Joshua Bennett
Catholics in America have historically swung back and forth between the two major parties, with 52% voting for Donald Trump in 2016, and 48% voting for Joe Biden in 2020. This is despite the Catholic Church's stance on several issues, including abortion, sex and gender, LGBTQ rights, euthanasia, assisted suicide, workers' rights, and immigration. While the Church encourages Catholics to vote, it does not endorse any particular candidate or party. Catholics are instead expected to use their judgment and follow their consciences, applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and their faith's core values.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic voters as a whole have varied in recent presidential elections about which party most of them choose to support | 52% of Catholics backed Republican Donald Trump in 2016, while 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton |
| More Catholics voted for Joe Biden in 2020 | |
| Catholics narrowly backed Republican George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry in 2004 | |
| Catholics chose Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain in 2008 by a margin of 54% to 45% | |
| Catholics divided their votes almost exactly in half in 2012 and 2000 | |
| 68% of Hispanic Catholic voters identify as Democrats or lean Democratic | |
| 57% of White Catholic registered voters identify with or lean toward the Republican Party | |
| The Church teaches that there are three primary responsibilities of all citizens: to pay taxes, to defend their country, and to vote | |
| Catholics are to use their judgment and follow their consciences as they apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and core faith values to the choices they make in the voting booth | |
| Abortion is the primary issue Catholic voters should be concerned with, according to Dr. Caleb Henry |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic voters are split between Republicans and Democrats
Catholic voters in the US are split between the Republican and Democratic parties, with around half identifying as Republican and the other half identifying as Democrat. This is despite the Catholic Church's stance on certain issues, such as abortion, which is a primary concern for Catholic voters.
In recent years, Catholic voters have swung back and forth between the two major parties in presidential elections. In 2016, 52% of Catholics backed Republican Donald Trump, while in 2020, more Catholics voted for Democrat Joe Biden. This shift may be due to Pope Francis' advice in September 2020, which could have influenced Catholic voters.
The divide among Catholic voters is also evident when examining the views of White and Hispanic Catholics. White Catholic voters tend to lean towards the Republican Party, with 57% identifying as Republicans or holding Republican-leaning views. On the other hand, Hispanic Catholics predominantly identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, with 68% expressing support for the Democratic Party.
This split in political affiliation is further illustrated by the differing opinions on former President Trump's performance. While 54% of White Catholics approved of his presidency, 69% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved.
The Catholic Church does not endorse specific candidates or parties. Instead, Catholic voters are expected to use their judgment and follow their consciences, applying the teachings of their faith to the choices they make in the voting booth. This often involves navigating complex issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, workers' rights, and immigration, where the Church's stance may differ from that of the political parties or candidates.
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Catholic voters' views on abortion
Catholic voters in the United States have diverse political opinions, and their voting preferences do not align exclusively with a single political party. While abortion is a significant issue for Catholic voters, their views on the topic are varied.
The Catholic Church in the United States has long been a prominent opponent of legal abortion, upholding the belief that human life is sacred from "conception to natural death" and that unborn children have a "right to life". However, among Catholic voters, there are nuances in their stances on abortion.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that Catholic voters' opinions on abortion vary, with regular Mass attenders being the most opposed. Among Catholics who attend Mass weekly, about two-thirds (68%) believe that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, and they are more likely to hold the view that life begins at conception. In contrast, most Catholics who do not attend Mass weekly (65%) say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
Political affiliation also influences Catholic voters' perspectives on abortion. A majority of Catholic Republicans and Republican-leaning independents tend to oppose abortion, with 60% saying it should be illegal in most or all cases, and 59% affirming the belief that life begins at conception. Conversely, most Catholic Democrats and those leaning Democratic take a more permissive stance, with 73% supporting the legality of abortion in most or all cases, and only 30% believing that life begins at conception.
Gender dynamics also play a role in shaping Catholic voters' views on abortion. Catholic women are slightly more likely than Catholic men to support legal abortion, with 60% of women holding this view compared to 53% of men. Additionally, Catholic women are more inclined to assert that the decision to have an abortion should rest solely with the pregnant woman.
While abortion is a crucial issue for Catholic voters, it is not the only factor influencing their voting decisions. In a poll of Catholic voters in seven swing states, abortion and reproductive rights ranked eighth among important issues, with only 37% of respondents citing it as a significant consideration. This suggests that while abortion is a salient topic, Catholic voters also weigh other concerns when casting their votes.
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Catholic voters' views on sex and gender
Catholic voters in America have diverse political opinions, even on topics where the Catholic Church has a clear stance. For instance, in the 2016 US presidential election, 52% of Catholics voted for Republican Donald Trump, while 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. In the 2008 election, Catholics chose Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of 54% to 45%.
