 |
|
|
|
 Obama has substantially widened his lead among Catholic voters since June, the Pew poll found.
September 27th, 2012
11:24 AM ET
Pew poll: Obama opens up lead over Romney among CatholicsBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama has opened up a significant lead among Catholic voters, a crucial swing voting bloc, according to a recent Pew poll. Obama leads opponent Mitt Romney among Catholic voters by 54% to 39%, according to the survey, conducted from September 12 to 16 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Obama’s lead in the Pew survey comes despite outspoken recent criticism of the Obama administration from America’s Catholic bishops and despite Mitt Romney’s selection of a Catholic running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan. The survey was released last week, but the findings on Catholic voters were highlighted this week by the Religion News Service, which notes that Obama held a much tighter 49-47% lead over Romney among Catholics in a June Pew poll. John Green, a religion and politics expert at the University of Akron, said Obama’s gains among Catholic came from growing support among Hispanic and black Catholic voters, but also from white Catholics, among whom Obama is now tied with Romney. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter “That’s the part of the poll that I think is kind of surprising,” Green said, noting that Obama lost white Catholics in 2008, even as he won the overall Catholic vote. Green said that it is white Catholics who were most likely to be receptive to the bishops’ recent attacks against the Obama administration over what the church says is the White House’s curtailment of religious freedom. In its recent “Fortnight for Freedom,” campaign, the church urged American priests to denounce the administration’s requirement that health insurance companies provide free contraception coverage to employees, even if those employees work for Catholic organizations that oppose contraception. “The bishops were hoping those efforts would bring more moderate and liberal Catholics, not necessarily for Romney but against the administration’s position,” Green said. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories John Allen, CNN’s chief Vatican analyst, noted that at least one other recent national poll gave Romney a slight lead among Catholics, and that Romney leads among Catholics who attend Mass each week. “That either shows that the more practicing you are, the more pro-Romney (or anti-Obama) you are,” Allen said in an e-mail message, “or it says something about the political message Catholics are getting in their parishes these days.” Catholic voters, who accounted for more than a quarter of the electorate in the 2008 election, have voted with the winning presidential candidate in every election going back to the early 1990s. In 2008, Obama beat John McCain among Catholics by 54% to 45%. In 2004, John Kerry - the first Catholic nominee for president since John F. Kennedy - lost the Catholic vote to George W. Bush, provoking Democrats to take Catholic outreach more seriously. Both major parties had America’s highest-profile Catholic cleric, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, give the closing prayer at their recent political conventions. The Democratic Convention also featured a Catholic nun who led a “nuns on the bus" tour attacking the federal budget that Ryan designed in his role as chairman of the House Budget Committee. The Obama and Romney campaigns have both rolled out Catholic outreach efforts in recent days, and the Romney camp has highlighted Ryan’s Catholicism. “A faithful Catholic, Paul believes in the worth and dignity of every human life,” Romney said when he introduced Ryan as his running mate last month. soundoff (1,503 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next »
Next entry »Pastor: Romney should talk social issues
« Previous entryBelief Blog's Morning Speed Read for Thursday, September 27
|
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
People of faith, consider the vicious and ignorant attacks on religion in these comments, plus the fact that nobody really disputes that the Obama administration's HHS mandate violates the First Amendment. If freedom of religion matters to you, don't vote for Obama, the Harvard Law grad who intentionally abrogates the First Amendment.
Your statements are in error. NO church has to provide any birth control for any woman. You all have the right to remain in the tenth century for as long as you like; however, that does not mean that women who work for your ancient cult should have to remain in that century. Just because the INSURANCE company now has to provide women's healthcare, you get your witch burning rears in a twist. People need to STOP using religion to make political decisions. Religion does NOT control our government, there is a reason for separation of church and state.
its easier to worship Jesus than it is to follow him.
Too true – is that a quote or your own observation?
Actually, I find it easier to prove he never existed than to worship or follow him...
