It’s true that non-church going Catholics voted for Obama but this is precisely why it shouldn’t be said that “Catholics voted for Obama” because this implies that true, real Catholics (the ones who obey all church teaching) also voted for him.
However as you correctly pointed out, so many who really aren’t Catholic consider themselves so, and these did indeed vote for him as well as anything “Democrat” really. Sadly the need for social justice has supplanted all other church teaching in the minds of such people. Many are also big union types.
It’s so difficult to actually demonstrate this division that I’ve given up fighting when people say “Catholics voted for Obama” because ultimately, to a non-Catholic, who’s to say they are wrong? A Catholic like me? It comes across as self-serving, ultimately, to those who are not willing to believe there can be people who claim to be Catholic to their last dying breath. But in reality are not.
Just know though, that to true Catholics the claim and the reality behind it are equally abhorrent.
Well, respectfully, I think you’re missing the point. Say, for instance, if those people only think they’re Catholic, as you say, is that their fault, or are they not getting certain truths from your church? Isn’t it the case that if Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy can be Catholics in good standing, that if they hold similar beliefs they should be able to be, too? Also, there’s your liberal, abortion-supporting nuns and people like Father Pfleger in Chicago. Like Paul wrote, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” To the Catholic Church, Nancy Pelosi is a part of the body of Christ, but Christians who believe the whole Bible and believe in the Gospel, aren’t.