Michael Brooks
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 upcoming 2024 election, Catholic voters are conflicted about who to vote for as president. Pope Francis has advised Catholics to use their conscience to guide them to choose the lesser of two evils. This is not the first time Catholic voters have felt divided—in the 2008 election, some bishops warned that voting for Obama would be a grave matter, but he still won the Catholic vote. Catholics are advised to vote with their conscience, based on the teachings of the Church and the candidate's stance on issues such as pro-life, anti-poverty, immigration, foreign policy, and religious freedom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting decisions | Guided more by moral convictions than by attachments to a political party or interest group |
| Voting decisions | Guided by Church teachings |
| Voting decisions | Guided by personal conscience |
| Voting decisions | Guided by prayerful reflection of candidate positions |
| Voting decisions | Guided by candidate's stance on pro-life, anti-poverty, immigration, foreign policy, and religious freedom issues |
| Voting decisions | Guided by the candidate's stance on abortion, climate change, immigration, access to guns, and LGBTQ issues |
| Voting decisions | Guided by the candidate's stance on same-sex marriage |
| Voting decisions | Guided by the candidate's stance on humane immigration policy |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic vote is split
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, making up about a quarter of the national electorate. Since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has been largely split between the two major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, in national elections.
In the 2004 presidential election, Catholic bishops attempted to influence the Catholic vote by threatening to deny communion to Catholic politicians who voted for Democratic candidate John Kerry. This approach was not well-received, and in 2008, 89 Catholic bishops instead proclaimed that Catholics should make abortion their defining issue in the election. That year, a majority of Catholic voters (54%) chose Barack Obama, who had policies in favour of promoting and funding abortion, over John McCain (45%).
In 2016, Catholic voters supported Donald Trump (50%) over Hillary Clinton (46%), but in 2020, the Catholic vote was more evenly split between Trump and Joe Biden, the country's second Catholic president. Biden won the Catholic vote in 2020, but the margin was smaller than Obama's victories in 2008 and 2012.
Polls for the 2024 presidential election show conflicting data about Catholic voters, indicating that the Catholic vote will once again be divided. Some polls show Trump leading among Catholic voters, while others show a preference for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Catholic vote is influenced by a range of issues, including abortion, immigration, same-sex marriage, and access to guns. Catholic voters are advised to be guided by their moral convictions and the teachings of the Church when making their voting decisions. However, neither of the country's two major political party platforms fully adheres to Catholic teachings, making voting decisions challenging for Catholics.
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Voting with conscience
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth of Americans identifying as Catholic. While the Catholic Church has clear stances on a variety of political issues, Catholic voters have diverse political opinions, and their votes have been split between Democratic and Republican candidates in recent elections.
Voting is often described as a civic duty, but for Catholics, it also carries a moral dimension. Pope Francis has emphasised the "vocation as a citizen" for Catholics, and their voting decisions should be guided by moral convictions rather than attachments to political parties or interest groups. This involves applying the teachings of the Church to political issues, such as the dignity and sanctity of human life, the obligation to protect the vulnerable, and the purposes of marriage and family.
However, neither of the two major political parties in the United States fully aligns with the full range of Catholic teachings. As a result, Catholic voters often find themselves in a challenging position, having to choose between candidates who may not perfectly reflect their values. In such cases, Pope Francis advises Catholics to use their conscience to pick the "lesser of two evils".
To navigate this dilemma, Catholic voters can adopt several strategies. Firstly, it is important to remember that agreeing with a candidate on every issue is not necessary. Catholics can still work towards their policy goals even if they vote for a candidate they do not fully align with. Additionally, Catholics can engage in other forms of civic participation beyond voting, such as attending rallies, writing letters, or participating in community groups.
Another approach is to prepare a personal scorecard that evaluates candidates based on Catholic teachings on important policy issues. Issues such as pro-life, anti-poverty, immigration, foreign policy, and religious freedom can be weighted according to their moral gravity. While the candidate with the highest score may not ultimately be chosen, this process helps clarify thinking and ensures that the decision is informed by Catholic values.
In conclusion, Catholic voters play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in the United States. By applying their moral convictions and the teachings of the Church to their voting decisions, Catholics can navigate the complexities of choosing between candidates and uphold their religious values in the political sphere.
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Abortion as a defining issue
Abortion is a highly contentious issue in the United States, and it is a significant concern for Catholic voters. The Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, and this stance has influenced the voting behaviour of Catholics, particularly in the shift from predominantly supporting Democratic candidates to a more divided electorate, with many Catholics now voting for Republican candidates.
The Catholic Church's stance on abortion is clear and unwavering. According to the U.S. bishops' conference, opposition to legalized abortion is the church's "preeminent" issue. This position is reiterated by Pope Francis, who emphasizes the "defense of the innocent unborn" as a crucial aspect of Catholic doctrine. However, Pope Francis also highlights the importance of other issues, such as social justice and the dignity of all human life, indicating that abortion should not be the sole factor determining a Catholic voter's choice.
