A Look at American Catholics and LGBT Issues in 2008
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Executive Summary
Catholics in the American Religious Marketplace
Catholics are the single largest denomination in the United States, accounting for about a quarter (24%) of the adult population and a slightly larger portion of the American electorate (26%).
More than 1-in-10 Americans are former Catholics, people who were raised in the faith but who now profess a different religious affiliation or no affiliation at all. Nearly one-third (31%) of all Americans were raised Catholic.
Despite losing a significant number of adherents the Catholic share of the U.S. population has held fairly steady over the last three decades due to high Catholic affiliation among recent immigrants; nearly half (46%) of all immigrants coming to the U.S. are Catholic.
Catholics as a Swing Constituency in Politics
Catholics are perhaps the most important swing constituency in national elections. Catholics have been transitioning over the last four decades from a solid Democratic group to a swing constituency.
Catholics are an important bellwether constituency. Over the past decade, every presidential candidate who won the Catholic vote has won the popular vote.
In 2008, Democratic candidate Barack Obama is poised to do well among Catholics. Currently, Catholic registered voters are supporting Obama over John McCain 52% to 41%.
Catholic Views on LGBT Justice Issues
By a margin of 2 to 1, Catholics say that homosexuality should be accepted by society (58% compared to only 30% who believe it ought to be discouraged by society). In the general population, only a bare majority believes homosexuality should be accepted by society.
While only 43% of Catholics currently support marriage equality, for the last decade Catholics have consistently exhibited lower levels of opposition to same-sex marriage than Americans overall.
A sizable majority (60% of Catholics under the age of 30 say they favor same-sex marriage compared to just a quarter of Catholics age 65 or older. Interestingly, young Catholics are even more supportive of same-sex marriage than young people overall (60% to 53% respectively).
More than two-thirds of Catholics believe in key aspects of family recognition: that gay and lesbian couples in long-term committed relationships should have the same rights as married couples in the areas of hospital visitation, health insurance and pension coverage.