Uneasy Alliance: Conservative Catholics and the Christian Right

Author(s): Mary E. Bendyna, R. S. M., John C. Green, Mark J. Rozell and Clyde Wilcox
Source: Sociology of Religion, Vol. 62, No. 1 (Spring, 2001), pp. 51-64
Published by: Oxford University Press
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 Sociology 2001,62:151-64
ofReligon

UneasyAlliance:
Conservative
andtheChristian
Catholics Right

MaryE. Bendyna,
RSM
Center Research
forAppied intheApostlte

JohnC. Green
ofAkron
University

MarkJ.Rozell*
TheCatholic ofAmeica
University

ClydeWilcox
Georgeton
University

Christian
Right in the1990shavetried
organizations toavoidthepitfalls
ofthereligious
thatundermined
particularism theearlier ofsuchgroupsas theMoralMajority
efforts tobuildlong
lasting coalitions.
political FormanyChristian conservative
Rightleaders, Catholicsappearto be a
particularly
appealing
grouptoreach recruitment
formembership andpolitical
coalition Yet
building.
suchleading as theChristian
groups Coalition
havelargely
experienced with
disappointment such
efforts.
Thisessaypresents
datathat reasons
offer forwhyconservative
Catholics
might bewilling
to
forminto coalitions
political withactivists
oftheChristian butremain
Right reluctant
tojoinChristian
Right Thefindings
organizations. arebasedona large
surveyofRepublican
partystateconvention
in The
delegatesVirginia. datashow that
Catholic holdvery
delegates conservative in
issuepositions
linewith
Christian
Right andhavepositive
organizations toward
feelings Christian
Right candidates
andorganizations.
Yettheyholdsomewhat distinctive
positions
among onissues
Republicans ofthe
deathpenalty,
teaching andthesocialwelfare
ofCreationism, net,amongothers,andtherefore
remainreluctant
tojointheChristian
Coalition
andothersuch
groups.

WhenPatRobertson andRalphReedformed theChristian

Coalitionfrom
theremains ofRobertson's
failed1988presidential
bid,theyconsciously
sought
to avoidthemistakesthathadlimitedthesuccess
oftheearlier
Fundamentalist
suchas theMoralMajority.
organizations The verynameChristian Coalition
symbolizeda commitment to building
an organization
withbroadappealto

*Dct o Mark].Rozell,
arespondence TheCathoiUniversity Marist
ofAmeric, 305A,620Michigan
Avenue,
D.C. 20064.
Washington, E-mail:
rozel@cua.edu.

51

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52 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

conservativeChristians. The MoralMajority hadbuiltitsorganization through

theFundamentalist churches ofFalwell'sBaptist BibleFellowship denomination
(Liebman1983;Wilcox1992). In contrast, theChristian Coalitionsoughtto
recruitpoliticallysavvy local who
leaders couldbuildtruly interdenominational
local organizations, and perhapsbridgethe longstanding dividebetween
PentecostalsandFundamentalists, andattract support amongneo-Evangelicals
as well(Bendyna andWilcox1997).
Thereis someevidencethattheChristian Coalitionhassucceededin this
effort(Wilcox, Rozell and Gunn 1996;Green,RozellandWilcox1998).But,
although theChristian Coalitionmanaged towinthesupport ofmanyorthodox
Protestants,it soonbecameevidentthattherewereideological barriers that
the from
prevented organization fullytapping large this and diverse consti-
tuency. Although theChristian Coalitioncommanded thepassivesupport ofa
narrowmajority ofwhiteEvangelicals, it wasunlikely thattheorganization
couldmuchexpandthissupport (Wilcox1996).Consequently, theorganiza-
tion'sleadersdecidedto makea focused attempt to broadenitsappealto con-
servativeCatholics,mainlineProtestants, African-Americans, orthodox Jews,
andothergroups (Bendyna and Wilcox 1997).
Perhaps nogroup hasbeensought after morebytheChristian Coalitionand
someofthenewerChristian Rightorganizations thanCatholics. At itsannual
"RoadtoVictory" conferences,theChristian Coalitionhasheldworkshops on
building bridges to Catholics and has featured and
Catholicspeakers organiza-
tions.It has also includedCatholicsin leadership and staffpositionsin the
national,state,and local organizations. Finally,in 1995, the organization
launchedtheCatholicAlliancein an attempt to attractCatholicmembers
(Bendyna 1996).
Thereare manyreasonsto believethatthe Christian Coalitionmight
attractconservative Catholics.First,thereareseveralissueswheretheofficial
positions oftheCatholicchurchresemble thoseoftheChristian Coalition-
mostnotably on abortion andschoolvouchers (Cook,Jelen, andWilcox1992;
Jelen and Wilcox 1995).Second, there are significantnumbers ofCatholics who
arein substantial with
agreement certain other issue positionsof the Christian
Right.Third,Catholicshavehistorically comprised partofearlier
a significant
right-wing movements and groups, including support forFather Coughlin and
theJohnBirchSociety(Wilcox1991).Fourth, therehasalready beencoopera-
tionin somediocesesbetweentheCatholicChurchandtheChristian Coali-
tion,mostnotably intheNewYorkschoolboardracesin 1993.Finally, a small
butnotinsignificant minority ofCatholicshaveadoptedevangelical styles of
andthesearemorelikely
religiosity, to share evangelical politicalattitudeson
issueswheretheCatholicchurchhasnotstakeda position(WelchandLeege
1991).
Yet Catholicteachingsand tradition, particularly as articulated in the
American contextby the American Catholic Bishops, depart from Christian

