"You can accomplish a lot more by inviting folks of different political loyalties to an uplifting evening, rather than in closing the door to them."

U.S. voters—especially evangelicals—appear to have vanquished their inner Puritan and are now far more accepting of sinning politicians.

Support for the death penalty has slipped to just below 50 percent, its lowest level in 40 years.

While Democratic presidential nominees have become almost invincible among the highly educated urbanites, Republicans have increased their margins among white voters in more rural areas.

Tobin warns against "atmosphere of fear" in Notre Dame speech, says people of faith must fight unjust policies.

Politicians, their staffs and volunteers should reflect our best aspirations as citizens," he said.

Either way, if Trump’s candidacy is a problem, pundits on the right and left have thought of it specifically as a “white trash” problem.

“The problems with the Catholic press—and they are real—will not be served by circling the wagons.”

“She did a big number on Catholics, a horrible number on Catholics...through her people,” Mr. Trump said.

Some Catholics have turned their sights to other issues—euthanasia, death penalty—that are part of the church’s pro-life agenda.