Originally Posted by femmefatale

Sinn Fein has always been a bit ambivalent about the Church. The latters criticism of republicanism isolated and aggravated many. I predict Sinn Fein will face difficulties in the future because of this though. The people who vote for them are among some of the most committed Catholic communities in Ireland. In years to come, as Sinn Fein continue to move from protest politics to actually holding political office, their policies, on issues beyond the national question, will cancel out a lot of their current support. Most Catholics believe in Catholic education and would not be up for Sinn Feins 'progressive' attitude to socio-moral issues.