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In reply to the discussion: A day after Nativity scene erected, atheist sign posted in State Capitol (NE) [View all]Psephos
(8,032 posts)The "Catholic Bloc," however, is a thing of the past and has been for some time.
Bush won the Catholic vote, 52 percent to 47 percent 2004. Obama won the Catholic vote 54 percent to 45 percent, in 2008. Obama carried Catholics 50 percent to 48 percent in 2012. Exit polling showed the voting electorate to be 27% Catholic.
Recall that the Hispanic vote is heavily weighted Catholic, is growing faster than any other religious demographic, and does not put "freaking out about hand outs" high on its priorities. The truth is, neither do most non-Hispanic Catholics.
The self-defeating hostility of some in the Democratic Party toward people of faith can only serve to drive them away from the party over time. I never have understood why we would want to alienate millions of people who practice religion through service, charity, and compassion. Most Catholics are not evangelical, and the stereotypes I hear over and over are frankly ridiculous, and sometimes downright loathesome. So much for tolerance and diversity.
Your points about the Catholic inclination toward charity and compassion are spot-on. Good discussion.