Left at the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats

Left at the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats
ISBN-10
1458749703
ISBN-13
9781458749703
Series
Left at the Altar
Category
Political Science
Pages
410
Language
English
Published
2009-12
Publisher
ReadHowYouWant.com
Author
Michael Sean Winters

Description

In the 1930s, Catholics helped create Franklin Roosevelts New Deal coalition; they remained a loyal constituency of the Democratic Party for decades. In 1960, Catholics and Democrats united to elect John F. Kennedy, Americas first Catholic president. But the historic partnership between Catholics and the Democrats has collapsed in recent decades, leaving the Democratic Party bereft of votes from the fastest-growing demographic in the United States. In Left at the Altar, journalist and religion scholar Michael Sean Winters chronicles the rise and fall of this vital alliance and offers compelling arguments for its revival. For the Democrats, the stakes could not be higher: the explosive growth of the Latino population will make the Catholic vote decisive in the twenty-first century. The stakes are high for Catholics, too: In their defection to the Republican Party, Catholics have drifted from their traditional advocacy of core values including peace and social justice. The Democratic Party needs Catholics for values as well as votes. For much of the twentieth century, it found in Catholic tradition a principled language that inspired voters and won elections. And in the Democratic Party, Catholics found the political expression of profound religious ideals. By reuniting with Catholic constituents, the Democratic Party can regain its soul and reclaim its rightful place in American politics.

Other editions

Similar books