>2/3 Mormons & <1/2 Catholics Republican?

[Geremia]

Why do the Mormons seem to be unified politically much more than Catholics (cf. this)? A higher percentage of them are Republican, a party more in-line with Catholic teaching on numerous issues, i.e., Republicans as a party are more against homosexual “marriages,” abortion, stem-cell research, euthanasia, contraception, big government, etc., than Democrats, whose party platform includes, inter alia, the “right” to abort one’s child. How do the Mormons unify themselves better in this regard and turn out to the polls in proportionately greater numbers than Catholics when they do not have a strong episcopal hierarchy like we Catholics do? How do the Mormons unify themselves politically? Whatever their key, we must learn from them in this way, not that the true Church Church is flawed but because all of us have original sin. Thanks

 

[Nine_Two]

Because there is a great acceptance of relativism among many Catholics that isn’t present among Mormons.

 

[Gumbercules]

Why do the Mormons seem to be unified politically much more than Catholics (cf. this)? A higher percentage of them are Republican, a party more in-line with Catholic teaching on numerous issues, i.e., Republicans as a party are more against homosexual “marriages,” abortion, stem-cell research, euthanasia, contraception, big government, etc., than Democrats, whose party platform includes, inter alia, the “right” to abort one’s child. How do the Mormons unify themselves better in this regard and turn out to the polls in proportionately greater numbers than Catholics when they do not have a strong episcopal hierarchy like we Catholics do? How do the Mormons unify themselves politically? Whatever their key, we must learn from them in this way, not that the true Church Church is flawed but because all of us have original sin. Thanks

I have been posed this question before. Why are a lot of Catholics Democrats or liberals?

The answer of course comes from American history. During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many immigrants to the United States were coming from predominantly Catholic countries such as Ireland, Italy, Croatia, and other eastern European Countries. When they came to the USA they faced moderate to severe persecution by the nativist elements in American society. They were generally poor and had to work working class jobs in industry. Because of their working conditions they formed and joined Labor Unions. The Democratic Party was the primary party that supported the labor unions, and the labor movement, hence in the early to middle 1900’s, the Democratic Party enjoyed strong Catholic support. A turning point came in 1973 when the Democratic Party championed and supported the Roe V Wade decision of the Supreme Court. Now Catholics had to choose between their religion and their political party. Should they choose the party that has always supported the rights of workers and labor unions, or should they choose the religion that remained a permanent aspect of their lives. Of course many Catholics ended up choosing their party, thereby alienating themselves from their Church, and many choose their Church, thereby alienating themselves from their Party. It has only been in the last 30 or so years that the Democratic Party has been at odds with the teachings of the Church, gay marriage being a rather new political issue. I suspect that the faithful Catholics who are true to the Church will outlast the compromising Catholics who have abandoned apostolic teaching for political convenience. And now since the Labor movement is not as big an issue as it was 60 years ago, there really is no reason for a Catholic to support or be a member of the Democratic Party.

 

[Nine_Two]

Actually up until the '60s and the Civil Rights movement, the Republicans were the party of all those things.

 

[Geremia]

Because there is a great acceptance of relativism among many Catholics that isn’t present among Mormons.

Yes, this is very true, but why? What about Mormons makes it seemingly less present among them than among us?

 

[Nine_Two]

Yes, this is very true, but why? What about Mormons makes it seemingly less present among them than among us?

Probably because the Mormon church is a bit more ever-present in the life of the average Mormon.

Then again when I was younger I had a Mormon drinking buddy… they don’t all follow the whim of Utah.

 

[Gumbercules]

Actually up until the '60s and the Civil Rights movement, the Republicans were the party of all those things.

Thats not accurate. In the late 1800’s the Democratic Party primarily supported the anti federalism of the South.

Democratic ideals shifted around the Great Depression which including New Deal style liberalism, which strong support of government intervention in the economy, labor unions, and regulations of business.