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 UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVECATHOLICS& THE CHRISTIANRIGHT 53

Coalitionpositions in severalimportant areas.In contrast to theChristian

Coalition, the Catholic Church has supported socialwelfare programs and
expandedopportunities forwomen,and has opposedthedeathpenalty and
nuclearweapons. The Bishopshavealso issueda critique ofincomeinequality,
theinevitable result ofunregulated capitalism. Evenon moralissues, thereare
sometimes important differencesin Evangelical and Catholicteachings. For
example, a recent statement by a committee of the National Conference of
CatholicBishops calledforacceptance, loveandpastoral careofhomosexuals.
Although theChurch didnotabandonitstraditional prohibitionagainsthomo-
sexualactivity, it recognized thata homosexual orientation is a deep-seated
dimension ofpersonality thatisnotinitself sinful.Thestatement alsoreiterated
traditional Catholicteachingaboutrespecting the inherent dignity ofevery
person and insisted that nothing inthe Bible nor in Catholic teaching could be
usedto justify prejudicial or discriminatory attitudes andbehaviors. All this
suggests thateveniftheChristian Coalitionis able to attract thesupport of
conservative Catholics,thesenew supporters may differin their views on
important political issuesfrom Evangelical andmainline Protestantsupporters.
In thispaper,weexamineCatholicsupport fortheChristian Right.Using
datafrom a survey ofVirginia Republican activists, wefirst examine thelevelof
support for various Christian Rightgroups and figures amongCatholics,
Evangelicals andmainline Protestants.Next,weexaminethepolitical viewsof
CatholicsandProtestants in theChristian Right, to determine ifCatholics are
distinctive in theirviewson keyissues.Finally, we investigate thesources of
support for the Christian RightamongCatholics andProtestants.
The stateofVirginiais a particularly interesting placeto studyCatholic
support for the Christian Right. If collaboration between Catholicsand the
Christian is to
Right going succeedanywhere, Virginiais a likelyplaceand
Republican party activistsarea likely constituency. Catholics constitutea small
proportion of the of
population Virginia - less than 7 percent according to
figures derived from the Official Catholic Directory and the UnitedStates
BureauoftheCensus(see Foy1994:434-35).The minority statusofCatholics
inVirginia maycontribute to thestrong senseofCatholicidentity thatisevi-
dentamongsomeVirginia Catholics.Itmayalsocontribute tothewillingness of
Catholics tocooperate withothers tofurther their politicalgoals.
Virginia isalsointeresting becauseitstwoCatholicdioceses representoppo-
siteendsoftheCatholicideological spectrum. The Arlington diocese,whichis
composed ofthecountiesin northern Virginia, untilrecently washeadedby
BishopJohnR. Keating,a verytraditional bishop who was sympathetic to
conservative causes.The Richmond diocese, which covers therest ofthe state,
is ledbyBishopWalterF. Sullivan,a muchmoreprogressive bishopwhohas
longbeenactiveinjusticeandpeacecauses.WhileSullivanis President ofthe
PaxChristi USA NationalCouncil,Keating wasoneofonlytwobishops inthe
UnitedStateswhowouldnotallowfemale altarservers. In many ways, thesetwo

