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According to the latest census information, Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, and are already a significant force in American politics. While Latinos voted strongly Democratic in 2008, both parties are increasingly competing for their support. One potent question is the potential importance to Hispanics of "culture war" wedge issues such as gay marriage and abortion.
A 2012 study published in Politics and Religion, "Do Latino Christians and Seculars Fit the Culture War Profile? Latino Religiosity and Political Behavior," examines the political behavior of evangelical, Catholic and secular Latinos. The researchers, at the University of Southern Mississippi, sought to determine if the effect of religiosity on Latino voting patterns is similar to that of whites and African Americans, especially on "culture war" issues. The study utilizes data from a 2006 Pew survey of 4,016 Hispanic adults.
The study's findings include:
While political commentators often paint Latinos with a broad brush, particularly when speaking of "the Latino vote," the researchers state, "Latino political behavior may not be nearly as cohesive as conventional wisdom holds." The "culture war" dichotomy describes the split between the attitudes of evangelical and secular Latinos with some accuracy, but beyond abortion, the effect of religion on the political beliefs of committed Catholic Latinos is less categorical.
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