To win re-election in 2004, they say, Bush must continue to court active Catholics not only with policies that appeal to them, but also through symbols and rhetoric that suggest he is a president who respects their beliefs and is sensitive to their traditions. An important aspect of the Catholic vote is that it is increasingly made up of Hispanics, who voted 2-1 for Gore. Last month, the Republican National Committee held a Catholic Leadership Forum in Washington to organize activists to carry the Republican message to Catholic voters, and Hispanics were targeted especially. Democrats are watching, but they say Bush is making a mistake assuming all Catholics respond to the same appeal. Many Catholics, they say, support abortion rights and aren't impressed when Bush sidles up to bishops and cardinals whom they see as inflexible purveyors of church dogma.
Catholics share views on issues that other voters do.
They care about rising gas prices and environmental protection. And they care about maintaining the safety net of Social Security and health care.