The attempt by some Catholic Church leaders to influence American policy goes back at least to the 1930's, when bishops pressed President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create Social Security. The notion of church activism was fostered by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council 40 years ago, which encouraged bishops to advocate government programs to help the poor. But in recent years, the emphasis has shifted away from fighting poverty and standing up for civil rights, issues associated with the Democratic Party, and toward issues like opposition to abortion and gay rights, issues that president Bush and the Republicans have embraced.
Adam Noaourney writes in the New York Times: "The rising assertiveness of some church leaders is particularly significant for American politics because President Bush has been making a concerted effort to win support among Catholic voters. Mr. Bush's efforts are part of an overall drive by his chief adviser, Karl Rove, to make inroads among typically Democratic groups of voters. "Mr. Bush assembled a group of Catholic advisers and began meeting with them regularly as soon as he entered the White House. Shortly after the Vatican announced the death of the pontiff, Mr. Bush and Laura Bush walked in unannounced to a Saturday afternoon Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle."
President Bush assembled a group of Catholic advisers and began meeting with them regularly as soon as he entered the White House. Shortly after the Vatican announced the death of the pontiff, President Bush and Laura Bush walked in unannounced to a Saturday afternoon Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. President Bush's aides said Sunday that he expected to attend the funeral but had not made formal plans pending an invitation from the Vatican.
There is evidence that President Bush has had some success in this regard. In last year's presidential election, Catholics supported President Bush over Senator Kerry, a Roman Catholic, by 52 percent to 47 percent, according to a survey of voters leaving the polls. Catholics made up 27 percent of the electorate last year, making them an important target in presidential campaigns. Most polls show that Catholics support at least some access to abortion. After Senator Kerry's defeat, a number of Democrats said they could not see how in this environment, a Catholic Democrat could win the presidency given that he or she would almost certainly have to support abortion rights to win the nomination. There is arguably no other religion that has had such a contentious relationship with American politics, and Senator Kerry is certainly not the first roman Catholic politician who has had difficulty with his church because of his views on issues of abortion. Some Catholic leaders suggested it would be a mistake for the next pope to continue down the road of involvement in politics and policy.
This article in the New York times dated Monday April 4th, following the death of Pope John Paul II on Saturday, examined the potential for his successor to have an “increasingly assertive” influence in U.S. politics. Catholic leaders and officials say that John Paul II, who was “Known for being conservative and for being willing to confront governments to press his views”, set a tone of involvement in political affairs. And that the next pope could be important in U.S. debates over controversial issues, including abortion, judicial nominations and gay rights, according to the Times. In addition, the “rising assertiveness” of some Catholic church leaders is “Particularly significant” for U.S. politics because President Bush had made a concerted effort to attract Catholic voters to the Republican Party.