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54 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

bishopsreflect thereligious character oftheirrespective diocesesandtwovery

different,though notnecessarilyincompatible, dimensions ofCatholicteaching.
Finally, is a
Virginia particularly good case studybecause oftheprominence
of Christian Rightorganizations in thestate.Virginiais the homeof the
Christian Coalitionnational headquarters andsomeofitsmostactivechapters,
as wellas oftheChristian Broadcasting Network, theAmerican CenterforLaw
and Justice, RegentUniversity, and otherorganizations foundedby Pat
Robertson. Virginiawasalsothesiteofthenationalheadquarters oftheMoral
Majority. Moreover, the ChristianRightfigured prominently in recentVirginia
electionswiththecandidacies ofMichaelFarrisforLieutenant Governor in
1993,OliverNorthfortheUnitedStatesSenatein 1994,andMarkEarleyfor
Attorney Generalin 1997.Farris hadbeentheheadoftheMoralMajority in
thestateofWashington andan attorney forConcerned WomenforAmerica,
andNorthandEarley havelonghadtieswithvarious segments oftheChristian
Right. All threecandidates had the strong endorsements ofJerry FalwellandPat
Robertson. The connections betweeneach of thesemenand theChristian
Rightwereimportant issuesintheircampaigns. ThusRepublican inthe
activists
statewouldalmostcertainly havesomeknowledge oftheChristian Rightand
wouldsurely be familiarwith theChristian Coalition.
The respondents intheVirginia Republican SurveyProject arepreciselythe
types of individualsfrom whom groups such as theChristian Coalition might
expecttogarner support. TheseRepublican activists
wouldalmostcertainly be
familiar withtheChristian Coalitionand thepoliciesit advocatesand the
Catholicsamongthemwouldlikelybe familiar withthe teachings of their
Church. Thus,they are a perfect group with which to test support forthe
Christian Coalition.
The focusonGOP delegates whoareactiveinstateandlocalpolitics makes
sense the
perfect given political strategiesofsuch ChristianRightgroups as the
Christian Earlier
Coalition. studies(Rozell andWilcox 1995 and 1997;Tamney
andJohnson 1983)tellus muchaboutthesupport forChristian Rightorgani-
zationsin stateandlocalpolitics. Thisessayfurthers ourunderstanding ofthe
reasonsforthesuccessesor failures ofChristian in
Rightgroups trying to
mobilize diverse
religiously constituenciesinstateandlocalpolitics.

THE DATA

comefrom
The dataforthisstudy a surveyofa sampleofVirginia Repub-
licanswhoattendedtheparty's 1993and/or1994statenominating conventions
We mailed1,000survey
as delegates. instrumentsto randomly selectedGOP
delegatesandreceived447fora responserate(excluding mail)of
undeliverable
48 percent.
Untilmorerecently,VirginiaRepublican nominating conventions were
that
openaffairs essentially allowedanyone to attendwho is to
willing pay$15

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 UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVECATHOLICS& THE CHRISTIANRIGHT 55
andsweartosupport theparty's
nominees. In 1993theconvention choseformer
MoralMajority statechairandformer Concerned WomenforAmerica attorney
MichaelFarris as candidateforLieutenant Governor, in partbecauseFarris
mobilizeda largeconstituency ofconservative Christian home-school advocates.
In 1994theconvention selectedOliverNorth,a longtime Christian conser-
vativeactivist,
as nominee fortheU.S. Senate.
The survey instrument askedrespondents to evaluatea seriesofpolitical
and on
groups figures feeling thermometers. Included inthelistoforganizations
werethe Christian Coalition,the MoralMajority, ConcernedWomenfor
America(CWA), and OperationRescue;the listof figures includedPat
Robertson, Jerry Falwell,Michael Farris,and Oliver North. Respondents were
askedto indicate to whichtypesofpoliticalgroups theybelonged; one option
wasChristian conservative The
groups. survey also includedmeasures ofreli-
giousdenomination, doctrine,
religious religious and
identity, religious practice.
thesurvey
Finally, containeda batteryofquestions attitudes
assessing on public
policyissues.

