The shared religious values of Catholics often unite them in voting for socially conservative candidates; however, in a recent public opinion survey, researchers noted that Catholics with blue-collar occupations (e.g., service technicians or maintenance workers) tended to support candidates who also favored the death penalty, whereas white-collar Catholics (e.g., lawyers or accountants) tended to oppose the death penalty. What explains this division?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The division is explained by crosscutting cleavages, which occur when different factors, such as occupation or income level, intersect with religious beliefs to influence political opinions and behaviors differently among members of the same religious group.

The Shared Religious Values of Catholics Often Unite Them in Voting