Catholics in the United States are increasingly supporting former President Donald Trump over President Biden, according to a recent Pew Research report. The poll found that 55% of Catholics support Trump in a head-to-head matchup with Biden, while only 45% support the current president. This marks a significant shift from the 2020 election when Trump held a narrow lead among Catholics. Biden currently leads among Hispanic Catholics with a 49%-47% split, but the close margin is still a shift towards the GOP.
Protestants also lean heavily towards Trump, with approximately 60% expressing support for the former president in the same poll. In comparison, only about 38% said they leaned towards supporting Biden. Atheists, agnostics, and the religiously unaffiliated overwhelmingly support Biden, with about 69% backing him compared to 28% supporting Trump. Biden has emphasized his Catholic faith in his campaign, despite criticism from Catholic leaders who argue that his support for policies like abortion rights and gender ideology contradicts church teachings.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington D.C. has labeled Biden a “Cafeteria Catholic,” accusing him of selectively highlighting certain aspects of the faith while ignoring or contradicting others. The president’s support for pro-choice deregulation and gender ideology has particularly drawn the ire of Catholic leaders. Some have accused Biden of disrespecting non-negotiable church teachings, despite his claims of devout belief. Biden’s attempt to appeal to Catholic voters may be backfiring as his popularity among Catholics wanes in favor of Trump.
The shift in Catholic voter support towards the GOP is part of a broader trend reflected in the April survey by Pew Research. This shift is particularly noticeable among Hispanic Catholics, who heavily favored Biden over Trump in the 2020 election. However, the latest polling shows a much closer split in this demographic, indicating a rightward shift among Hispanic Catholics. Overall, Biden continues to face challenges with religious voters, particularly among Catholics, despite his efforts to appeal to them with his own Catholic identity.
The growing support for Trump among Catholics reflects broader concerns within the Catholic community about Biden’s policies and actions as president. While the president has tried to position himself as a devout Catholic, his support for policies that run counter to church teachings has alienated many Catholic leaders and voters. The divide within the Catholic community over Biden’s presidency highlights the complex relationship between religion and politics in the United States. As the 2024 election approaches, the Catholic vote may play a crucial role in deciding the outcome, with Biden facing an uphill battle to win back Catholic support.