CATHOLIC SUPPORT FOR THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

IfCatholics intheGOP aretosupport theChristian Right, theremustbea

setofkeyissueson whichCatholicsandChristian Rightleaders agree.Table 1
showsthepercentage ofCatholics, andofmainline andEvangelical Protestants,
whotookconservative positionson a series
of policyissues(see the appendix for
detailsofquestion wording).In some cases, the most conservative positionis
quiteconservative, advocating policiessuchas mandatory schoolprayer and
arrestingknown homosexuals.It is thereforemostappropriate to compare the
across
percentages religious groups, ratherthan to focuson the levelof absolute
support forconservative positions.
ThedatainTable1 showa widechasmintheVirginia GOP between Evan-
gelicalandmainline Protestants,withCatholics ofteninthemiddle.Catholics
areslightlybutnotsignificantly moreconservative thanall Protestants on aidto
blacks,andon trusting Russiaanddefense spending. Theyarealmostas con-
servativeas Evangelicals on abortion, parentalnotification,schoolprayer and
theERA,buttheyareclosertomainline Protestantsongayrights issues,gender
differences in politicalability,
and pornography. Catholicsare slightly more
liberalthanall Protestantson thegoldstandard, teaching "scientific"Creation-
ism,protecting theenvironment, andwhether capitalismis thebesteconomic
and
system, somewhat moreliberalon aid to poorchildren andhealthcarefor
thosewhocannotafford it. Theyare markedly moreliberalon the death
penalty, wheretheChurch's position hasbeenstrongly articulated. It appears,
therefore, that there are several key issuesupon whichCatholicsand
Evangelicals intheVirginia GOP areinsubstantial agreement, andseveralon
whichtheydisagree.The potential exists,therefore,forsignificant Catholic

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 OFRELIGION
56 SOCIOLGY
fortheChristian
support Right,butkeyissuesdividetheEvangelical
corefrom
Catholics.Catholicsdo notfitneatlyintothefactional ofVirginia
divisions
GOP Protestants.

TABLE 1
IssuePositions Tradition
byReligious conservative
(% choosing alternatives)

Evangelical Mainline Catholics

Protestants Protestants

SocalIssues
Abortion 58% 26% 54%*
Parentalnotification 92% 78% 88%
Homosexuals arested 24% 15% 15%
Gayteachers 80% 59% 64%*
AIDS isGod'spunishment 27% 13% 14%*
Pornography 44% 25% 33%
Schoolprayer 27% 20% 26%
Creationism 66% 38% 34%*
Homeschooling 67% 36% 38%
ERA 84% 78% 82%
Working mothers 46% 33% 44%
Menbetter atpolitics 23% 18% 12%
BanTV violence 15% 22% 28%*

EconomicIssues
Healthinsurance 67% 76% 65%
Goldstandard 34% 28% 25%*
Taxcut 33% 32% 31%
Aidtopoorchildren 41% 46% 33%
environment
Protect 68% 66% 61%
Capitalismbest 52% 38% 36%

RaceandCrme
Aidtoblacks 60% 59% 62%
Deathpenalty 71% 56% 39%*
Parole 56% 55% 48%
stopcrime
Jobs 35% 28% 25%

Poicy
Foreign
Freetrade 31% 18% 22%
TrustRussia 55% 53% 58%
Defensespending 74% 76% 78%*

* - Catholics different
significantly from atp < .05.
allProestants

In Table2 weshowtheaverage thermometer

feeling to var-
scoreassigned
iousChristian
Rightgroupsandfigures mainline
byCatholics, and
Protestants,
We
Evangelicals. also show the of
percentage respondentsin thesethree
whoratedeachgroup
traditions
religious ormore.In each
at67 degrees
orfigure

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 UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVE
CATHOLICS& THECHRISTIANRIGHT 57

case,supportis highestamongEvangelical Protestants.

Catholicsweremore
likelythanmainlineProtestants theChristian
to support Coalition,
Operation
Rescue,CWA, Michael and
Farris, OliverNorth, butmainlineProtestants
were
moresupportive oftheMoralMajority, and PatRobertson andJerry Falwell.
Thesepatternsmakegoodsense- MoralMajority activists
frequently
espoused
anti-Catholic
rhetoric
(Wilcox1992),andRobertson andFalwellareProtestant
leaders.
religious ThusCatholicsaremorelikelythanmainline Protestants
in
theGOP tosupport moreinclusive such
organizations as theChristian
Coalition
or CWA, and to support Christian Rightcandidates.In eachcase,however,
arethemostsupportive
Evangelicals ofallreligious
groups.
TABLE 2

fortheChristian
Support Right Tradition
byReligious

MeanThermometerScore
Evangelical Mainline Catholics
Protestants Protestants

Christian
Coalition 74 50 56
% support 70 32 37
MoralMajority 62 45 49
% support 47 28 23
Rescue
Operation 61 37 47
% support 45 19 32
CWA 78 54 67
% support 75 39 63
PatRobertson 68 48 52
% support 60 31 29
Falwell
Jerry 59 39 41
% support 42 24 13
MichaelFarris 80 58 64
% support 79 49 68
OliverNorth 77 59 71
% support 78 49 68
TedJelen 31 33 20
% support 0 0 0
Member ofa Christian
Conservative
Group 51 20 17