 

[Geremia]

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, many immigrants to the United States were coming from predominantly Catholic countries such as Ireland, Italy, Croatia, and other eastern European Countries. When they came to the USA they faced moderate to severe persecution by the nativist elements in American society. They were generally poor and had to work working class jobs in industry. Because of their working conditions they formed and joined Labor Unions. The Democratic Party was the primary party that supported the labor unions, and the labor movement, hence in the early to middle 1900’s, the Democratic Party enjoyed strong Catholic support. A turning point came in 1973 when the Democratic Party championed and supported the Roe V Wade decision of the Supreme Court. Now Catholics had to choose between their religion and their political party.

I thought Mormons had a similar history, too. To avoid persecution is why they moved out west. Why did the Mormons, who admire Catholic teaching on life and moral issues, especially Humanæ Vitæ, not feel forced to choose between party and religion?

 

[Gumbercules]

I thought Mormons had a similar history, too. To avoid persecution is why they moved out west. Why did the Mormons, who admire Catholic teaching on life and moral issues, especially Humanæ Vitæ, not feel forced to choose between party and religion?

I am not was well versed in Mormon history. I would gather that they were not generally amongst the members of the working class in the East and Midwest like the majority of Catholic immigrants were.

Remember that early on, the Mormons were at odds with the Republican Party, in that civil war almost broke out between the USA and the Mormons.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Catholics don’t fit neat and tidy into either party. The Republican party ignores social justice and are on the wrong side of immigration.

 

[scottm]

Catholics don’t fit neat and tidy into either party. The Republican party ignores social justice and are on the wrong side of immigration.

Yes, I was going to chime in on this. For a long time I was a Republican and thought “Democrat = un-Christian if not anti-Christian.” Eventually my scope broadened and I realized that the Republican Party tends to close its heart to the plight of hurting people. On social issues, it’s pretty much uncaring.

The Democratic Party has it’s flaws too, though. Both parties are messed up, but they are messed up on different things. How are we the voters supposed to weigh the value of one area over the value of another area?

I have no idea, so I don’t fault a Catholic for being Democrat.

 

[Vixit]

Thats not accurate. In the late 1800’s the Democratic Party primarily supported the anti federalism of the South.

Democratic ideals shifted around the Great Depression which including New Deal style liberalism, which strong support of government intervention in the economy, labor unions, and regulations of business.

The parties were basically the opposites of what they are now until the Civil Rights movement. Then southern Democrats, who were extremely racist, went to the Republican party. Republicans left for the Democratic party after all the racist Democrats ruined the Republican party.

I, personally, don’t vote Republican or Democrat. Neither represent Catholic morals. The Republicans are just as bad as Democrats, with their anti-social services and pro-death penalty, pro-capitalism stance. The two-party system is a sham. Catholics need to form their own party.

 

[Geremia]

Remember that early on, the Mormons were at odds with the Republican Party, in that civil war almost broke out between the USA and the Mormons.

But there was a platform switch since then; the “Democrats” and “Republicans” then were not at all what they are now.

Catholics don’t fit neat and tidy into either party. The Republican party ignores social justice and are on the wrong side of immigration.

Maybe in a very narrow definition of “social justice” as synonymous with government welfare for all. I see the Republican’s opposition to homosexual “marriage,” stem cell research, abortion, comprehensive sex education, and support of traditional marriage, education vouchers, state / local government power, etc., as very socially-minded.

Yes, I was going to chime in on this. For a long time I was a Republican and thought “Democrat = un-Christian if not anti-Christian.” Eventually my scope broadened and I realized that the Republican Party tends to close its heart to the plight of hurting people. On social issues, it’s pretty much uncaring.

On what do you base this?

The Democratic Party has it’s flaws too, though. Both parties are messed up, but they are messed up on different things. How are we the voters supposed to weigh the value of one area over the value of another area?