It is easy to follow Jesus; just do not do unfair or unkind things. Now is a good time to start. And yes, conceiving children you cannot support, supporting wars you do not understand (or at least have reason you think you understand) and similar are unkind. It is the ministers and the interpretation they put on the gospels which are hard (impossible) to follow. No just person is going to burn in hell check your Bible.
As a former Catholic, and having liberated myself from the mental bondage imposed by organized religion with the realization that orthodoxy is not needed in order to believe in a Universal Intelligence, I yearn for the day when societal thinking will be based upon reason and logic instead of upon senseless prescribed dogma with its underlying prejudices. My vote is for Obama!!
Each of them claimed to follow Jesus Christ....they certainly believed they were as Christian as you...maybe more. See how you can game your own mind? Atheist's have a better grasp on life than some that follow a cult.
And you think you know what you're talking about. They were as mistaken as you are.
Hey, they put Marion Berry back in office, after being caught on tape. Obama's no different. Communist-leaning prolific pot smoker and all. Remember, to them it's all about "400 years." Nothing else, absolutely nothing else matters. Zero intelligence.
Polar Bear, YOU are an IDIOT! What you just said is factually inacurate, not to mention racist and just FAR RIGHT!
Once those Catholics got a look at the Book of Mormon-it was SAYONARA MUCHACHO!
Catholics do not read religious texts, they hire priests to correctly interpret the word of God. Romney / Ryan 2012
Unbelievable! Jews will vote for him even though he is the most unfriendly President to Israel in memory, blacks will vote for him even though they are worse off than four years ago, and now Catholics are giving the nod to one of the most liberal, pro-abortion proponents ever. We've gone down the rabbit hole.
It is a dog and pony show, all smoke and mirrors come January it will be President Romney and Obama will be passing out flyers for qu eer marriage in a Chicago blizzard. Romney / Ryan 2012
It appears that everyone is stupid except you, Polar Bear. Please, show us the way....
You have one thing right, YOU are definately living in Wonderland. I can't help but wonder what you are smoking? Obama has supported Isreal on all fronts, just because he refuses to bomb Iran, does not mean he has not supported Isreal. How has Isreal been harmed under Obama? Really? I hate to tell you but the last four years have not been enough to undo the Bush Years, and NO PRESIDENT, not Republican nor Democrat would have fixed that mess in four years. You are obviously a racist idiot, so any statement you make about African Americans has ZERO weight.
Not all Jews are Zionists like those who dominate Israel. Land stealing and persecuting minorities is not Jewish.
Qu eer closet, for immediate occupancy Nov. 7 2012. Romney / Ryan 2012
I am catholic and will vote for Obama. As the bible teaches to give to the Poor and it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Romney & company will not enter the Kingdom of God. The Abortion issue is simple. If you don't like it do not have one. Stop Judging others! Only God Judges! Obama & Jesus would help those who are sick with Healthcare. Not the Selfish, Self proclaimed Catholics who talk but only do evil deeds. Go OBAMA!
Uh, Obama's not poor and Obamacare will not do what you think it will. And as far as abortion, judge harshly. God judges one's soul, people are supposed to judge others behavior.
Very interesting thoughts and as a Catholic I am disappointed that you do not hold to one of our core principle teachings which is preservation of life. Also, you are a deficient in another practice which is to help thy neighbor, protect the innocence.
To use the scripture passage of the camel and the eye of the needle was weak. If you were a good Catholic and knew your scriptures you should have come up somethng better than that.
It was interesting how you condemned your fellow Catholics who do not agree with your abstract view of take only what you want and not live the word of Jesus.
I smell a poe
Terrorists that won’t be bothering the U.S. thanks to Barack Obama
Osama bin Laden.
Anwar al-Awlaki – Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Abu Hafs al-Shahri – al Qaeda’s chief of Pakistan operations,
Atiyah ‘Abd al-Rahman, the deputy leader of al Qaeda.
Ilyas Kashmiri,
Ammar al-Wa’ili,
Abu Ali al-Harithi,
Ali Saleh Farhan
Al-Qa’ida
Harun Fazul.
Younis al-Mauritani.
