[Alex Murphy]

The Conservatives topped the polls in the May 2 election in part by winning over religious voters, particularly Protestants, but also Jews and longtime immigrants. The New Democratic Party came in second in part by appealing to those who have no religion, as well as by holding their own among Catholics and recent immigrants. The Liberals came in third by maintaining support among visible minorities and the moderately religious, especially Muslims but also Jews.

Remember, we're talking Canadian voters. Here are the percentages won by party, per the article.

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
42% of non-religious
41% of recent immigrants, "less than a decade"
40% of Catholics
30.6% of overall voters
28% of Muslims
37% of those who attend church or temple "once a month or less"
25% of those "most religiously devout"
16% of Jews

CONSERVATIVES
55% of Protestants
52% of Jews
50% of those who attend church or temple "frequently"
43% of Canadan citizens "more than a decade"
39.6% of overall voters
30% of Catholic
27% of non-religious
12% of Muslims

LIBERALS
46% of Muslims
24% of Jews
18% of those "most religiously devout"
17% of non-religious
16% of Catholic

[Vigilanteman]

Why is it that 52% of Canadian Jews have the sense to vote against the state fascism party most favored by Muslims whereas only 30% of American Jews do?

[littleharbour]

Wow, is this ever misleading. Unless you break this down into “practising Catholics” and “Evangelical Christians”, the numbers are meaningless. The vast majority of those supposedly Catholic voters gained by the NDP are in Quebec, which is now a largely secular province. Most are nominally Catholic, but very few practice the faith. Same as “Protestant”, which includes such pro-homosexual, pro-abortion congregations such as the United Church of Canada, Anglican/Episcopalian and Prysbyterian (the latter two of which still have some traditional adherents).

[Minus_The_Bear]

Separating the vote based on religion is a false picture.

There weren't very many cultural issues up for debate in this election.

[buccaneer81]

Nice try Alex, but the NDP gains were largely in Quebec, and Quebcec's "Catholics" are less religious than those in France.

To a Quebecois, Catholicism is a heritage, not a faith. They cling to the identification politically because they view it as the opposite of "English."

[Gondring]

Holy Moley! (Pun intended)

Catholics went 40% for the loonie left-wing?!

Wow.

[CanaGuy]

Exit polls are pure hokum.

[fish hawk]

Catholics and immigrants together as always on the left. In America we call them liberal democrats.

[fanfan]

Poll ping.

[Celtic Cross]

How did the other 45% of protestants vote?

[dangus]

The NDP made huge gains among the Catholic vote in Quebec by promising near sovereignty. This is very key in Quebec, after the federal government forced the takeover of Catholic institutions in the 1960s and 1970s. Unfortunately, the NDP also demands gay marriage and abortion. Worse, I believe that the NDP is simply doing what Communists always do: promising the moon to the slighted. Still, it wouldn’t kill the Conservatives to learn how to appeal to the Quebecois.