Ethan Walker
Catholicism is the largest single religious institution in the United States, with around 51 million Catholic adults. While Catholics once tended to vote Democratic, they are now evenly split between the two major parties, with partisan gulfs on several issues, including abortion, same-sex marriage, homosexuality, climate change, and immigration. While the Pope and bishops have opposed birth control, three-quarters of US Catholics believe the church should permit it. US Catholics are becoming more politically liberal, while young Catholic priests tend to be politically conservative.
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are split between Democrats and Republicans
Catholics in the United States are split between the Democratic and Republican parties, with roughly equal shares of Catholic registered voters identifying with or leaning toward each party in recent years. This division mirrors the broader polarisation within American society, where religion plays a significant role in political debates over LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, universal healthcare, workers' rights, and immigration.
Historically, Catholics in the US were more likely to vote Democratic, but they have never been a monolithic group politically. The geographic distribution of Catholics has contributed to this diversity, with Catholics concentrated in the liberal Northeast and large cities, while those in the South may lean towards more conservative values. Additionally, the Catholic population in the US is predominantly White or Hispanic, with Hispanic Catholics overwhelmingly backing Democratic candidates.
Catholics are divided on various social issues, often expressing opinions that align more with their political parties than with the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, on the issue of abortion, which the Church opposes, Catholic Republicans are more likely to support restrictions, while Catholic Democrats lean towards abortion rights. Similarly, while the Church opposes same-sex marriage, a significant proportion of Catholic Democrats (76%) and a smaller majority of Catholic Republicans (59%) support legal same-sex marriage.
The polarisation among Catholics extends to other issues, including climate change, poverty, and immigration. Catholic Democrats are more likely to agree with Pope Francis's stance on the urgency of addressing climate change, while Catholic Republicans tend to be sceptical about human-caused warming. On the subject of government aid for the poor, Catholic Democrats view it as beneficial for meeting basic needs, whereas Catholic Republicans believe it does more harm than good by creating dependence on government assistance.
The Catholic Church's stance on immigration, influenced by Pope John Paul II's advocacy for accommodating economic migrants, aligns with the views of Catholic Democrats, who support immigration reform. However, Catholic Republicans, particularly hardliners, favour stricter immigration restrictions.
Within the Catholic Church itself, there is a generational divide between younger and older priests. Younger priests tend to be more theologically traditional and politically conservative, whereas older priests lean liberal. This divide reflects the broader polarisation within the Catholic community and underscores the challenges faced by the Church in navigating political polarisation, the clerical sex abuse crisis, and the crisis of authority in various aspects of American social life.
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Catholic views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage
The Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality and same-sex marriage is complex and often contentious, with conflicting views between the Church and some in the LGBTQ+ community. While the Church teaches that homosexual persons are "beloved children of God", it also considers sexual acts between members of the same sex as "grave sins against chastity".
According to Catholic doctrine, same-sex attraction is not inherently sinful. However, the Church maintains that homosexuality is an ["objective disorder", and that] acting on these desires is a sin. The Church does not recognize or perform sacramental marriages between same-sex couples, and actively campaigns against same-sex marriage. This stance has been challenged by some liberal Catholics, who support gay rights and civil unions, and by theologians who emphasize the need to treat LGBTQ+ individuals with respect and compassion.
In recent years, there have been some signs of a shift in the Church's attitude. In 2021, Pope Francis signalled the Church's openness to blessings for gay couples, and in 2023, the publication of "Fiducia supplicans" allowed Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, albeit without recognizing their union as a sacrament.
The views of Catholic laity on homosexuality and same-sex marriage are often influenced by their political affiliations, with Catholic Democrats expressing more liberal views than Catholic Republicans. For instance, while the Church opposes abortion, 64% of Catholic Democrats support its legalization, compared to only 36% of Catholic Republicans. Similarly, while the Church opposes same-sex marriage, 76% of Catholic Democrats and 59% of Catholic Republicans support it.
The Catholic Church's teachings on sexuality and homosexuality have been a source of conflict and distress for LGBTQ+ Catholics, with some choosing to leave the Church and adopt more progressive views. The experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Church vary across dioceses and parishes, with some communities offering a full welcome within the limits of Church policy, while others deny membership or employment to those who support same-sex marriage.
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Catholic views on abortion
The Catholic Church has long been one of the foremost opponents of legal abortion, teaching that human life is sacred “from conception to natural death”. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law". The Church's position is that abortion is immoral and always ethically unacceptable. This view is based on the belief that human life begins at conception and that a fetus has rights and a "right to life".
However, Catholic views on abortion vary. While those who attend Mass regularly are among the country's strongest opponents of legal abortion, those who attend less frequently are more likely to support abortion rights under certain circumstances. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that most Catholics think abortion should be illegal in some cases but legal in others. According to the survey, 68% of Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while 65% of those who do not attend Mass weekly say it should be legal in all or most cases.
