For such a long time being a Catholic in this country meant you were also a Dem. It was simply part of your upbringing. I was brought up that way but there was this man in the White House named Reagan at the time. No matter how many bad things I heard about him on a daily basis I couldn't bring myself to hate him. When I said is was a Republican as a kid most members of my family thought I'd grow out of it. They just didn't understand.
B/c as the German and Italian immigrants got off the boats at Ellis Island, Democrat precinct workers signed them up, and also gave them basic assistance they sorely needed.