Ahead of midterms, economic justice ranks above life issues for many Catholics, researcher says

The majority of Catholic voters cited the cost of living, inflation, and unemployment as higher priorities than life issues in polling ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to a Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) survey that has not yet been made public.

Mark Gray, CARA director at Georgetown University, told anchor Veronica Dudo on “EWTN News Nightly” on Oct. 19 that the nationwide poll, conducted over the summer, will be released later this week.

Gray, who directs the Catholic research institute that conducts surveys, demographic studies, and social-science research on the Catholic Church, said respondents ranked marriage as the most important Church-related issue, ahead of life issues, but that economic concerns, including unemployment, ranked higher overall.

“We did ask respondents about the importance of Church teachings. And life issues are certainly important,” Gray said. “But also economic justice is also right there. Itʼs actually above the life issues at the current moment."

According to Gray, the majority of Catholics said “high cost of living and inflation and unemployment” rank ahead of life issues as the Nov. 3 elections loom.…