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Religious groups' political divide here to stay, expert says
...Bush received a majority of votes from eight religious groups, mainly described in the survey as traditionalists -- those with orthodox beliefs and practices -- and centrists -- those with moderate beliefs and practices.

He also received a majority of the Latino Protestant vote. His single most important group was traditionalist Evangelicals.

Kerry's most important group was black Protestants. His constituency was made up of five religious groups, including Jews and modernist mainline Protestants, or those with modern beliefs and practices.

The most dramatic change in support between the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections was among mainline Protestants, who evenly divided their votes between the presidential candidates. That shift represented a big decrease for Bush and the highest level of support for a Democratic candidate from that religious group in recent times.

Traditionally, mainline Protestants have been a strong constituency for Republicans.

Traditionalist mainliners, or those with highly orthodox beliefs and practices, were more likely to support the president. But the modernist mainliners, or those with modern beliefs and practices, backed Kerry.

Survey results also indicated a sharp internal divide among Catholics. Traditionalists and centrists backed Bush, but modernist Catholics preferred Kerry....