attendance.
Catholics who attend Mass regularly tend to be more concerned about specific issues such as abortion, race relations, immigration, and religious freedom. They are also more likely to be affiliated with the Republican Party. For example, in a 2025 survey, 39% of Republicans said they attended Mass at least weekly, compared to 31% of Democrats. Another survey found that 53% of weekly Mass-attending Catholics supported Trump, while Catholics overall favored Biden over Trump by a significant margin.
On the other hand, Catholics who seldom or never attend Mass tend to lean more towards the Democratic Party. For instance, in a Pew survey, 56% of Catholics who said priests should be allowed to marry also reported seldom or never attending Mass, and 57% of this group identified with or leaned towards the Democrats. Additionally, Catholics who have left the Church due to clergy abuse scandals tend to shift leftward in their political orientation, becoming more likely to support progressive candidates and causes.
It is worth noting that while Mass attendance and religious practices can influence political leanings, Catholics' views are also shaped by their racial and ethnic backgrounds. White Catholics are more likely to identify as Republicans or lean right, while Hispanic Catholics largely identify as Democrats or lean left. Furthermore, on specific policy issues, Catholics often align more with their political party than with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
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Catholics' political views are influenced by their race and ethnicity
Catholics in the United States make up about one-fifth of the population and hold a diverse range of political opinions. While Catholic voters are split between the two major parties, their political views are influenced by their race and ethnicity.
Historically, Catholics tended to support the Democratic Party, particularly those from immigrant populations and the laboring classes. This trend continued until the 1960s when cultural changes led to an incremental liberalization of the Democratic Party, causing some Catholics to shift towards the Republican Party.
Since the 1970s, non-Hispanic white Catholics have reliably voted majority Republican, while a majority of Hispanic or Latino Catholics have voted Democrat. In the 2018 and 2019 polls, 57% of White Catholic registered voters identified with or leaned towards the Republican Party, while 68% of Hispanic Catholic voters identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic. This trend has been reflected in their voting behavior, with white Catholics who are registered Republicans being less likely to defect to the Democrats during election years.
The political views of Catholics are also influenced by their interpretation of Catholic teachings. For example, on the issue of abortion, Catholic Democrats and Catholic Republicans hold opposing views despite the Catholic Church's formal opposition to abortion. Similarly, on the topic of immigration, Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while Catholic Republicans favor its expansion.
The Catholic Church has had a complex relationship with race and ethnicity, particularly in the United States. While the Church advocates for human dignity, equality, and the fight against discrimination, it has been criticized for its failure to address systemic racism effectively and its indifference towards racial inequality. The Church's relationship with the Jewish faith has been historically hostile, and it has been accused of antisemitism.
In conclusion, the political views of Catholics in the United States are influenced by a combination of factors, including their race and ethnicity, their interpretation of Catholic teachings, and the changing political landscape. While the Catholic vote has become more bipartisan in recent decades, race and ethnicity continue to play a significant role in shaping the political views of this diverse group.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are both Democrats and Republicans, and some are swing voters. They make up about one-fifth of the US population.
Catholics' political views do not always align with the teachings of their church. For example, on abortion, 77% of Democratic Catholics say it should be legal in all or most cases, while 63% of Republican Catholics say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
From the 1920s to the 1960s, Catholics were staunch Democrats. Since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. In the 1970s, non-Hispanic white Catholics began voting majority Republican, while a majority of Hispanic or Latino Catholics have voted Democrat.
Catholics have a diverse range of political opinions, and there is no single "Catholic vote". However, there are some trends among Catholic voters. For example, Hispanic Catholics are more likely to vote Democrat, while non-Hispanic white Catholics are more likely to vote Republican.
