CATHOLIC DEMOCRATS & ISSUES IN THE 2004 ELECTIONS

In June 2004, Catholics for a Free Choice commissioned a survey of Catholic voters from Belden Russonello & Stewart. The survey included 2,239 Catholics who are likely voters, including an oversample of Hispanic Catholics (366 total Hispanics). Detailed below are findings on where Democratic Catholics stand on social issues and the 2004 Election.

Who are Democratic Catholics?

Democratic Catholics are more likely to be female (56%), and either between the ages of 40-49 (24%) or over 60 (26%). Ninety-two percent report being born in the United States; 72% are white, 20% are Hispanic/Latino, and 5% are Black/African American. Sixty percent are married. Democratic Catholics are equally distributed geographically in the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. Fifty-one percent of Democratic Catholics earn less than $50,000 annually, with 22% making less than $30,000. Forty-nine percent of Catholics in general earn less than $50,000. About a third (36%) of Democratic Catholics has a 4-year college or advanced degree, which is about the same as all Catholics (37%), while 39% have a high school education or less, compared to 28% of all Catholics.

A third of Democratic Catholics are politically active; 36% have volunteered for, donated to, or contacted a political official or candidate. More than half (52%) favor giving economic assistance to other countries.

Thirty-six percent of Democratic Catholics attend Mass at least once a week, compared to 39% of all Catholics; 52% report going to church a few times a year and 12% never go to church. Among all Catholics, 36% attend Mass a few times a year and 11% never go to church.

Democratic Catholics and Abortion
The majority of Democratic Catholics call themselves “prochoice” rather than “prolife,” and a majority believes that abortion should be legal.

Do you generally think of yourself as prolife or prochoice on abortion?

	Prolife	Prochoice
All Catholics	45%	53%
Democrats	32%	67%
Republicans	61%	37%
Independents	43%	54%

 

Do you agree or disagree that it should be legal for a woman to have an abortion?

	Agree	Disagree
All Catholics	61%	38%
Democrats	73%	26%
Republicans	47%	53%
Independents	66%	33%

 

Democratic Catholics and Stem Cell Research
Catholics of all political affiliations support stem cell research.

Do you support or oppose allowing scientists to use stem cells obtained from very early human embryos to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and Parkinson’s?

	Support	Oppose
All Catholics	72%	26%
Democrats	79%	20%
Republicans	66%	23%
Independents	73%	26%

Democratic Catholics and Tax Cuts
Catholics of all political affiliations support canceling some of the federal tax cuts and using the money to shore up social services.

Do you support or oppose canceling some of the federal tax cuts and using the money to protect Social Security and improve Medicare? To improve public education?

	To protect Social Security and improve Medicare?		To improve public education?
	Support	Oppose	Support	Oppose
All Catholics	74%	26%	68%	31%
Democrats	89%	11%	70%	29%
Republicans	55%	45%	51%	49%
Independents	80%	20%	85%	15%

 

Democratic Catholics and Presidential Choice
In June 2004, the total Catholic vote was divided evenly between President George Bush and Senator John Kerry. Both candidates enjoyed a large margin of partisan support. Independent voters were split between the two candidates, and 30% remained undecided.

If the presidential election were held today, would you vote for the Republican President George W. Bush, the Democrat John Kerry, or are you undecided?

	Bush	Kerry	Undecided
All Catholics	40%	40%	18%
Democrats	8%	76%	15%
Republicans	80%	10%	10%
Independents	31%	35%	30%

Democratic Catholics, Bishops and Communion
Four percent of Democratic Catholics report that the bishops’ views are “very important” in determining who to vote for, while 73% say they are “not very” or “not at all important.” Catholics of all political affiliations do not believe that there is a religious obligation for either Catholic voters or politicians to vote a certain way, nor do the majority of all subgroups think bishops should deny communion to prochoice Catholics or prochoice Catholic politicians.

Do you believe voters who are Catholic have a religious obligation to vote against candidates who support legal abortion? Do you believe politicians who are Catholic have a religious obligation to vote on issues the way Catholic bishops recommend?

	Religious obligation for voters?		Religious obligation for politicians?
	Yes	No	Yes	No
All Catholics	24%	74%	16%	83%
Democrats	20%	78%	9%	90%
Republicans	39%	58%	24%	74%
Independents	12%	87%	13%	86%

 

Do you approve or disapprove of Catholic bishops denying communion to Catholics who support abortion? To politicians who are Catholic and support legal abortion?

	Catholics		Catholic Politicians
	Approve	Disapprove	Approve	Disapprove
All Catholics	22%	76%	20%	78%
Democrats	10%	89%	9%	90%
Republicans	37%	60%	34%	63%
Independents	18%	79%	15%	83%

 

For more information, visit www.catholicvote.net; or contact the Public Policy department at Catholics for a Free Choice, (202) 986 6093; or email publicpolicy@catholicsforchoice.org.

Catholics for a Free Choice is a non-partisan organization. We do not support or oppose candidates for public office. The poll is an educational tool whose sole purpose is to educate opinion leaders about Catholic attitudes toward social and policy issues.