They are, for the lack of a better term, Bernardin Catholics. The late Cardinal of Chicago, he worked hard to keep Catholics in the Democratic Party after the pols began to turn pro—choice. So he gave them cover by making “pro-life” include opposition to the death penalty and anti-war. Cuomo’s Notre Dame speech epitomized Berdardin’s equivocation. Yes, abortion was bad, BUT what about the homeless, or any other cause that the DNC tried to bring up. The pronouncements of the Bishop’s conference were, except on the abortion issue, something that might have been issued by the DNC. So many bishops were brought up in Democratic households.
I grew up and worked in Western NY, a liberal stronghold if there ever was one.
It wasn’t until I moved to the country that I met Catholics who actually held to the teachings of the Catholic church on the abortion issue and voted accordingly.
And that was well into adulthood for me.
Slowly, with those bishops who are reaching retirement age, look for more traditional-minded bishops to be appointed.