WASHINGTON (OSV News) — A large majority of Americans said political violence is a big problem, but sharp partisan differences persist on who they see as responsible, a new Marquette Law School national survey found. It was released Oct. 1, the same day the head of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference released a pastoral reflection calling on Americans to recognize each other’s human dignity and reject political violence.
Recent instances of political violence include the Sept. 10 targeted killing of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, as well as two assassination attempts against Trump, but also the targeted killings of Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and the firebombing of the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, which is being investigated as the attempted murder of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Majority in poll says political violence unjustified
Marquette conducted its survey of 1,000 adults nationwide Sept. 15-24 in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination.
An overwhelming majority (89%) said political violence is always unjustified and 58% said it is always unacceptable to be happy about the death of a person they oppose.
A combined majority said political violence is either “a very big problem” (38%) or “a moderately big problem” (38%).
Just 19% of Americans called political violence “a small problem,” and only 4% said it was not a problem.
Political stance and views on blame noted in political violence poll
Asked which is a bigger problem, 27% of respondents said left-wing violence, while 22% said right-wing violence. But 51% of Americans said both are an equal problem.
Both respondents who identified as Republicans and those who identified as Democrats were similarly likely to blame the other side of the aisle for escalating political violence: 57% of Republicans said left-wing violence is the bigger problem and just 3% said right-wing violence is more of a problem. Meanwhile, 50% of Democrats said right-wing violence is the bigger problem, while just 4% said left-wing violence is the bigger problem.
Independents were more likely to place equal blame on both sides, with 87% saying they see left and right-wing violence as an equal problem, and just 4% saying the left is a bigger problem, and 9% saying the right is the bigger problem.
Americans “pessimistic” about reducing political conflict, violence
Meanwhile, the Jesuit school’s poll also found Americans are “pessimistic” about reducing intense political conflict and violence. Thirty-one percent of respondents said they think a path to reducing such instances can be found, but 69% said the country is so divided that they think the conflict and violence will escalate. A majority across the board — 63% of Republicans, 72% of independents, and 73% of Democrats — believe political violence will increase.
The same day the survey was released, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, released what the conference called “an invitation for reflection” to mark the fifth anniversary of “Fratelli Tutti,” Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship, in which he condemned political violence.
“I ask every American to reflect on the value of every human life. I beg you to see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose,” Archbishop Broglio wrote.
He called for all Americans to examine their consciences, recognizing that “decent people of every political persuasion continue to fall victim to this deadly trend,” and to take concrete actions to mend a wounded society.
The USCCB also said it would provide Catholics with a variety of resources to help implement the vision of “Fratelli Tutti” on its fifth anniversary, available at its website usccb.org. This includes information on its CivilizeIt initiative, the “Fratelli Tutti Study Guide,” resources on Catholic social teaching and the corporal works of mercy.
Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
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