Baitullah Mahsud.
Noordin Muhammad
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan.
Saleh al-Somali
‘Abdallah Sa’id
Abdul Ghani Beradar
Muhammad Haqqani
Qari Zafar
Hussein al-Yemeni
Dulmatin
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.
Sheik Saeed al-Masri
Hamza al-Jawfi.
Terrorists that won't be bothering America thanks to Mitt Romney
Obama
Biden
Romney / Ryan 2012
Guess he missed the ones in Libya who killed our ambassador.
Silly people (example of) whose votes will be wasted: Ronald Regonzo
@john
Au contraire johnny on election day I'll be seeing that millions of deceased Republicans will not be denied their rightful votes. One vote? Don't make us laugh. Romney / Ryan 2012
report abuse on worthless troll
There are religious fanatics in every religion that I've known in my life time. Our own Christianity had Rev. Jim Jones, Tim McVeigh, David Karesh, John Birch, Brigham Young, and countless others over time....We all have been taught that the creator has imprinted knowledge of good and evil in our hearts and given us a brain so that we could recognize the difference. We must decide if our own actions and beliefs reflect a deity that we wish to follow. All of our religions 'claim to come straight from the Bible, or word of God...those who follow "us" are going to some kind of heaven, while the rest of "them" are doomed to ???. The other cults use this same tactic in their teachings. This way of thinking allows us to judge and hate others that are not of our same beliefs...to the extreme point of killing the infidels. All of these teachings warn us of false prophets and tell us that many will be fooled in the end times. It is up to the individual to separate truth from fiction, good from evil, and choose a path they are willing to defend when they are judged.
BTW: I think God reserves that right to do judgement...except we can't trust him to judge women harsh enough for abortion, so we'll take care of that for him! These phonies cannot even follow their own beliefs.
All those you mentioned were not Christians.
@truthbetold
By YOUR definition...probably not. You may wish to look up Commandment #9 yourself.
By any definition, by Gods definition, by the Bibles definition. None of your usual suspects were Christians.
Each of them claimed to follow Jesus Christ....they certainly believed they were as Christian as you...maybe more. See how you can game your own mind? Atheist's have a better grasp on life than some that follow a cult.
They and you are wrong.
While it is possible to find some Catholics that would support Obama, it is possible to find almost any viewpoint represented by some Catholic somewhere. Reality check says not to worry. When the const itution is hanging by a thread a Mormon on a white horse will appear and save America restoring the USA to righteousness and goodness. Tea with that anyone? Romney / Ryan 2012
He was obviously very proud of the temple, which was indeed an awesome 20 million dollar structure (in 1970 dollars!) of white, glistening marble. He shared with me that very few knew what was on the fifth floor of the temple. I asked him what was up there, because even worthy temple LDS were not allowed on that floor.
He told me that there was a council room up there which was an exact replica of the Oval Office of the White House. He told me they even had all the radio and telemetry equipment in place, hidden beneath a dome on top of the temple. He said that from this council room, the prophet could run the nation just as easily as he could from the White House itself. He also claimed that these electronic devices on the roof were so strong that airlines had to avoid flying right over the temple or their instruments might be thrown off.
I cannot vouch for the truthfulness of this story. But Mormons normally do not lie, and this man seemed genuinely proud of this achievement – the setting up of a shadow “White House” within the confines of one of Mormonism's holiest sanctuaries.
I share this partly because it illustrates what LDS truly believe to be the destiny of their religion in this land. Just the very fact that this priesthood holder chose to share this story says volumes about the LDS view of their destiny. Whether the story is accurate or not, it shows that this man, who was in charge of protecting our president, believed that Mormons would one day rule the US (and thence the world) from the Washington temple.
Right now, many of them believe Mitt Romney is their best and brightest hope for achieving that end. Would you really want a man in the White House who honestly believes he can become a god?? (14)
A sitter (Places People) in Ohio at Mr. Romney's Rally, saw a African American man "Ted Siddle" and told him he could sit in the front row.