Although CatholicsintheGOP aregenerallywarm toward Christian

Right
groups,few have joined
actually these Several
organizations. Catholicactivists
mentioned thattheywerereluctantto joinpredominantlyEvangelicalorgani-
zations,buttheywerewillingtosupport candidates
andtolendtheirsupport on
issues.Politically,
thefactthatCatholicsdo notformallyjoinChristianRight
groups maynotmatter, forCatholicsin theGOP weregenerally supportiveof
ChristianRightcandidates.Indeed,someactivists
toldusthattheveryprocess

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58 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

ofworkingforcandidates
suchas FarrisandNorthhelpedtobridge someofthe
divide(author
Catholic-Evangelical interviews).
ForCatholics
andEvangelicals alike,supportwashighestfortheCWA and
fortheChristian
secondhighest Coalition.To identify oftheChrist-
supporters
ianRight,
wecalculatedtheaverage feelingthermometerscoreassignedtothese
twogroups,andclassified oftheChristian
as supporters Rightthose who rated
thesetwogroups on averageat 67 degrees or higher.We ratedas opponents
thosewhoratedthegroups at33 degrees thosewhorated
orless,andas neutrals
thegroups
between 34 and66 degrees.

TABLE 3

andOpposition
Support totheChristian Tradition
byReligious
Right

Evangelical Mainline Catholics

Protestants Protestants

Supporters 71% 32% 43%

Neutrals 20% 39% 39%
Opponents 9% 30% 18%

Table3 showsthelevelsofsupportandopposition totheChristianRightby

tradition.
religious AmongEvangelicals in theVirginia GOP, supportforthe
Christian is and
Right veryhigh, opposition almost non-existent.Mainline
divideevenly
Protestants amongthethreecategories, ofCatho-
whilea plurality
licssupporttheChristianRightbuta significant opposestheorganiza-
minority
tions.
The datashowthatCatholicsaremoresupportive oftheChristianRight
thanmainline Protestants,
perhapsbecause many ofthem havebeendrawnto
theGOP on socialissues,whilemainline Protestant intheRepublican
activity
partymay reflect
longstanding or
partisanship economic Yetthus
conservatism.
farCatholicshavebeenreluctanttoactuallyjoinChristianRightgroups.

CLEAVAGESIN THE COALITION:

ISSUE CONSENSUS AND DISSENT IN THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

In Table4 weshowthecleavages betweenCatholics inthe

andProtestants
Christian on
Right specific All
issues. in
respondents this
tableare of
supporters
Christian The
Rightgroups. shows
table r
Pearson's correlations Catho-
between
in thefirst
licismandissuepositions, columncompared withEvangelicalsand
thesecondcolumnwithmainline Protestants. indicate
Negativecoefficients
thatCatholicsaremoreliberalthanthecomparison group.
Compared CatholicsoftheVirginia
withEvangelicals, Rightare
Christian
moreliberalon parentalnotification, AIDS as God's punishment,teaching
Creationism, homeschooling,whether menarebettersuitedto politicsthan

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 UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVECATHOLICS& THE CHRISTIANRIGHT 59

women,a ban on TV violence, aid to poor children,and most importantly, the

death penalty. Compared with mainline Protestantsin the Christian Right,
Catholics are more liberal on homeschooling, gender differencesin political
ability,health insurance,aid to poor children,protectingthe environment,and
the death penalty. These data suggestthe possibilityof a trulyinterdenomi-
national coalition builtaround restricting
abortion,not allowinggaysto teach in
public schools, and regulatingpornography, but that any organizationsthatpush
homeschooling,teaching Creationism, slashingthe social welfaresafetynet, or
supporting the death penalty,risksalienatingCatholic supporters.

TABLE 4

intheChristian
Cleavages Right

Catholicv.Evangelical Catholicv.Mainline

Soal Issues
Abortion .03 .13
Parentalnotification -.20* -.07
Homosexuals arrested -.02 -.05
Gayteachers -.12 -.08
AIDS isGod'spunishment -.20* -.13
Pornography -.09 -.00
Schoolprayer .03 .11
Creationism -.32** -.18
Homeschooling -.20* -.36**
ERA .09 .15
Working mothers .08 .08
Menbetter atpolitics -.15* -.23*
BanTV violence -.24** .10
Economic Issues
Healthinsurance -.05 -.29*
Goldstandard -.08 -.18
Taxcut .07 -.05
Aidtopoorchildren -.19* -.29*
Protectenvironment -.11 -.24*
Capitalism best -.14 -.12
RaceandCrime
Aidtoblacks .10 .13
Deathpenalty -.41** -.31**
Parole -.03 -.09
Jobsstopcrime -.02 -.11
Foreign
Policy
Freetrade -.06 .11
TrustRussia .12 .19
Defense spending .10 .05
** = Catholics
different
from atp < .01;* = Catholics atp < .05.
different
comparison
group

