About four-in-ten Americans (43%) have followed news about the attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East and the killing of an American ambassador very closely, making it by far the most closely followed foreign news story of the year. Those who have followed this story have much more positive […] Read more »
The Power of Political Communion
… Allowing Republicans to claim the mantle of Catholicism might cost the Democrats the election. As commentators have noted, Catholics may be the nation’s most numerous swing voters. Over the past few decades, Democratic leaders have alienated voters in one of the party’s historically strong constituencies. [cont.] Molly Worthen, UNC […] Read more »
How Romney’s Mormon Problem Became His Greatest Asset
One year ago, Romney’s faith was a problem, not an asset. The conventional wisdom held that Romney’s strength was his background as a successful businessperson and competent, technocratic, turnaround guru, while Mormonism threatened his support among the Evangelical Christians central to his chances of securing the presidency. Now, with two […] Read more »
Can the Republicans connect with Latinos on abortion?
… The pro-life position among Latinos is not surprising given that over two-thirds of Latinos are Catholic, a religion whose doctrine does not admit abortion in any circumstance. … In theory it is plausible that the Republican Party could connect with Latinos through their similar views on abortion and higher […] Read more »
Ryan’s budget approach challenges bishops, at odds with Catholics
Mitt Romney’s decision to include Catholic congressman Paul Ryan on the Republican ticket presents a challenge for the U.S. Catholic bishops. And, equally importantly, it has the potential to open up a new “religion problem” for the Romney campaign among rank-and-file Catholics. At the heart of this tension is Ryan’s […] Read more »
The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity
The world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are united in their belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad and are bound together by such religious practices as fasting during the holy month of Ramadan and almsgiving to assist people in need. But they have widely differing views about many other aspects of […] Read more »