There is an interesting article in the Globe and Mail today from Jeffrey Simpson entitled Quick Now - why do Catholics prefer Liberals?
A mystery lies at the heart of Canadian politics. It has baffled many, not least Conservative leaders. If Stephen Harper can't crack the mystery, it won't matter how many hot dogs he eats or babies he kisses this summer. He and his party are toast.
Here's the mystery: Catholics outside Quebec vote far more for the Liberals than the Conservatives. This is true everywhere, but especially in Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
Here is the part that jumped out the most to me.
...Prof. Blais has also found that the more the voter practises Catholicism, the more likely he or she is to vote Liberal. The most religious Catholics are the Liberals' strongest supporters. Liberal support among them is 19 points higher than overall Liberal support, compared to 12 points higher for "non-religious" Catholics.
I am not sure if there is really a mystery here. Just incorrect assumptions. If you assume that there is actually such a thing as a Catholic voter then yes you will be baffled. But Catholics, like every other religious group are not monolithic. You can sluff people off as CINOs or Cafeteria Catholics but there are large numbers of pro-choice Catholics, pro-SSM Catholics, pro-death penalty Catholics, pro-War in Iraq Catholics.
Furthermore it is tough to peg Catholicism on the political spectrum. Some opponents try to peg Catholics as part of the religious-right (well this article proves this point wrong) but if you look at on an issue by issue basis how can you say Catholic teachings are right-wing. Sure pro-life and pro-traditional marriage Catholics have aligned themselves with the right. But that is a recent phenomena and does not necessarily have to be that way. Also helping the poor, avoiding all but absolutely necessary wars and providing health-care could be taken right out of the NDP playbook. In short, the mystery is why anybody would assume that Catholics should vote Conservative.
But Mr. Simpson's conclusion remain valid.
...So the question remains: Why do Catholics (and non-European Canadians) prefer the Liberals? Unless the Conservatives find the answer, they're going to stay where they usually are, in opposition.