Out of both parties, only one supports, in its platform, something that is 100% always an intrinsic evil: elective abortion, the massacre of the innocent. This is the Democrat party.

 

[LongJourney]

The parties were basically the opposites of what they are now until the Civil Rights movement. Then southern Democrats, who were extremely racist, went to the Republican party. Republicans left for the Democratic party after all the racist Democrats ruined the Republican party.

I, personally, don’t vote Republican or Democrat. Neither represent Catholic morals. The Republicans are just as bad as Democrats, with their anti-social services and pro-death penalty, pro-capitalism stance. The two-party system is a sham. Catholics need to form their own party.

Agreed. What cuts the difference, in my opinion (and getting back to the original point of the thread), is the fact that the radical conservative wing of Mormonism, and the die-hard believers, has too much power over the Republican Party. Theocracy is a core tenet of their beliefs. One of their slogans is “CTR,” or Choose the Right. One devout Mormon once explained it to me in very simple terms. “Right is right.” What is morally right is on the political right. Do some research on the history of Mormonism and the John Birch Society.

There are plenty of reports that Mormons in Utah who are Democrats, and open about it, are put under intense pressure to switch their political allegiance.

 

[scottm]

On what do you base this?

Anything to do with immigration, illegal aliens, medical care, and welfare. I’m not saying that the Democratic Party is always right on these issues. I’m saying that the Republican Party sounds like Ebenezer Scrooge, and that’s not good.

Out of both parties, only one supports, in its platform, something that is 100% always an intrinsic evil: elective abortion, the massacre of the innocent. This is the Democrat party.

Very true. The hard part is balancing that evil intention against the Democrats’ good intentions on welfare and immigration and medical care, and that combination (however it works out) against the Scrooge Republicans who oppose abortion.

It’s a tricky calculus.
I solved the problem by voting Libertarian, except that in this last election the Libertarian platform had abortion on it. They didn’t have that on their platform in prior years. Argh – hard question to solve!

 

[tomarin]

Why do the Mormons seem to be unified politically much more than Catholics?

Three points:

If I’m not mistaken, most Mormons live in Utah, which is a rural, western state, so it’s a natural fit for the Republican Party. There may be a West-East thing going on here.

Catholics (not the ones on this board) tend to be more liberal for whatever reason (although I think it’s related to Point 1 above). And not just the laymen but the clergy and bishops too. Many don’t think the Republican Party’s overall pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps philosophy is in sync with Christian tradition.

Most importantly, the Church doesn’t exert the same hold on the minds of its members as it once did. At one time Hollywood producers feared offending the Catholic Film Board with any racy material because they knew that one word from a bishop was enough to keep flocks of movie-going Catholics out of the theaters and away from a movie that promoted immorality; getting a bad review from the film board could sink a movie’s profitability. There seems to be greater anonymity and a corresponding, for want of a better word, freedom in contemporary life. Even on the rare occasions the Church does issue clear and straightforward marching orders, the leadership can’t expect everyone will march in lockstep.

 

[Pahoran]

I am not was well versed in Mormon history. I would gather that they were not generally amongst the members of the working class in the East and Midwest like the majority of Catholic immigrants were.

Remember that early on, the Mormons were at odds with the Republican Party, in that civil war almost broke out between the USA and the Mormons.

You’re right about the almost-war; in fact, historians say that it was a war, although not a lot of blood was shed.

The thing is, Albert Sidney Johnston’s army was ordered into Utah by James Buchanan, a Southern-sympathetic Northern Democrat.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[RebeccaJ]

Anti-federalism in Utah remains because of this history. It permeates all the politics here, and has ventured out into the rest of the world under the moniker “Glenn Beck”.

 

[Stephen168]

I was thinking because Mormonism is an American invention and American religion, it would better fit an American political party.

 

[Murdock]

tomarin

You are mistaken. Less than one-third of American Mormons live in Utah.

BTW Today, most Mormons are not American, and that is becoming more so all the time.

Murdock