President Obama’s support among Catholic voters has surged since June, according to a new poll, despite a summer that included the Catholic bishops’ religious freedom campaign and the naming of Rep. Paul Ryan, a Catholic, as the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate.On June 17, Obama held a slight edge over Mitt Romney among Catholics (49-47 percent), according to the Pew Research Center. Since then, Obama has surged ahead, and now leads 54-39 percent, according to a Pew poll conducted on Sept. 16.
Poll: Obama surges ahead among Catholic voters
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President Obama’s support among Catholic voters has surged since June, according to a new poll, despite a summer that included the Catholic bishops’ religious freedom campaign and the naming of Rep. Paul Ryan, a Catholic, as the GOP’s vice-presidential candidate.On June 17, Obama held a slight edge over Mitt Romney among Catholics (49-47 percent), according to the Pew Research Center. Since then, Obama has surged ahead, and now leads 54-39 percent, according to a Pew poll conducted on Sept. 16.
Among all registered voters, Obama leads Romney 51-42 percent, according to Pew.
Obama and Romney are essentially tied among white Catholics, which some pollsters call the ultimate swing group.
On Monday (Sept. 24) Romney unveiled his Catholics for Romney Coalition, which includes numerous politicians, beer magnate Pete Coors and Princeton University intellectual Robert P. George. The Obama campaign also has a Catholic coalition.
From June 21-July 4, the U.S. Catholic bishops held a “Fortnight for Freedom,” with Masses, prayer groups and presentations in dozens of dioceses nationwide. The campaign was directed in part against an Obama administration mandate that requires some religious institutions, such as colleges and hospitals, to provide cost-free contraception coverage to employees.
John C. Green, an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron in Ohio, said Obama’s surge among Catholic voters does not mean the bishops’ campaign was ineffective. But religious freedom is not the most salient issue for Catholics during an election dominated by economic concerns, he said.
“It’s not the issue that most middle-of-the-road Catholics are responding to,” Green said. [more]
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46 Comments
Please, please open your eyes, your heart, your common sense and let your spirit talk to you. How can you turn your back on what this man and his crew are doing to the Church and the peach of this earth. We are in deep trouble and need serious votes to staunch the bleeding.
I am tired of those who say that: “By supporting the Democrat party, one turns their back on the Catholic church’s teachings and “endorse abortion.” I’m also tire of those who say that Obama is the biggest pro-abortion president ever…” . Two comments: 1) voting democratic is not an endorsement to abortion. For that matter, voting either way is not an endorsement to “Pro-life!” Abortion is NOT prolife; war is NOT prolife; capital punishment is NOT prolife; genocide is NOT prolife; etc. PRO-LIFE IS RESPECT FOR ALL LIFE: Womb to Tomb!!! The Catechism says that we must respect ALL forms of life equally – not one more than another! 2) my second comment is blaming and naming Obama a pro-abortionist.” I don’t believe ANYONE is really pro-abortion either – including Obama. He is PRO-CHOICE. If he were pro-abortion, he would NOT have those 2 beautiful daughters of his. A PRO-ABORTIONIST would be one who conceives children for the SOLE reason of aborting them. Of those who have aborted their babies, I sincerely doubt that they INTENTIONALLY got pregnant so that they would/could have an abortion!! They were faced with a choice, and for whatever their circumstances were, they chose to abort; they didn’t start with this choice when they got pregnant.
I am Catholic, and I voted for Obama, and will vote again for Obama. Yet, I am ANTI-abortion, by the way. I am NOT turning my back on the Church’s teachings. I followed the DNC and The RNC and listened with an open heart and mind. I heard Sr Campbell at the DNC; it was all Gospel-based. If the Gospel is NOT Church teaching, then the Catholic Church is on the wrong track. (For those who would argue with me, I beg you to listen to her on YouTube say that she ‘agrees with the Bishops’ and she actually promotes ‘prolife’ – (YouTube video at 4:49)
Last, but not least, those who are “anti-Obama” have expected him to get rid of the legalization of abortion, but tend to forget that ABORTION BECAME LEGAL WHEN THE REPUBLICANS HELD OFFICE!! I never saw the Bush’s attempt to get rid of the Roe Vs Wade Law…
The CINO’s need to be honest with themselves and God and just leave and join a protestant church. They will fit in so much better over there. As Cardinal Ratzinger once said, better a smaller faithful church than a huge unfaithful one. (paraphrase)
Marty, I totally agree. The republican Catholics are faux Protestants anyway.
All I can say is, it is very sad what passes for a Catholic these days…
I agree, Jeff — it’s disgusting.
Better than the alternative!