Catholics' views on abortion and gender ideology are considered key issues when voting. The Catholic Church's stance on sexual activity is that it belongs only within heterosexual marriage and must always be open to the possibility of procreation. The Church also holds that gender is not a social construct but is determined by biological sex. It equates birth anatomy with gender and does not recognise transgender or gender non-binary identities. The Church's position on homosexuality has been characterised as increasingly intolerant, with same-sex marriage not permitted and gay men not allowed to become priests. However, Pope Francis has voiced his support for civil unions, and the Vatican has recently released statements about the inclusion of transgender people within the Church, such as allowing them to be baptised and become godparents.
The Catholic Church in the United States has been influenced by the mass immigration of Catholics from Europe, particularly Ireland and Germany, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the late 19th century, 75% of Irish and German Catholics in America voted for Democratic presidential candidates. Distrust of Protestant-dominated public schools led Catholics to build their own network of parochial schools, and issues around school funding became politically contentious. Today, Catholic voters are split between the Republican and Democratic parties, with around half of Catholic registered voters describing themselves as Republicans and the other half identifying with the Democrats.
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Catholic voters' views on Trump
Catholic voters in the United States are split down the middle politically, with roughly half identifying as Republicans and the other half identifying as Democrats. This was reflected in the 2016 election, where 52% of Catholics backed Republican Donald Trump, and 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. In 2020, the Catholic electorate was almost evenly split, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favoring Biden.
Catholic voters' views of Trump are clearly divided by race and ethnicity. In a poll conducted in 2020, 54% of White Catholics approved of Trump's performance as president, while 69% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved. In the 2024 election, Trump's support among Catholic voters increased, with 54% supporting him and 44% backing Kamala Harris. This shift was particularly notable in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. About 6 in 10 White Catholics supported Trump, while about 6 in 10 Latino Catholics supported Harris.
Abortion is a primary issue that Catholic voters should be concerned with, according to Dr. Caleb Henry, a professor of political science at Franciscan University. In the 2024 election, Trump won 90% of voters who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while Harris won 9% of voters who held that view. However, 46% of Catholic voters trusted Harris more on abortion policy, while only 36% trusted Trump more. Catholic voters were evenly split on the question of whether abortion should be illegal after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with 49% favoring and 49% opposing.
Catholic voters trusted Trump more than Harris on immigration and the economy. They trusted Trump more on immigration by a 25-point margin (57% to 32%) and on the economy by a 19-point margin (55% to 36%). Additionally, 59% of Catholics were concerned that Harris was too extreme, and 58% felt the same way about Trump.
In conclusion, Catholic voters in the United States are divided in their support for Trump, with race and ethnicity playing a significant role in their voting preferences. While Trump has gained support among Catholic voters in the 2024 election, particularly among White Catholics, issues such as abortion, immigration, and the economy continue to shape their views and voting decisions.
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Catholics' civic duty to vote
Catholics make up about one-fifth of the US population and have a diverse range of political opinions. They are split down the middle politically, with almost half identifying as Republicans and the other half identifying as Democrats.
Catholics have a civic duty to vote, and the Church teaches that voting is one of the three primary responsibilities of all citizens, alongside paying taxes and defending their country. Voting is an opportunity to contribute to the nation and promote the common good by applying the values and teachings of the Catholic faith to the issues facing society.
When deciding how to vote, Catholics are instructed to evaluate the issues and candidates in light of their faith and follow their consciences. They should ask themselves whether the needs of the weakest and most defensible among them are being addressed. The Church does not endorse any candidates or parties, and Catholics are expected to use their judgment and follow their consciences, applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and core faith values.
Abortion is considered the primary issue Catholic voters should be concerned with, as it gets to the heart of the question: "If God has given us the gift of human life, then what does that require of us?". Other issues that are important from a Catholic standpoint include the debate over sex and gender, LGBTQ rights, the right to die/assisted suicide, universal healthcare, workers' rights, and immigration.
Catholics are advised to vote for candidates who advocate for good moral policies and have a reasonable expectation of carrying them out. They should not vote for candidates who favour intrinsically evil acts, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, or racist behaviour. However, they should also not use a candidate's opposition to such issues to justify indifference to other moral issues involving human life and dignity.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics in America do not vote as a bloc, and their votes are split between the two major parties. In 2018 and 2019, Pew Research Center polls found that 48% of Catholic voters described themselves as Republicans or leaned Republican, while 47% identified with or leaned toward the Democratic Party.
Abortion is the primary issue Catholic voters should be concerned with, according to Dr. Caleb Henry, a professor of political science at Franciscan University. The debate over sex and gender is also closely related to abortion, addressing fundamental questions about human nature and the difference between men and women.
No, the Church does not endorse an official list of candidates or tell Catholics which party to join. Catholics are expected to use their judgment and follow their consciences, applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and core faith values to the choices they make in the voting booth.
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