In fairness my white Pittsburgh neighbors are the same way.
Devout Catholic, traditional pro-family and pro-life.
But they pull that Democrat handle every election without fail. Cause their granddad’s union drilled it into their heads in 1952 that “Democrats is fer da WORKIN’ MAN!”
I know exactly what you mean. I lived in MA for ~20 yrs, and saw the same thing. White people who themselves may not have been radical leftists, but they would vote Dem out of family heritage and, as you said, bc Dems are for the little guy, GOP is for fat cats.