Just in case anyone did not know this, the whole idea of being against a Catholic president because of the connection to the Pope was not a new thing in 1960. Since George Washington, Catholicism had been looked down upon by many people who believed a Catholic in power would be listening to the Pope and not the people which is why there hadn't been a Catholic in power before Kennedy. Religion, in general, on the other hand was important and still is to many. If the candidate was not religious, it was looked down upon by the voters.