The white (non-Hispanic) Catholic electorate is split right now on the presidential election:
Obama 49
McCain 41
Just after the party conventions, McCain was ahead with this group. Pollsters pay attention to this group as a group because it appears volatile. But it isn't, really. What this change means is that "Catholic" is not a voting bloc any more. The very fact that they have to report Anglo and Hispanic Catholics separately shows the cracks in Catholic as a political identity.
What they should show is liberal/progressive Catholics vs. conservative/traditional Catholics. I expect the former would go strongly for Obama, and the latter for McCain. The closest comparison we do have for traditional Catholics are evangelical Protestants, who go three-to-one for McCain.
I believe the election of John Kennedy normalized Catholics in politics at all levels. As a result, Catholics are no longer an electoral bloc, but are divided by ideological and economic issues, just as Protestants are.
I believe the election of Barack Obama will eventually have a similar effect for African Americans. Right now, the black vote is overwhelmingly Democratic. In fact, black Americans support the Democratic presidential candidates at higher rates than all registered Democrats do. In this election, not surprisingly, the black vote for Obama is likely to be above 90%, and black turnout will probably be the highest ever.
Twenty years from now, though, the black vote may be more divided between the parties. African American voters are likely to vote their ideology and economic interests. There will be more black Republican candidates, probably small government, anti-affirmative action, pro-life evangelicals. I pick twenty years because that is how long it took the Kennedy Catholic bloc to split into progressive Catholic Democrats and Reagan Democrats.
The Catholic bloc is no longer a bloc. Perhaps twenty years from now President Obama will mean that, ironically, the black bloc is no longer a bloc, either.
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When is the black version of Vatican II scheduled, and who will officiate?
Two years from now. Bill Cosby. Or Morgan Freeman.
The white (non-Hispanic) Catholic electorate is split right now on the presidential election:
Obama 49
McCain 41
Most studies show that Catholics who attend mass regularly are much more conservative than those who call themselves Catholic but attend mass rarely or not at all.
Our bishop regularly informs us on issues that help us when choosing candidates. Those Catholics who don't attend mass will probably lean toward Obama.
This does sound about right from what I observe in my fellow Catholics.
However, Bubba is also correct in differentiating between practicing and non-practicing Catholics.
I think one reason people are tempted to continue seeing Catholics as a voting bloc is because of the abortion issue and bishops' outspoken opposition to pro-choice candidates. They have urged parishioners to disregard all other issues and vote solely based on candidates' stances on abortion. Non-practicing and/or liberal Catholics are less likely to hear these messages and less likely to agree that a single-issue-voting approach is appropriate.
Of course this election cycle black voters also seem to be single issue voters.
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