Catholics are advised to carefully consider their options and weigh the impact of their vote. While voting for a pro-abortion candidate solely because of their stance on abortion is discouraged, Catholics are allowed to vote for a candidate who is not perfectly anti-abortion if that candidate is deemed to be the best option overall. This decision-making process involves assessing the potential for "remote material cooperation," where a Catholic voter may choose a candidate with a different stance on abortion for other morally justifiable reasons.
The concept of "proportionate reasons" or "truly grave moral reasons" comes into play when a Catholic voter is faced with a difficult choice. It acknowledges that abortion is not the only issue of moral significance and that other factors, such as social justice, economic policies, and the character of the candidates, also carry weight in the decision-making process. This nuanced approach allows Catholics to consider a broader range of issues and make a more comprehensive evaluation of the candidates.
In recent years, the Catholic vote has become more diverse, with support for both Democratic and Republican candidates. While abortion remains a significant issue for many Catholic voters, it is no longer the sole determining factor. Other issues, such as the economy, immigration, healthcare, and social justice, have gained prominence in the Catholic electorate's considerations, reflecting a more complex and multifaceted decision-making process.
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Catholic voters' influence
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth of Americans identifying as Catholic. This makes Catholic voters one of the nation's largest swing groups, comprising 25% to 27% of the national electorate. As such, they have the potential to significantly influence election outcomes.
Historically, Catholics were staunch Democrats, with an 80-90% affiliation rate from the mid-19th century to 1964. This began to change in the 1960s with the liberalization of the Democratic Party, and since then, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan. In recent years, the Catholic vote has been largely split between the Democratic and Republican candidates in presidential elections.
When deciding who to vote for, Catholic voters are guided by their moral convictions and the teachings of the Church, which emphasize the dignity and sanctity of human life, the obligation to protect the vulnerable, and the purposes of marriage and family. Abortion has been a defining issue for many Catholic voters, with some bishops instructing Catholics to make it their primary consideration in elections. Other issues that are important to Catholic voters include euthanasia, torture, genocide, unjust war, and racism, nondiscrimination protections, same-sex marriage, access to guns, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights.
The influence of Catholic voters in elections is not limited to their numerical strength but also extends to the active courting of their votes by political campaigns. Both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns in 2024 launched Catholic coalitions and used cultural signals to appeal to Catholic voters. The close nature of the 2024 election further underscores the potential impact of Catholic voters, with their support expected to be divided between the candidates.
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Candidates' religious affiliation
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth of Americans identifying as Catholic. Catholic voters now comprise 25% to 27% of the national electorate, and 85% of today's Catholics report their faith to be "somewhat" to "very important" to them.
Historically, Catholics were staunch Democrats, with the Democratic Party nominating Al Smith, the first Catholic presidential candidate by a major party, in 1928. Since the 1960s, however, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan, with Catholics now split about 50-50 between the two major parties in national elections. In recent years, the Catholic vote has been largely split between the Democratic and Republican candidates, with Donald Trump winning the majority of the Catholic vote in 2016, while Joe Biden won the majority of Catholic votes in 2020.
When deciding which candidate to support, Catholic voters are guided more by moral convictions than by attachments to a political party or interest group. The Church's teachings shed light on important truths about human nature, such as the dignity and sanctity of every human life, the obligation to protect and serve the most vulnerable, and the purposes of marriage and family. These truths are not solely religious beliefs but also universal principles that all people can recognize through natural reason.
In terms of specific issues that are important to Catholic voters, abortion has been a defining issue in past elections, with Catholic bishops proclaiming that Catholics should make abortion their top priority. Other issues that are important to Catholic voters include euthanasia, torture, genocide, unjust war, and racism, as well as immigration and LGBTQ rights.
While the Church and its publications cannot and will not tell individuals which candidate to vote for, they encourage Catholics to use their conscience as a guide to pick the “lesser of two evils”. Pope Francis has emphasized that voting is a “vocation as a citizen” and that it takes on a moral dimension for Catholics.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are called as disciples of Christ to be a light in the world and to guide others toward the righteous path. While it is important to spend time researching the candidates and the issues, putting on the mind of Christ before voting also necessitates stepping away from the noise of the election cycle. Catholics should be guided more by moral convictions than by attachments to a political party or interest group.
Catholics are often more aligned with their political party than with the teachings of their church. On abortion, for example, 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholic adults say they think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while Catholic bishops have proclaimed that Catholics should make abortion their defining issue in elections. Catholics also consider issues like same-sex marriage, climate change, immigration, access to guns, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, making up roughly one-fifth of the population. In recent elections, Catholic voters have swung back and forth between the Republican and Democratic candidates. In 2016, 52% of Catholics backed Republican Donald Trump, while in 2020, more Catholics voted for Democrat Joe Biden.
