Latest data offers insight into the beliefs of U.S. Catholics ahead of the midterm elections, with differences amongst white and Hispanic Catholics on the subject of how they view the role of Christianity in the USA and what they view as essential elements of their faith.
In line with a recent report from the Pew Research Center, most U.S. Catholics agree that religion is losing influence in public life, though there’s a split between white and Hispanic Catholics. About three-quarters of all U.S. Catholics consider religion is losing influence, but a bigger share of white Catholics, 84 percent, hold that view while just 67 percent of Hispanic Catholics agree.
Latest data offers insight into the beliefs of U.S. Catholics ahead of the midterm elections, with differences amongst white and Hispanic Catholics.
The survey also asked if the founders of the USA intended for the country to be “a Christian nation,” and located that 60 percent of Americans agreed. A rather higher percentage of white Catholics, 68 percent, said yes, while just 54 percent of Hispanic Catholics agreed. Far lower percentages of each white Catholics (36 percent) and Hispanic Catholics (31 percent) think the USA is “a Christian nation” today while a majority of white Catholics, 56 percent, think the USA must be “a Christian nation,” a view shared by 36 percent of Hispanic Catholics.
However the report found that “Americans express widely various ideas of what being a Christian nation means,” including “general guidance of Christian beliefs and values in society” and “being guided by beliefs and values, but without specifically referencing God or Christian concepts.”
Following the choice by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade earlier this 12 months, a greater percentage of Americans consider the court is “friendly” toward religion compared with three years ago, rising to 35 percent from 18 percent in 2019. Catholics have also shifted of their view of the court, with 30 percent of Catholics saying the court is friendly to religion, compared with 13 percent three years ago.
78 percent of white Catholics said “living an ethical life” is crucial to their Christian faith, a view shared by 69 percent of Hispanic Catholics.
In relation to the Biden administration, white Catholics view the White House as being “unfriendly” toward religion at higher rates (37 percent) than Hispanic Catholics (18 percent).
Asked if churches and spiritual organizations have “an excessive amount of,” “about the best amount” or “not enough” influence in politics, a plurality of Americans (42 percent) said “an excessive amount of.” But nearly half of white Catholics (48 percent) selected “about the best amount,” a view shared by 44 percent of Hispanic Catholics. (Nearly half of white evangelical Protestants, or 45 percent, said religion doesn’t have enough influence in politics.)
The survey also asked respondents, “Desirous about the way in which things have been getting in politics over the previous few years on the problems that matter to you, would you say your side has been winning more often than losing or losing more often than winning?”
Majorities of all groups feel that “their side” on political issues has been “losing” more often than “winning.” Amongst all U.S. adults, 72 percent say that their side is losing greater than it’s winning, a view shared by 76 percent of white Catholics, 64 percent of Hispanic Catholics and 74 percent of those that are religiously unaffiliated.
The survey also asked about several characteristics related to Christianity and asked if each was “essential” for living a Christian life. Majorities of each white and Hispanic Catholics agreed that “believing in God” is crucial, though there have been slight differences in other areas. About seven in 10 Hispanic Catholics said that having a “personal relationship with Jesus” is crucial, compared with six in 10 white Catholics. Meanwhile, 78 percent of white Catholics said “living an ethical life” is crucial to their Christian faith, a view shared by 69 percent of Hispanic Catholics.
As churches across the country proceed to struggle with attendance following Covid-19 safety precautions, the survey found that fewer than half of each white Catholics (24 percent) and Hispanic Catholics (36 percent) consider that attending religious services usually is crucial to their faith.
The report is predicated on data collected between Sept. 13 and Sept. 18, 2022, from 10,588 participants.
Correction (Oct. 28): A previous version of this text included an incorrect figure for the share of Hispanic Catholics who consider religion’s influence in public life is declining. The proper number is 67 percent. The article was also updated to correct an incorrect figure in regards to the percentage of Catholics who in 2019 said the Supreme Court was friendly to religion. The proper number is 13 percent.
