WASHINGTON, D.C. – While both vice-presidential candidates talked about abortion, their party’s position, their own personal perspective and how it related to their Catholic faith during last week’s debate, a poll shows that the controversial issue is not the top priority for Catholic voters.
Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, said: “The candidates are right that women and men do consider their faith when they are facing a decision about abortion, but neither candidate stood back and looked at the bigger picture. In this election, as in previous elections, Catholics are simply not voting on the abortion issue.”
A recently released poll showed that 79 percent of Catholic voters want the next president to make jobs his top priority. Only 28 percent believed abortion should be the top priority of the next administration, and just 16 percent thought that gay marriage should be a top priority.
“Rightfully a good portion of the debate was focused on the economy. However, to listen to the US Catholic bishops, one would think that abortion, marriage equality and religious freedom are the biggest issues facing the country,” O’Brien said.
