Right-wing Christians beginning to lean left (Misleading headline)

The Talk Radio News Service ^ | June 9, 2008 | Staff

[2ndDivisionVet]

A panel of researchers from the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics discussed the results of a survey aimed at gauging the voting tendencies among religious groups by splitting the groups in categories. The main categories were “Mainline Protestant”, “Evangelical Protestant, “Roman Catholic”, and “Religiously Unaffiliated”. One breakthrough discovery the panel found was that for the first time ever, more mainline Protestants (approximately one-fifth of the electorate) support the Democratic Party over the Republican Party.

According to the survey, Roman Catholics, who have been traditionally associated with the Democratic Party, are now split evenly between the two parties. There are also party identification gaps between Latino and non-Latino Catholics. Among Latino Catholics, 57 percent tend to be Democrats, while only 15 percent tend to be Republicans. Among non-Latino Catholics, the gap is much narrower. 41 percent tend to be Democrats, while 38 percent tend to be Republicans.

The category of “Religiously Unaffiliated” (atheists, agnostics, and unaffiliated believers) tend to young, male, single, and college graduates. Corwin Smidt, executive director of the Henry Institute, pointed out that although this group is a rapidly growing segment of the voting population (16.7 percent of the voting population), this group is the least likely to go to the polls. If Barack Obama can energize this group to turn out in large numbers and vote, then it will be a significant contribution to his campaign, Corwin said.

Evangelical Protestants remain the largest religious tradition founded within the American electorate, according to the survey. They are also the group most strongly associated with the Republican Party. Despite talk of John McCain’s “Evangelical problem”, the group does not appear to be abandoning McCain: 57 percent of Evangelicals support McCain. However, their support for McCain does not match the levels President George W. Bush had during the 2004 election.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Evangelical Christians are the ones usually described as "right-wing" and according to this article, they're staying with McCain and the GOP. Mainline Protestants are not considered "right-wing" rather they are "middle-of-the-road" and haven't been a conservative bastion as much as Evangelicals have. I'm sure white guilt has a lot to do with these numbers, as well.

[max americana]

I’ve got 2 words that will negate this BS article: homosexuality and abortion.

[bcsco]

Mainline Protestants are not considered "right-wing" rather they are "middle-of-the-road"...

Well, even "Mainline Protestants" are no monolithic voting block. I'm LCMS Lutheran and far more conservative than some ELCA "brothers". But much of this has to do with church hierarchy and not the flocks they oversee. I know a good number of ELCA Lutherans as conservative as I. They go to church for communion with God; not for political indoctrination. But I left the ELCA simply because I'm intolerant of such political incursion into my religious beliefs.

[Ingtar]

http://www.davidlimbaugh.com/mt/archives/2008/06/new_column_mcca_5.html

David Limbaugh, the smarter one in my opinion, speaks of many evangelical leaders worried that up to 40% will vote for Obama. If this plays out as Clinton-Dole, I see that as a real possibility.

[joesbucks]

What! You don’t go to church to get guideance on who to vote for? You go to worship and learn more about God and his son? Amazing.

[Past Your Eyes]

“Mainline Protestant” where I come from equals (more than likely) old dead churches. But not necessarily. I know. I belong to one.

[kellynla]

If Roman Catholics listen to our Pope, they won’t be voting for Obama.

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY
ON THE OCCASION OF THE STUDY DAYS ON EUROPE

Hall of Blessing
Thursday, 30 March 2006

“As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the principal focus of her interventions in the public arena is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person, and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable. Among these the following emerge clearly today: the protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death; recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family — as a union between one man and one woman based on marriage…; and the protection of the rights of parents to educate their children.”

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/march/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060330_eu-parliamentarians_en.html

And as Father Corapi said on EWTN over the weekend, those Catholic politicians who have voted for abortion should have been excommunicated.

And the only “poll” that matters comes 11/4.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Blood of Tyrants]

“Mainline Protestants” are composed of churches that are liberal to begin with.

[WackySam]

“Mainline Protestants” are composed of churches that are liberal to begin with.

Things could be worse- they could have a child molesting homosexual clergy.

[Salvation]

**Roman Catholics, who have been traditionally associated with the Democratic Party, are now split evenly between the two parties. There are also party identification gaps between Latino and non-Latino Catholics. Among Latino Catholics, 57 percent tend to be Democrats, while only 15 percent tend to be Republicans. Among non-Latino Catholics, the gap is much narrower. 41 percent tend to be Democrats, while 38 percent tend to be Republicans**

Interesting numbers.

Any Catholic who votes for a dimocrat who supports any kind of abortion is committing a grave sin. They are basically excommunicating themselves. They need to vote pro-life.

[Salvation]

**the [Evangelical] group does not appear to be abandoning McCain: 57 percent of Evangelicals support McCain. However, their support for McCain does not match the levels President George W. Bush had during the 2004 election.**

Good news.

[Salvation]

Right-wing Christians beginning to lean left (Misleading headline)

Catholics Debate Obama Vote

US Bishops Urge Voters to Give Priority to Life [Ecumenical]

Corralling the Catholic vote: Political necessity or pipe dream?

DOUG KMIEC: Catholic Reasons for Hope in the General Election

EDITORIAL: Why This Catholic Dreads the Campaign The Catholic-Obama Problem (Pope Benedict XVI instructs Catholics about pro-abortion candidates)

Thoughts On ‘Roman Catholics For Obama’

How Obama's Catholics Will Dodge the Infanticide Question

Catholic Pro-Life Leader Feuds With Barack Obama's "Catholic" Backers

McCain and the Pope: McCain cannot win in November without the Catholic vote (Reagan re-visited?)

Catholics Cannot Vote for Pols Who Support Abortion, Except for Morally Grave Reasons: KY Bishops

[Salvation]

1:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2271  (618 bytes )  preview document matches 1 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2271.htm

97%

2:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2272  (580 bytes )  preview document matches 2 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2272.htm

96%

3:

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2322  (290 bytes )  preview document matches 2 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (GS 27 § 3), URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2322.htm

96%

4:	CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 2274  (554 bytes )  preview document matches gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent URL: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2274.htm

[ought-six]

57% of Latino Catholics favor the Democrats? I’m surprised it’s so low. Latinos in general tend to be socialists (”Take care of me, Big Brother!”). I’d have thought the number would be closer to 75%.

[MNnice]

How Christians can vote for the party that ridicules them and their beliefs, and is the party of atheists and muslim apologists, is beyond me. It’s like chickens voting for Col. Sanders.

[Luke21]

“How Christians can vote for the party that ridicules them and their beliefs, and is the party of atheists and muslim apologists, is beyond me. It’s like chickens voting for Col. Sanders.”

Yeah, but this year the choice for us evangelical chickens is between KFC and Church's. (pun intended)

[WOSG]

The REAL UNTOLD STORY IS THE STORY OF OBAMA’S EXTREMIST POSITIONS ON ABORTION, ETC.

How many Christians really know the extremism of obama on the issue. Obama is an anti-baby extremist who voted against outlawing a form of infanticide!
http://no-bama.blogspot.com/2008/06/obama-is-anti-baby-extremist.html

[WOSG]

It’s awful news if they are supporting a pro-infanticide extremist:

http://no-bama.blogspot.com/2008/06/obama-is-anti-baby-extremist.html

[bcsco]

Amazing.

Some think so. They still won't talk to me because I transfered membership.