[Mogger]

A lot of Catholics have been democrats since JFK. I don't know if he was the first Catholic to run for the presidency since the founding of America, but he was the first to win it.

This was a huge deal to Catholics, and many have since remained democrat simply beacuse of that.

JFK, were he to be alive today would be considered a right wing extremist for his views.

He would be appalled at the present democrat party, and even wondering how the Republicans moved so far to the left.

One of my Catholic cousins even has a shrine to JFK in his house.

He wasn't too happy when I mentioned JFK was a second generation Irish bootlegger, hardly American "royalty", when the Bush family descends from at least 6 Mayflower folks and is related to at least 7 presidents.

Not that I like the Bushes, just the way it is.

[ansel12]

A lot of Catholics have been democrats since JFK. I don't know if he was the first Catholic to run for the presidency since the founding of America, but he was the first to win it. This was a huge deal to Catholics, and many have since remained democrat simply beacuse of that.

Sorry, but that isn't accurate.

JFK got 82% of the Catholic vote, but before him, republicans had only won the Catholic vote once in our history.

Catholics actually became less democrat during the 50 years since JFK. Today you are living in the least democratic voting period of Catholic history.

[Mogger]

Anti-Papist fervor in America has been around since the 1600s. Pope Day in New England was a day for drinking, burning the Pope in effigy, rioting and merriment.

Search by "boston anti papist pope day", "Fright Night" or "Guy Fawkes Day" and you'll find some interesting reading on events and ideas that, in the background, affect us to this day.