Posted on 02/03/2005 6:56:41 AM PST by ZGuy
John Kerry managed the best showing since in decades for a Democratic presidential candidate among mainline Protestants, but his failure to capture a majority of Roman Catholics — people of his own faith — gave President Bush an important advantage in last November's election, according to a new survey.
Bush's showing also improved dramatically among Hispanic Protestants, 63 percent of whom supported him in 2004 — a 31 percent gain over 2000.
The postelection phone survey of 2,730 people, conducted by the University of Akron and sponsored by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, is a close study of voting behavior and religious faith.
Among non-Hispanic Catholics, Kerry won the support of 69 percent with those with liberal or "modernist" beliefs, while 72 percent of "traditionalists" favored Bush. But importantly, 55 percent of the key swing group of "centrists" picked Bush over Kerry, who was criticized by bishops for his support of abortion rights.
The upshot: A one-time Democratic mainstay, Catholics gave Bush an overall edge of 53 percent to Kerry's 47 percent.
Overall, the mainline Protestant vote split evenly, the poll found, with a Bush decline of 10 percent from 2000 and the best showing for a Democrat since the 1960s; results before then are unclear.
Divisions between religious liberals and conservatives were even more stark than they were four years ago.
"The American religious landscape was strongly polarized in the 2004 presidential vote and more so than in 2000," concluded the team of four political scientists, led by Akron's John C. Green.
The scholars said Bush's religious constituency included Christian traditionalists in all categories, Mormons, Hispanic Protestants and religious centrists among Catholics and mainline Protestants.
Kerry's support came from black Protestants and secular Americans, followed by "modernists" among Catholics and mainline Protestants. Jews and Latino Catholics remained loyally Democratic.
Other questions focused on social issues like abortion and gay marriage, which were thought to be crucial when Nov. 2 exit polls showed "moral values" were more important to voters than Iraq (news - web sites), terrorism or the economy.
The study concluded that "social issues were quite important to the Bush vote, but a secondary factor for the electorate as a whole."
The quadrennial Akron surveys are notable for careful interviewing on respondents' precise religious affiliations and religious views and activities. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Well, duh. Kerry was pro-abortion.
He's proved that. Did you hear him the other claiming to have been shot at by the Khmer Rouge in 1968? Only if they had a time machine, the KR never hit the field until 1972.
If the GOP wants to keep it that way, we'd better start acting like we care about pro-life issues...
I do not object to a Southern Baptist commenting on Catholic matters. I try to keep it simple: All who believe that Jesus Christ paid the price to redeem us from our sins are one and the same. Denominational differences are just a bunch of crap about whether we can drink or dance! Now, I know I can't dance, but I learned that from the consensus of opinion of many women over the years, not from a priest or minister!
Full Disclosure: I am not Catholic. However, my wife and daughter are. Our local Catholic parish had 9 new voters (never voted before) most did not know each other before they joined the church and they began discussing politics after their classes (the ones required to join the church).
The Father was asked to join their discussions but he refused because he does not think it is his place to advise on who one should vote for. Anyhow they all came to the conclusion that they could not vote for Kerry based on two issues abortion and single sex marriage.
Some of the older Democrat church members were taken aback one even tried to brow beat one young lady saying she was not being true to her gender. She shot back at him that her gender did not allow her to ignore the teachings of Christ and that maybe he should reconsider his being a member of the Catholic Faith.
The snowball is rolling down the hill and it is getting bigger and bigger!
Thanks for sharing that. Kudos to the young lady. And Kudos to the Priest for recogniziing it was not his place to be a political adviser.
"All who believe that Jesus Christ paid the price to redeem us from our sins are one and the same. Denominational differences are just a bunch of crap about whether we can drink or dance!"
Actually that is a bad oversimplification and generalization. However, I do appreciate your iremic spirit. I have learned to avoid these discussions about differences, even strictly theological ones, because they just make people mad and don't change any minds. Also, I have noted that there is too much "Catholic Bashing" by Protestants and visa versa here on FR. I just don't consider it to be ediflying.
OK - what's "iremic" mean?
Both his grandma and grandpa on his father's side were Jewish. A proffesional geneologist discovered this. The family wanted it to be a secret. Kerry's grandfather commited suicide in a hotel after losing alot of money when Kerry's father was a kid. According to articles I have read Kerry's father didn't like to talk about his past. It is possible John Kerry didn't know he was half Jewish. He attended a Catholic Church growing up. I think as a kid he did do a project on his family history and learned that his grandma was probably Jewish. So people who chastise him for letting Mass. think he was your typical Irish Catholic have a point. He really doesn't have any immediate Irish ancestory.
"OK - what's "iremic" mean?"
Sorry, I misspelled it. It should be "irenic." Which means "promoting peace" or "concillatory." The opposite of irenic is polemic.
Like Boston ferinstance?
Unfortunatly, the Churches I have attended are filled with liberal nuns and gay priests.
OK, my friends, get out and convert the Latinos as soon as possible!
"Kerry, Kerry, quite Contrary,
How did Ohio go?
You made the push, to beat George Bush,
but overlooked Carl Rove!
You padded the vote, with even a goat,
and lawyers ready to rally!
But try as you may, on that given day,
fell short on the ultimate tally!!
With CBS Dan, you made your stand,
and labeled the Prez a liar!
The "Elitists" beamed as "Fahrenheit" screened,
and Teddy belched deep from the mire!!
The Media said, that you were ahead,
and winning by you, a "cinch"!
They just couldn't wait, to end the debate,
and Crown you and the "pickle-wench"!!
But from the waters of Nam, and praise of the "Cong",
Your past had the stench of a "paddy"!
After all's said and done, about who's Number One!
GW is still yo' Daddy!!!!"
What is Catholic Bashing to you? It seems to me that anyone on this site who complains about corruption in the Church of Rome is called "anti-Catholic."
"What is Catholic Bashing to you? It seems to me that anyone on this site who complains about corruption in the Church of Rome is called "anti-Catholic.""
First of all, I also said visa-versa - the bashing cuts both ways. But, to the point. I think the internal affairs of the Roman Catholic church is theirs to solve and not me as a Baptist. I expect the same in return. Generally, what I call "bashing" is spreading "pat" generalizations and stereotypes about another group.
For example folks keep "bashing" the RCs over a few perverts that have gotten into their clergy. Implying that they are all that way. In the reverse, I get tired of RCs bashing Baptist ministers, implying they are all "Elmer Gantrys." That is what I mean by bashing.
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