Pew Research Center, "GOP the Religion-Friendly Party But Stem Cell Issue May Help Democrats," August 24, 2004, http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=51 (accessed June 27, 2008).


70% of Catholics say that the views of Catholic bishops in the US are unimportant to them in deciding for whom to vote. [1]

73% of Catholics say they believe Catholic politicians are under no religious obligation to vote on issues the way the bishops recommend. [1]

69% of Catholics says they feel no obligation to vote against candidates who support abortion. [1]

75% of Catholics disapprove of denying communion to Catholics who support legal abortion. [1]

24% of white Catholics rank high on the conservative index, 39% medium and 27% low.
Amongst the general public 48% rank high, 34% medium, 38% low. [2]

72% of Catholics believe that the will of the American people should have more influence than the Bible on US law as compared to 63% of the general public. [3]

52% of Catholics believe houses of worship should not express views on politics as compared to 46% of the general population. [3]

75% of Catholics hear their clergy speak out on the issue of abortion from the pulpit as compared to 59% of the general population that attends church at least once a month. [3]

Catholics hear their clergy speak out on the issues of hunger and poverty (96%), "laws regarding homosexuals" (50%), the death penalty (41%), stem cell research (38%) and immigration (31%). This is comparable to the general population that attends church at least once a month. [3]

6% of Catholics consider themselves part of the religious left and 7% the religious right as compared to 7% of the general population identifying with the religious left and 11% with the religious right. [3]

In 2006, 41% of Catholics viewed the GOP as friendly to religion as compared to 55% in 2005. [3]

Of white Catholics, 36% view the Christian conservative movement favorably while 42% view it unfavorably. Of all Americans, 44% view the Christian conservative movement favorably and 36% view it unfavorably. [3]

50% of white Catholics voted democrat in 2004 election and 48% voted republican. [4]






[1] Belden Russonello & Stewart, "Secular and Security-Minded: The Catholic Vote in Summer 2008," Catholics for Choice, July 2008.
[2] Pew Research Center, "Pragmatic Americans Liberal and Conservative on Social Issues," August 3, 2006, http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/283.pdf (accessed June 24, 2008).
[3] Pew Research Center, "Many Americans Uneasy with Mix of Religion and Politics," August 24, 2006, http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/287.pdf (accessed June 24, 2008).
[4] Patricia Zapor, "Deconstructing Voter Choices: Catholics Differ Little from Others," Catholic News Service, November 11, 2006.