A killer of over a million babies a year is better than the alternative? What is the alternative — a monster from space? And you claim to care about the vulnerable and weak — there is none more vulnerable and weak than a baby in the womb. You are blind.
Jim you just don’t get it.
Passing a law to make abortions illegal does not stop abortions.
Why do you want to make abortions illegal?
Denis you are correct, abortion is something you can’t legislate in our society and our culture.
Hasn’t any one figured out that birth control is a choice of individuals that they can forgo. Taxation is not.
To gregg Smith, Of the 47& that Romney spoke about, He is correct that half of them want to stay on free assistence and will not consider him for President. Of course the goverment must care for those that really need help. I am a certified subtance abuse counselor for 25 years. I work with the poor. Ther are a percentage that after leaving detox will tell me, “I’ll see you next month.” What me go to AA/NA MEETING? Are you crazy? My main man Obama is going to take care of me. Vs. the person who will go to after care, AA/NA and enter society again.
Hi joseph.
The 47 % breakdown is:
Working Poor – 35%
Elderly – 10%
Other – 2%
__________________
Total – 47%
You said:
“half of them want to stay on free assistence”
That would be over 23% and Other is only 2%. Are you referring to all of the Elderly and some of the Working Poor?
Peggy, the unborn being killed by the Obama administration are powerless indeed. They aren’t given the option of being poor.
And just how, pray tell, is Obama killing babies! Roe v Wade passed some time in the 70′s if my memory serves me correctly. The stupidity of such statements never ceases to amaze me.
I am a faithful, church going Catholic with intelligent “faith seeking understanding”. When confronted with the thorny conflict between the church’s teaching on reproductive rights and its teaching on social justice in politics, I must make a prudential judgement about what is realistically best given our pluralistic society. I choose Obama, even though I disagree with some of his positions, because of his emphasis on social justice and solidarity with the powerless.
How can one defend Obama’s defense of the powerless when he advocates abortion and infanticide? This is social justice? One has to be kidding, right? How about the intrinsic evil of murder for that is what it is in spite of all the camouflaging rhetoric and slandering of opponents as heartless and materialistic.
Hi Elinor.
You must be confused.
I don’t know anybody that advocates for abortion and infanticide.
I do know you can’t legislate morality. Look at the “War on Drugs”.
Casting your vote based on a candidate’s position on abortion is just an excuse.
You can legislate poverty. Ryan’s budget based on Ayn Rand’s Objectivism philosophy clearly runs counter to Catholic social teaching. His approach falls heavily on the backs of the needy and disabled.
I’m not at all confused, Dennis. You have no idea why I am casting my vote for the arguments that you voice repeatedly are not mine. You have no right to make myopic assumptions as far as I am concerned. This administration is diametrically opposed to my values for so many reasons that I do not have time to type here and I do not suffer from any confusion which I am sure you would like to believe….not so. Look up prudential judgments and enlighten yourself.
Elinor you clearly stated that Obama “advocates abortion and infanticide”.
Are you sticking with that or am I confused?
You are confused. Look up Obama’s record while he was in the Illinois Senate. I will stick to my argument. He has a history of making it very available and if that isn’t advocating, I don’t know what is. The buck stops at his feet…..Don’t continue to join with the media and support this “teflon” man.
Elinor.
In my entire life I have never met anybody that was for abortion and/or infanticide.
In fact, you are the first person I have encountered that has the capacity see where one could be for abortion and infanticide.
I don’t expect any real facts to back up your beliefs.
It is sad that you have such a low opinion of another human being.
Look up how supportive Romney was of Roe V Wade in the ’90. But he hs flipped flopped before on abortion and no doubt will flip flop again.
“No doubt”? Give me a break, Tony — complete and utter speculation on your part.
Hi Tony,
I always had faith that “no true Catholic” (take off of “no true Scotsman”) could shove it to the poor and disabled.
Notice you still try to communicate with Jim. Must be a step towards sainthood.
It’s his opinion and yes, it is very sad. He said while campaigning the first go-around the he “wouldn’t want his daughter to be “punished” with a baby if she made a “mistake.” That at the same time would be a grandchild for him. He also rescinded the Mexican Agreement that was signed by the previous administration to stop the US from paying for abortions in other countries. Anyone who knowingly votes pro-choice gives tacit approval of abortion….even though “they wouldn’t do it themselves….It just doesn’t speak otherwise. Take off the blinders. It is what it is.
Elinor I am not much of an abortion issue kind of guy – for many reasons. Not the least of which is because I am male. Any male who thinks they can relate to the anguish a woman must go through when faced with this decision is an idiot.
I do think that anyone that wants to reduce the number of abortions would want to create a program to attract women in this position. Helping someone know all the pro-life options would be a lot more effective than making abortions illegal.
