Washington D.C., Apr 20, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Catholic vote is very important and often the deciding factor in national elections, say two political experts interviewed by Peter Roff, senior political analyst for UPI.
In a report, published Monday, Roff comments that if former Catholic presidential candidates, like Al Smith and John F. Kennedy, “suffered for being ‘too Catholic,’ Sen. John F. Kerry may have the opposite problem.” In certain circles, Roff points out, Kerry may not be Catholic enough.
Roff underlines an annulment Kerry sought of his first 18-year marriage and his insistence on receiving Communion – even though some Catholic bishops say he should not because of his pro-abortion stance – as issues of concern for Catholics casting the vote.
Johnny Morgan of Applied Research Consultants told Roff that the U.S. Catholic vote could determine the outcome of the fall presidential election. In places where the vote is up for grabs, “Kerry's doctrinal vulnerabilities could tip the balance in Bush's direction,” Roff reported.