There are approximately a million practising Catholics in England and Wales, many of whom are among the older generation. As a demographic group, this is one which might be characterised by its conscientiousness: practising Catholics are more serious about their religion than non-practising Catholics, and older voters are much more likely to cast their ballots in an election than younger voters. Political parties should be falling over themselves to attract the Catholic vote. But arguably the reverse is the case: two of the mainstream parties seem to be doing as much as they can to alienate Catholics.