The man said thanks I will after my wife gets back from the bathroom.
A little while later the man was talking with two white women on either side of him.
The sitter came and apologized, those seats were already reserved, and if they wouldn't mind sitting in the back row. Mr. Siddle noted the seats remained empty for the remainder of the speech !
You've been playing D & D or Nintendo way too long to have any concept of reality. I'd bet you are using Mommy's computer too.
@ Meggie H (and everyone else):
snip
"Would you really want a man in the White House who honestly believes he can become a god??"
ABSOLUTELY NOT. In fact, my vote in this election is not a vote FOR someone....it'll be a vote AGAINST Romney.
I am Catholic and I would not vote for a muslim.....and for what he stands for ...after he was elected I could not believe what was coming out of his mouth...he is stealing money from medicare to pay for HIS obamacare,,,,he kept his life ,of what we know of it, a secret ...if people knew about his past he would never got elected!
Why should anyone care what a pagan saint-worshipper thinks, ruth?
There is no Muslim running. I feel sorry for your inability to accept the truth. Obama is a Christian and Romney is a Mormon. If you were were following the Catholic bible, you would know that it is a sin to question another person's faith. Also Jesus would support the affordable healthcare act.
Whoever calls Obama a Muslim isn't very observant.
Everyone seems to forget that Obama is politically far to the left of Ted Kennedy, if that is even possible. I am tired of extremists from both parties and would love to see a moderate candidate run. Unfortunately, several moderate congressmen/woman and Senators have retired instead of putting up with the crap going on in Washington. It is time to take our Government back! Don;t vote for Romney or Obama. Neither is worthy of being President of this country!
Yeah the rug burns on his forehead are caused by repeated slips on the oval office rug. Romney / Ryan 2012
So, which candidate is Muslim? (hint: neither) And which candidate wants to "take money from Medicare" ? (hint: both, but one wants to radically change it) It's sad when people don't learn and think for themselves. Good luck to you.
I caught you! That's not a Catholic thing to say. For sure you are not Catholic .
Hey Catholics – the GOP is using you.
Hey Atheists, CNN is lying to you.
Hey Jezebel the Democrats are lying to you!
Prayer changes things .
I've noticed that most things change and can do so without intervention, supernatural or otherwise. What exactly does prayer do?
Can't you read? It changes things !
I thought Obama brought change – I mean he told me he was
I am still waiting – somebody step up
We Need Change – so whatever, who-ever has it – Please Step UP !
Before we go straight down the crapper – the change I see IS NOT the change I want to see
So YER ALL full of crap... SHOW ME !
Tom,
That is called entropy, a natural Law, and who created the natural Law :-)?
For REAL change, change that will be swift and sure, change that rewards the saints and severely punishes the sinners, Romney / Ryan 2012
Catholics generally vote democrat. Nothing to be seen here. Move on.
This is just another CNN lie. No faithful Catholic would vote for a party that promotes Abortion.
Unforturnately SouthernCelt, Impeach is correct. The Catholics have been very pro-Democrat since FDR and usually vote Democrat. It makes you wonder. Neither candidate is worthy of the position. I showed he cannot do the job, while the other has shown he truly cannot be trusted. Most Catholics only take what they want and ignore what they don't want to hear. Many of our Priests in this country also push this policy as well.
I will not vote for a person who is pro-choice, I have seen enough death in my time.
@Pedrag, REALLY, seen enough death in your lifetime, then how do you explain all the money the catholic church has versus the number of children dying from hunger in the world today? Abortions kill NO living human beings, but starvation and disease kills millions of children each year... Sure, make women have unwanted children, then let them starve to death because the Churches are against social programs for the poor, and expect the Government to do their jobs. Remember, "what you do to the least of you, you do unto me." Not my quote....
Christians are quite aware now the direction from which all the people who hate them are firing from.
It's been a wake up call, the last couple of years.
All the anti-christion God haters seam to be from the left, flying the Dem flag, and it is too obvious who their new enemies are.
