A recent Pew Research poll has revealed a significant shift in Catholic voter support toward former President Donald Trump, after the reports of the FBI’s targeting of traditional Catholics as potential domestic terrorists under President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ).
The poll, released on April 30, shows 55% of Catholics now back Trump in a potential 2024 rematch against Biden, compared to just 43% for the incumbent. This marks a notable change from the narrow 50%-49% lead Trump held among Catholics in 2020.
USA
Catholic voters now favour Donald Trump over Joe Biden by a comfortable margin of 55% to 43%. pic.twitter.com/GDjSH8JZVD
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) May 3, 2024
Meanwhile, the Committee’s interim staff report, titled “The FBI’s Breach of Religious Freedom: The Weaponization of Law Enforcement Against Catholic Americans,” highlights an FBI-wide memorandum from the Richmond Field Office labeling “radical-traditionalist Catholics” as violent extremists.
The FBI reportedly relied on at least one undercover agent and proposed developing sources among Catholic clergy and church leadership for its assessment. Whistleblower disclosures revealed that without the memo’s exposure, it would have remained operative in FBI systems, violating the religious liberties of millions of Catholic Americans.
The poll comes after Biden, a self-described devout Catholic, faces criticism from church leaders for his support of policies contrary to Catholic teachings, such as pro-choice deregulation and gender ideology affirmation.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the shifting political allegiances of Catholic voters and the FBI’s alleged targeting of traditional believers are likely to remain significant issues in the national discourse.
About three-quarters of White evangelical Protestant voters say Trump was a “great” (37%) or “good” (37%) president. Roughly half of White Catholics and White nonevangelical Protestants share this view. https://t.co/XAEecEMhDr pic.twitter.com/LB3xEYpudf
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) May 1, 2024
