Journal of Religion and Society
Abstract:
The story of the rise and transformation of the American conservative movement largely characterizes the Religious Right as established, comprised, and led by evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Through highlighting the impact of Catholic actors, institutions, and issue agendas in the years 1950–1990, however, this critical literature review illustrates that Catholics also played an important and active role. I show that Catholics fastened coalitional ties and built foundations on which the conservative movement has grown and, contrary to existing scholarship, Catholics were a faithful force in the rise of the Religious Right, rather than mere foot soldiers awaiting activation.