Catholics Looking to Confirm a Candidate

Every week, it seems, another group is singled out as a potential voting bloc. The Obamacans, Hockey Moms and, of course, Joe the Plumbers, have all been predicted to swing the election one way or the other.

One presumed bloc, however, that perennially plays a key role in elections doesn't have a fancy nickname: Catholic voters.

About one quarter of Americans identify themselves as Catholic, making them the country's largest religious denomination, and they always seem to vote for the winner. According to the latest Zogby poll, Obama leads McCain among Catholics by 13 points.

Although Catholics have participated in the political process since the nation’s inception, only one has ever occupied the White House, John F. Kennedy in 1960. While Kennedy was victorious, he did so despite a wave of recriminations that he would put the dictates of the Pope before those of the Constitution. Kennedy had to make a speech to reassure voters that this was not the case.

For the most part, Catholic voters are not that different from other voters. A recent survey by the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus, showed that the current financial crisis was the issue most important to Catholic voters. About half prefer to vote for a candidate who shares their overall values, while the other half prefer to vote for a candidate who shares their views on the issues.

While the Catholic Church holds no official stance on American politics, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document on “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which encourages Catholics “to consider the moral and ethical dimensions of public policy issues.”

One set of parameters that influenced Catholics in the past was whether a candidate adhered to doctrinal Catholic moral values. Catholics Answers Action, a group dedicated to educating Catholic voters to consider moral issues when they vote, distributes materials opposing abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning and gay marriage.

Catholic Answers Action is an activist group that grew out of Catholic Answers, after questions about the group's tax-exempt status over allegations of partisan involvement in the 2004 election.

These issues came to the forefront in the 2004 election when John Kerry, a Catholic, came under fire for his support of abortion rights. According to CNN exit polling, a majority of Catholics chose George W. Bush, a non-Catholic, over John Kerry.

Given the absence of “a uniquely polarizing figure,” Jimmy Akin, of Catholic Answers Action, feels that this year Catholics will not be as involved. However, Democratic Vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden, has come under fire for his support of abortion rights.

While some Catholics adhere to moral issues when voting, another school of Catholic thought is that of social justice, or the belief in the sanctity of human dignity. Adherents to Catholic social teaching fully embrace the Church’s message about caring for the poor and less fortunate.

Network is a national Catholic social justice lobby, founded in 1972 by a group of nuns dedicated to promoting social justice issues as part of the political process. Speaking on behalf of Network, Stephanie Niedringhaus emphasized that the Catholic social justice tradition is not new, as evidenced by the longevity of Network.

Like Catholic Answers Action, Network is also distributing a guide on the election, but instead of emphasizing abortion and other doctrinal moral issues, they discuss matters such as affordable housing, health care, and wage equity. On their Presidential Candidate Chart, Network defines the views of both McCain and Obama, ignoring issues such as stem-cell research and gay marriage, and including issues such as taxation and the environment.

While Catholic social justice issues seems to be finding more traction among Democrats, the issue of social justice should be one that crosses party lines, Niedringhaus said.