Well, I suppose that would give different numbers for the Catholic vote if your suggestion was followed.
Don’t count the Catholics that vote democrat, and do count people that have left the Catholic church and become Evangelical Protestants.
I think the real purpose of studying how people vote, is to do it as it is done today, people want to know how Catholics vote, and how Evangelicals vote, how Jews vote, women, and so on.
All I am looking for is a little intellectual honesty. Facts are stubborn things and no matter how badly you want the facts to corroborate your prejudices you can't situationally change the definitions mid-argument for convenience and maintain any credibility. You cannot count nonpracticing Catholics who vote Democrat as Catholics when you don't count nonpracticing Catholics who vote conservative as non-Catholics.
Peace be with you.