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60 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

Ofcourse, thefactthatCatholicsmaybe moreliberalthanProtestantson

someissueson whichtheChristian Coalitionhas stakedpositions
doesnot
meanthattheseissuesprevent CatholicsfromsupportingtheChristianRight.
In Table 5 we have estimatedseparateregression for
equations Catholics,
andmainline
Evangelicals, inwhichthedependent
Protestants, variableis-affct
towardChristianRightgroups(averagethermometer forChristian
ratings
Coalitionand CWA). Independent variables
includedemographic variables,
and
ideology, several issue
specific that
positions our revealed
analysis to be
correlates
ofsupport fortheChristianRightin theoverallsample.Although
theseissuepositions
arecorrelated,
themagnitude ofthesecoefficients
doesnot
suggestmulticollinearity.
TABLE 5

Sources
ofSupport
fortheChristian
Right

Evangelical Mainline Catholics

Protestants Protestants
b t b t b t

Sex -1.31 -0.34 -.58 -.15 -.28 -.04

Education -2.08 -1.02 4.57 1.900 -.32 -.10
Orthodox identities .29 .14 8.30 2.41* 3.98 .60
Bible -1.96 -.77 7.17 1.99* 14.25 3.27**
television
Religious 2.41 1.26 -.55 -.26 1.05 .44
Church attendance 1.07 .57 .88 .41 -.32 -.09
Ideology 13.45 4.74** 7.63 3.76** 2.36 .64
SchoolPrayer -3.21 -1.890 .37 .21 -.66 -2.37*
AIDS 2.16 1.29 1.66 .82 .89 .27
ArrestGays 1.63 .90 1.36 .59 -2.76 -.86
Pornography .66 .47 3.85 2.02* 1.15 .46
Abortion 4.31 2.75** 3.67 1.83@ 4.86 1.71@
TeachCreationism 1.26 .67 2.17 1.13 4.52 1.49
Working Mothers 2.56 1.88@ -1.94 -1.12 4.96 1.99*
Homeschooling 2.49 1.50 7.05 3.32** 5.85 1.910
Constant -47.21 -80.25 33.56
N 114 115 62
AdjustedR2 .62 .63 .53

** - significant at .05; @ - significant

at .01; * - significant at .10.

The datashowthatthesourcesofsupport fortheChristian Rightdiffer

acrossthesethreereligious
groups.ForEvangelicals, religious arenot
variables
important because
primarily
predictors, there is little on
variation these items
amongEvangelical is a
Ideology powerful
respondents. and
predictor, support is
higheramongthosewhotakeconservative positions on and
abortion gender
roles.Somewhat support
surprisingly, is alsohigheramongthosewithliberal
on schoolprayer.The questionon prayerwas "We shouldhave
positions

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 CATHOLICS& THECHRISTIANRIGHT 61
UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVE

mandatory prayer inpublicschools," an extremeposition.MichaelFarris, who

mobilized a significantportion ofthe ChristianRightactivists
at the 1993 con-
vention, opposedmandatory prayer in publicschools,andthenegative coeffi-
cientmaywellreflect hisopposition.1
Formainline Protestants,religiousvariables
werestrong predictors.Those
who identified themselves as Evangelicals,Fundamentalists,or Pentecostals
(orthodox identities)weremorelikelytosupport theChristian Right,as were
thosewhotookorthodox positionson the meaning of theBible. Once again
is a
generalideology predictor, along withconservative on
positions abortion,
pornography, andhomeschooling. ForCatholics,orthodox viewsoftheBible
werea verystrong of
predictor support forthe ChristianRight.Together with
WelchLeege's(1991)workon Evangelical worshipstylesamongCatholics, and
Jelen's(1991) research on CatholicEvangelical doctrinalbeliefs,theseresults
suggestthattheminority ofCatholics whobelievetheBibleto be theinerrant
andperhaps wordofGodarepotential
literal forChristian
recruits Rightorgani-
zations.Catholicswhotookliberalpositions on schoolprayer, conservative
positionson abortion, women's roles,andhomeschooling wereall morelikelyto
support the Christian Right.