Just my opinion.
Dennis — what about the anguish a baby feels when they are sucked out of the uterus? I think we can guess what they feel.
No I don’t think you can Jim.
There is tons of information out there, the pro-aborts just don’t want to hear it.
The Bishops of the USA have proven themselves ineffective, and non-perseuasive. Very few people care what they say and or what they do. If they would start living like real disciples of the Lord and more like humble shepherds, instead of little Lords and kings looking for power and control, more of us would listen to them.
Instead of being so intent on “killing the messengers” perhaps what is being said is of value to our moral conscience. We are still responsible as “priestly people by our baptism” to stand up for the truth in spite of all. Even stopped clocks are right twice a day.
Hi Tony,
Nice to see you are still trying to inject some sanity into this blog.
Speaking of sanity, or lack thereof – I can’t wait to point out to Jim that I was right about most Catholics rejecting Romney and Ryan.
Hey Jim, YOU WERE WRONG!
Thanks, Dennis, I love you too.
Hey look, I am well aware that most Catholics vote in the wrong direction — it just goes to show you that most Catholics are CINO cafeteria-Catholics who have been poorly catechized.
Hey Jim, glad you never stop rambling.
But you must admit, my humble Catholic upbringing seems more in touch with the Catholic Ethos than your Catholic experience/education.
Dennis — FYI, my family always voted Democrat, and I did too until my conversion. 1992 was the first year I voted Republican — for George Bush and against Bill Clinton. Also, I literally was raised in a housing project, and my family literally never owned a car at any point — and in fact, my parents never bought a car after my birth and before they died. Also, at times we had no phone, other times a party line. I walked to school in a bad neighborhood. So, no one can accuse me of being born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I’m not hollering at you, Dennis, I’m just trying to inform you of my background, yet I now always vote Republican, as I can’t vote for a man that favors the gas chambers for over a million babies a year. Mr. 666 twice or three times voted against legislation in IL that would have required a baby that survived a saline abortion to be resuscitated.
Jim, we have a lot in common. I lived in a place with no hot water or indoor toilets.
And we have nothing in common with Mitt (unless you made a bundle). So what tangible benefit do you get from his policies.
And even if you agree with his policies what is the reason for the slap in the face with the tax cuts for the wealthy?
Being strongly pro-life and holding that the vote for a party that holds abortion (an intrinsic evil)and life issues in jeopardy is very much against my sensibilities. And stop perpetuating the falsehood that the GOP candidate is for abortion. We cannot in reality equate intrinsic evils with prudential judgments. I suppose if one keeps repeating falsehoods it somehow rings true to un-grounded individuals….kind of like brain-washing the masses.
Of particular interest to me is that the country is all up in arms because of a referee’s wrong judgment call in a football game and little outrage is spent on the fact that this same administration who supposedly cares so much for the country is willing to deceive its people in not speaking the truth about the 9/11 terrorist attack resulting in the deaths of an ambassador and three American heroes
in Libya….but then maybe some have not heard about that yet….it’s all about your priorities, I guess.
Unfortunately we get the government we deserve and it is still unfortunate that all people have to live with the votes of the ignorant if they are in the majority.
The Catholic women of this country have decided to ignore the bishops’ teachings and mandates on contraception. It would be even more logical for Catholic women and their husbands and children to ignore the bishops’ public predilection and preference for the GOP candidate, eh, what’s-his-name?
We Catholics who wish to have ouR government uphold our values need to vote in November – yes, against the economy and unemployed, but must also hold in our hearts when we vote, the Sanctity of life and Religious freedom. Read about how the Germans overtook Austria easily once they took away religious freedom in the book MY BROTHER THE POPE.
I respect your integrity, Strong Catholic — and I have good news for you. A vote for Romney will help the poor much more than a vote for Mr. 666.
Mr. 666? LOL, you repuglicans just crack me up. Our current President is the one who is real and can relate to the average human being. Mitsy cannot!
Obama surging ahead? Get real!
I am reminded of how difficult it is to remain truly Catholic and what a challenge it is to be informed and educated and catechized in the faith. It truly makes my heart ache to see people with very worthwhile intentions so manipulated. Many are called…….It is not easy in these times to not be persuaded when there is so much out there to do so. And then this very comment will be met with animosity….
The reality is as I continue to stress, that75% of Catholics are Catholics in name only. They are liberal and feed into Obama’s mindset of socialism and do your own thing. The Bishops efforts was effective to only 25% of active catholic. Of the 25% of active catholics half are voting forb Obama.
Joseph ~ I guess if Romney can write off 47% of the American voters one can write off 75% of the American Catholics. Somehow, I don’t believe either is a good idea.