How can you vote for a team that basically wants to wipe you out (and everything you stand for)
We are not only shooting ourselves in the foot with this blind arrogance, but it is suicide. They are the largest group BY FAR in the nation, hello... we are blasting our own balls off with this christian bashing – ENOUGH ALREADY !
Disagreement and criticism is NOT persecution. Wrapping yourself in the mantle of victim-hood at the drop of a hat garners you no sympathy. Only derision.
uh, midwest, yo
yer preachin to the choir and not sayin much...
Meh – guess we're even then. You've posted 8 or 9 times since I logged in, and have yet to say anything.
I'm Catholic and the choice isn't even close. It's re-electing President Obama. He's a conservative family man and takes his Christian message of doing bis best for all of us(including those least fortunate) seriously. I find nothing noble in the anti-Christian economic policies of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan that espouse some kind of power-philosophy couched in a religious veneer. As Romney himself stated: "When I was a boy I used to think that becoming rich and famous would make me happy. (laughs) Boy was I right!" Or Paul Ryan spouting the atheistic, anti-religious Ayn Rand as his guiding philosophy. How he can look anyone in the eye and square that with the compassion of Christian principles is beyond me. We are better than relegating us all to some kind of social Darwinistic game where $ are the mark of our piety.
And while others might view the abortion issue as a deal breaker, I'd venture there are plenty of Catholics out there (myself included) that do not see fertilization as the start of being "human." A more pragmatic approach, that doesn't denigrate the miracle of life, acknowledges that human development both in its physical and spiritual aspects is a progression. The current medical standards have it right. Otherwise, I would argue that pro-life advocates aren't extreme enough since life doesn't stop and start but rather is a continuum that has been unbroken for the past 3.5 billion years. Sperm and egg are not inanimate but living human parts with the potential to become human. But no one is advocating for their inviolate protection ?
Well said, 4sanity. I'm non-theist myself, but you do come across as a person of reason.
Catholicism is not a Cafeteria based faith where you pick and choose what you believe. You either accept the whole package, or call yourself Episcopalian. Life begins at conception and ends at natural death. Such has been the Church's teaching for millennia. If you don't believe that don't call yourself Catholic.
You are ignorant and uninformed. A unborn child has a heartbeat at 21 dys. Abortionis intrincically evil and if you practiced your Catholic faith you would know that. I'm tired of psuedo Catholics claiming to be Catholic. Please go somewhere else and preach your false teachings.
You call yourself a Catholic...Organic waste more like it
You are delusional, he is a family conservative man. What garbage. He is a marxist who was home schooled by his marxist mom in Mercer Island.
whatever..lol...he attacked the religion...people are not voting for him
I am a active Catholic and I am voting for President Obama!!!!!! President Obama asks himself everyday WWJD in this situation. Obama does what Jesus wants him to do and thats why he is getting my vote!
ya right...
Then you need to go to Confession! Obama and his administration promote abortion and are forcing Catholic hospitals to perform them or pay a fine, in clear violation of the 1st Amendment and our Faith. If you don't believe me ask your Priest or Bishop.
@SouthernCelt
If the hospital takes federal funds, then it's too bad for them. If they want to get into the business of services for everyone, they'd better damn well be prepared to play by the rules everyone else plays by.
Greetings HawaiiGuest,
Why would a Catholic Hospital accept Federal Funding for Abortion? Illogical argument. Obstetrics, Cardiology, Oncology and the rest of the expensive procedures yes, but abortion, no.
How can you call yourself Catholic with Obama supporting, funding and promoting abortion? Aren't 54 million abortions since 1973 in the U.S. enough for you? Abortion is not negioable in the Catholic religion. It's a moral sin for those who have an abortion and those who support it. Learn your religion or move on.
@SouthernCelt
1) By federal law, federal funds cannot be used for abortions, so that's a moot argument.
2) What abortions are being forced to be provided? Are you taking about contraception services? Because that's not abortion.
SouthernCelt is a GREAT Catholic/fundie... believe what you are told, regardless of the FACTS, and don't ask questions or seek the truth on your own, because that is aposty.