DISCUSSION

We findthatintheVirginia Republican many

party, Catholicactivistshold
conservative on keyissuesemphasized
positions byChristianRightleaders, and
supportsomeChristian Moreimportantly
Rightorganizations. from a political
standpoint, theyarewarmtowardChristian Rightcandidates in intra-party
battles.
Yettheyremain reluctant
tojoinactualChristian Rightgroups, andare
coolertoward Fundamentalist
groupsandProtestant pastors.
Amongthesupporters oftheChristian Right,Catholicsholddistinctively
liberal
positionson thedeathpenalty,on theteachingofCreationism, thesocial
welfaresafety net,andAIDS. Thosewhoaredrawnto theChristian Rightare
intheirbeliefintheauthority
distinctive ofScriptures,
andintheirconservative
viewsonabortion, theroleofwomen infamilies,
andhomeschooling.
These data suggestthatthe ChristianRightmightpossiblyappealto
conservative Catholicswithneworganizationsthatavoidpositionson thedeath
penaltyand socialwelfareprograms, and avoidsuch ChristianRightstandard
positionsas thegoldstandard andtheteaching ofCreationism. Indeed,thisis
preciselywhattheCatholicAllianceattempted to do. Afteritsfounding in
1995,theCatholicAlliancewasroundly criticized
by a number of Catholic
bishopsforbeingtoocloselyalliedtotheChristian Coalition,andforadopting

1 Itstruck as oddthatFarris schoolprayer.

Inoneofourinterviews
many opposedmandatory withFarris
hestatedthatfighting
overa oneminute atthebegining
prayer ofa schooldaydistracts
attention
from"what
happenstheotherfivehoursandfifty-nine
minutes"
ofclasstime(author
interviews).

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62 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

thatorganization'spositionson welfare reform,healthcarereform, andcapital

punishment andforfailing to promote policiesthatprotect poorchildren and
immigrants (see, forexample,Hubbard1995;Stafford, Tafoya and Hanifen
1996;Law1996).TheCatholicAllianceattempted toaddresstheseconcerns by
takinga carefullynuancedstanceagainstcapitalpunishment and byinsisting
thatitsotherpolicypositions are notat variancewiththeteachings ofthe
CatholicChurch- eveniftheydiverge from thepositions advocated bythe
American bishops. TheCatholicAllianceultimately attempted todistance itself
evenfurther from theChristian Coalitionbybecoming separatelyincorporated
andbyremoving anymention ofitsassociation withtheChristian Coalition
fromitsliterature.Moreover, theCatholicAlliancenowseemsto be focusing
almostexclusivelyontheissueofabortion andparticularly on securing a banon
abortions.
"partial-birth" Whether other Christian Rightorganizations willbe
moresuccessful in attractingsignificantCatholicmembership orwhether they
can motivate Catholicsaroundotherissuesthatareimportant to theChristian
Rightremains to be seen.The datapresented in thisessayprovide onlyslight
encouragement tothosewhowishtoform a strongermembership bondbetween
CatholicsandChristian Rightorganizations.
In theend,however, whether Catholicsactually jointheChristian Right
maybe lessimportant than whether they work for itscandidates. Ourdata
suggestthatamongthoseCatholicswhoareactivein theVirginia Republican
there
party, isstrong supportforChristian Right candidates.Of course, thisdoes
not mean thatAmericanCatholicswill soon be mobilizing behindPat
Robertson orGaryBauerforpresident. Ourstudy is limitedto thoseCatholics
whohavejoinedtheRepublican party,presumably becauseoftheirconservative
positionson socialissuesand thesaliencetheyassignto thoseissues.These
Catholicsarea relatively smallminority, buttheirpresence doessuggest the
ofa moresuccessful
possibility futurecollaboration.

REFERENCES

Appleby, andtheChristian
R. S. 1997.Catholics Right:AnUneasyAlliance.InSoourners inthe
Wilderness: TheChristianRightinComparative editedbyC. E. SmidtandJ.M.
Perspective,
Penning, 93-113.Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Inc.
Publishers,
Bendyna,M. E. 1996. and
Catholics the Christian Right:Resonance or Dissonance?Paper
presented at the annualmeeting of the American Science
Political San
Association,
Francisco.
Bendyna,M. E.,andC. Wilcox.1997.TheChristian RightOld andNew:A Comparison ofthe
MoralMajority andtheChristian In
Coalition. in
Sojourners theWilderess:TheChristian
RightinComparative editedbyC. E. SmidtandJ.M. Penning,
Perspective, 41-56.Lanham,
MD: Rowman & Littlefield Inc.
Publishers,
Cook,E. A., T. G. Jelen,andC. Wilcox.1992.Betueen TwoAbslutes:PublicOpinion andthe
PoticsofAbortion. CO: Westview
Boulder, Press.