Political affiliation also plays a role in Catholic views on abortion. A majority of Catholic Republicans say abortion should be illegal in most or all cases (60%), while most Catholic Democrats say it should be legal in most or all cases (73%). However, majorities of Catholics on both sides say it should be legal in cases of rape or danger to the pregnant woman's life or health.
In addition to political affiliation, gender also influences Catholic views on abortion. Catholic women are more likely than Catholic men to say abortion should be legal in all or most cases (60% vs. 53%), and they are also more likely to believe that the decision about whether to have an abortion should belong solely to the pregnant woman.
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Catholic priests' political leanings
The political leanings of Catholic priests in the United States have been a topic of interest, with politicians pursuing the "Catholic vote" due to the large number of Catholic adults in the country. While Catholics once tended to vote Democratic, they are now sharply divided, with roughly equal shares identifying with or leaning toward the Democratic and Republican parties. This division mirrors the broader polarization of the American public.
Historically, Irish Catholics dominated Catholic churches, labor unions, and Democratic organizations in big cities, forming overlapping centers of influence. This led to the emergence of anti-Catholic sentiments and the short-lived Know Nothings party in the 1850s, which aimed to purge elections and statutes of Catholic influence. During the Civil War, Catholics served on both sides, and bishops rejected anti-war and anti-draft sentiments within the church. In the late 19th century, 75% of Irish and German Catholics voted for Democratic presidential candidates.
In recent times, partisan dynamics among Catholic priests and followers are evident in their views on various social issues. For example, Catholic Democrats are more likely to agree with Pope Francis on climate change, believing that human activity contributes to global warming, while Catholic Republicans largely disagree. On the issue of abortion, Catholic Republicans align with the church's opposition, while Catholic Democrats are more likely to support legal abortion. Similarly, Catholic Republicans are less supportive of government aid for the poor, while Catholic Democrats view it more favorably.
Catholic priests and followers also differ in their views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. While the church opposes these, a significant number of Catholic priests and followers, particularly Democrats, support same-sex marriage and gay rights. Some Catholic priests have actively promoted these rights, while others have remained critical.
In terms of political candidates, Catholic priests and followers have shown varying support for different parties and candidates. During the 2018 elections for the U.S. House of Representatives, Catholics were almost evenly split between the Democratic and Republican candidates. In the 2024 presidential election, however, Trump gained support from a majority of Catholic voters, with 55% casting their vote for him. This shift was attributed in part to Latino voters and Catholic priests' active courting of the Catholic vote.
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Catholic views on immigration
The Catholic Church has long been an advocate and protector of immigrants. Popes throughout the years have expressed sentiments in favour of immigration. Pope Pius XII, for instance, described the Holy Family's flight into Egypt as "the archetype of every refugee family". Pope John Paul II advocated that countries should accommodate people fleeing from economic hardship. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that prosperous nations are obliged to welcome foreigners seeking security and livelihood. Pope Francis has also expressed a need to act on the issue of immigration.
The Catholic Church's teachings underscore the need for a charitable response to immigrants. In his 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII argued that man "has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the confines of his own state". He further added that "when there are just reasons in favour of it, he must be permitted to emigrate to other countries and take up residence there". The Church maintains that people have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families. This is especially true in the case of forced migration, where the absence of conditions for a dignified life means that people have a natural right to migrate, and countries have a duty to accommodate that right.
Catholic social teaching on immigration reform includes three basic principles. The first principle states that a country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy. The second principle states that a country's right to limit immigration must be based on justice, mercy, and the common good, not on self-interest. The third principle states that immigration control should not be viewed as negative or evil, as those who enforce immigration laws do so out of a sense of loyalty to the common good and compassion for the poor.
Catholic organizations offer shelter, food, and legal assistance to immigrants, regardless of their legal status. Providing legal processes for long-time residents and undocumented immigrants to regularize their status would strengthen the economy, provide stability to communities, and keep families together. This is in line with Catholic teaching, which maintains that families are the foundation of society.
While the Catholic Church has been an advocate for immigration, there are partisan gulfs among Catholics on the issue. Catholic Democrats are more likely to support government aid for immigrants, while Catholic Republicans tend to favour stricter immigration controls.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics in the US are split between the two major parties, with 47% identifying with or leaning towards the Democrats and 46% towards the Republicans. However, US Catholics as a whole are becoming more politically liberal.
Young Catholic priests in the US tend to be politically conservative and theologically traditional, especially compared to older priests.
Catholicism in the US is more liberal than in Europe, where Orthodox and Catholic churches are hardline conservatives.
Catholic voters in the US are divided along party lines, with white Catholics more likely to vote Republican and Hispanic Catholics more likely to vote Democrat.
