Since the foundation of the 13 colonies, religion hasaccompanied the journey of political leaders in their agenda andelection momentum. The development of religion in American politicshas varied according to social changes and placement of moralvalues.
Mike Moore, history professor at Brookhaven College in FarmersBranch, said the resentment against Catholicism takes its rootsfrom the beginning of U.S. history when the colonies broke awayfrom the Catholic Church in Europe.
The first hints of religion in politics appeared when Alfred E.Smith, the first Catholic candidate for president, was defeated byHerbert Hoover in 1928. His Catholicism was considered one of thereasons for the defeat.
Moore said Catholicism was so mistreated because uncertaintyspread among Americans about the ability from a catholic presidentto act on the interests of the people rather than on the interestsof the church. This uncertainty carried out until the election ofJohn F. Kennedy, Moore said.
Kennedy, Moore continued, proved his ability to detach from thechurch to represent the American people.
Kennedy made his stand in a speech given in front of Protestantpastors in Houston when he said, “I do not speak for mychurch on public matters — and the church does not speak forme.”
But in the 1960s, Catholics’ affiliation with theDemocratic Party began to decrease. Matthew Wilson, assistantprofessor in the political science department at Southern MethodistUniversity, said the shift of Catholics toward the Republican Partybecame prominent with the election of Ronald Reagan. Part of thatshift was caused by the Democrats’ stand on abortion.
What makes Sen. John Kerry and Kennedy so different, Wilsonsaid, is the existence of controversial issues, such ashomosexuality and abortion. In the 1960, Wilson continued, theseissues were not on the agenda and the Catholics agreed with theDemocratic Party on subjects of economic justice.
Even the identity of Catholics differs between now and the1960s. Wilson said: “In 1960, a lot of Catholics were stillthinking about their religion as an ethnic group attachment.
Today Catholics, particularly observant Catholics, are moreinterested in issues than affiliations.”