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 CATHOLICS& THECHRISTIANRIGHT 63
UNEASYALLIANCE:CONSERVATIVE

Foy,F.A.,O.F.M.,ed.1994.1995CathicAlmanac. Huntington,IN:OurSunday Inc.

Visitor,
Green,J.C., M. J.Rozell,andC. Wilcox.1998.Religious ConstituenciesandSupport forthe
ChristianRight inthe1990s. SocialScience
Quartery79:815-820.
Hubbard, H. 1995.Remarks on theChristian Coalition'sCatholicAlliance.Origins25 (7
December): 417+.
T. 1991.ThePolitical
Jelen, MobilizationofReligious
Beliefs.
Westport, CT: Praeger.
Jelen,T., andC. Wilcox.1995.PublicAttitudes towardChurch andState.Armonk, NY: M.E.
Sharpe.
Law,B. 1996.The Christian Coalition'sCatholicAlliance:CardinalLaw. Origins25 (15
February):576-577.
Liebman, R. C. 1983.MobilizingtheMoralMajority. InTheNewChristian Right: and
Mobilization
edited
Legitimation, byR. C. Liebman andR.Wuthnow, 50-73.NewYork: Aldine.
Rozell,M. J.,andC. Wilcox,eds.1995.Godat theGrassRoots:TheChristian Rightinthe1994
Elections.
Lanham, MD.Rowman & Littlefield.
1997.Godat theGrassRoots,1996:TheChristian RightinAmericanElections.Lanham,
MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Stafford,J.F.,A. Tafoya,andR. Hanifen. 1996.The Christian Coalition's
CatholicAlliance:
Colorado's BishopOrigins 25 (15 February):
574-575.
Tamney, J.,andS. Johnson. 1983.The MoralMajority in Middletown. JournalfortheScientific
Study 22:145-157.
ofReligion
Welch,M. R., and D. C. Leege.1991.Dual Reference GroupsandPolitical Orientations:An
Examination ofEvangelically
Oriented Catholics.
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Wilcox,C. 1992.God'sWarriors: TheChristian inTwentieth-Century
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SocialScenceQuarterly77:543-58.

APPENDIXONE

Question Wording ForIssueItems

Forthefollowingstatements,pleaseindicatewhether youstrongly
agree,agree,disagree,
strongly
orareneutral
disagree,
· Thedeathpenalty shouldbemandatory foranyone convicted
ofmurder.
· Defensespending shouldbereA,ced.
· Russiacannotbetrusted.
· Thiscountry wouldbebetter offifitreturnedtothegoldstandard.
· Freetradeisimportant,evenifitresultsinthelossofjobs.
· Homosexuals should beallowedtoteachinpublicschools.
· Thegovernment should providehealthcareforallwhocannotaffordit.
· Thegovernment should prohibitabortion.
· Thegovernment should notregulatewhatadultsread,evenifitincludespornography.
· We should abolish evenifitmeanshigher
parole, taxestopayformoreprisons.
· Weshould havemandatory prayerinpublicschools.
· AIDS isGod'spnmishment forhomosexuality.
· Menarebetter suitedemotionally forpolitics
thanaremostwomen.

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64 SOCIOLOGYOF RELIGION

APPENDIXONE (Continued)

Question Wording ForIssueItems

* A working mother canestablish
justas warm andcaringrelationshipwithherchildrenas a
motherwhodoesnotwork outsidethehome.
· Thepublicschools should berequired
toteachCreationism asanalterativetoevolution.
* Taxesshould becut,evenifitmeansthatthedeficit willrise.
* Thecountry hasgonetoofarinhelping blacksandother minorities.
· Moreenvironmental isneeded,
protection evenifitraises pricesorcostsjobs.
· Thereisa needforanEqualRights Amendment toprovide moreopportunities forwomen.
* istheonlyeconomic
Freeenterprise systemcompatible withChristian belief.
* Government should work toreduce theamount ofviolenceontelevision.
* isa
Homosexualitycrime, and known homosexuals shouldbeprosecuted.
· Itisimportanttoprovide a minimum standard ofliving
tofamilies withchildren.
· Inthelongrun,crime canbebetter reduced byimproving poorneighborhoods andcreating
morejobs.
* Homeschooling should beencouraged asan alteinative
tothepublicschools.
* Teenaged should
girls berequiredtonotifytheirparentsbefore obtaininganabortion

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