There are more Catholic Republican Congressmen than Catholic Democrats for first time

[trotsky]

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/there.are.more.catholic.republican.congressmen.than.catholic.democrats.for.first.time/46718.htm

For the first time in five years, Catholic Republicans outnumber Catholic Democrats by a slight margin in the newly convened 114th United States Congress.

According to the Pew Research Center's Fact Tank, there are now 69 Catholic Republicans in the new Congress. Opposite them are 68 Republican Congressmen who are of the Catholic faith. This is a new trend from the previous six Congresses – in 2009, there were 98 Catholic Democrats in the House while there were only 37 Catholic Republicans in Congress.

While this shift could be attributed to the Republicans' steady gaining of seats in the House since 2011, GOP members who confess to be of the Catholic faith have also grown from 2011 to 2014, and have contributed to the Republican trending in Congress.

In addition, white Catholics in the United States have shown increased support for the Republican Party last year. In 2014, the number of white Catholics that support the Republicans stand at 53%.

Hopefully they go back and re-edit this story, it's full of strange errors. "for the first time" becomes "for the first time in 5 years", etc.

[bvf]

1. Very muddled piece.

At points the writer doesn't even seem to understand that there's a difference between Congress and the House.

Plus there's the whole "Democrat Party" thing.

[AlbertCat]

4. a difference between Congress and the House.

Well there's "congress" meaning the House of Reps.



And there's "congress" meaning the House AND the Senate together.

[bvf]

6. Ah, thanks.

I've always understood "congress" to mean both, but I take your point.

[onager]

2. Very muddled site, too

The site name is "Christian Today."

Since I'm a naturally suspicious atheist grump, I suspect they are trying to steal traffic from "Christianity Today" - a long-established brand in the Xian propaganda business. But one which is usually objective, and their articles aren't written and edited by pre-schoolers.

But I did find this interesting article, linked from the piece in the OP:

Former Southern Baptist missionary sentenced to two years for $300,000 fraud

Baptist Press - Former Southern Baptist missionary Brady Nurse has been sentenced to two years in prison for fraud.

Brady Nurse, 38, worked as a logistics and business co-ordinator for the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention.

He pleaded guilty to obtaining nearly $300,000 in mission funds by submitting fraudulent expense reports, according to Baptist Press.

Nurse admitted that he "routinely altered" amounts on documents and invoices, "submitted fraudulent, manufactured, and/or duplicated documentation" on expense reports, "falsely represented" quotes and estimates for service from vendors, altered documentation associated with household shipping charges and falsely obtained reimbursement for non-reimbursable expenses.

He resigned from the IMB in January 2014 but continued to seek reimbursement for "suspect shipping expenses" even after that.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/former.southern.baptist.missionary.sentenced.to.two.years.for.300000.fraud/46839.html

[skepticscott]

3. The Catholic Church's strong anti-choice

anti-birth contol, anti-gay, anti-woman agenda is a very natural match for the Republican party. And the more liberal and progressive you are, the less likely you are to stick tight to such a bigoted, homophobic organization these days. So not a surprise at all.

[AlbertCat]

5. the number of white Catholics that support the Republicans stand at 53%.

Interesting....


I remember my Conservative father and his ilk going berserk because they elected a Catholic for president once. "Is he gonna be loyal to the Pope or the Constitution?????"