---
title: "Religion and Politics ’08: Rudolph Giuliani"
description: "Background Hometown New York, N.Y. Age 65 Religion Roman Catholic Education New York University School of Law, J.D., 1968 Manhattan College, B.A., 1965 Candidate Website www.joinrudy2008.com Candidacy Status Filed “statement of candidacy” in February 2007. Formally withdrew candidacy Jan. 30, 2008. Endorsed John McCain Jan. 30, 2008. Political Experience Mayor, New York City, 1994-2001 U.S. […]"
date: "2008-11-04"
authors:
  - name: "Benjamin Wormald"
    job_title: "Senior Engineer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/benjamin-wormald/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-rudolph-giuliani/"
categories:
  - "Election 2008"
  - "Religion"
  - "U.S. Elections & Voters"
---

# Religion and Politics ’08: Rudolph Giuliani

![giuliani(1)](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2013/05/profile_large_giuliani.jpg)

## Background

**Hometown** New York, N.Y.

**Age** 65

**Religion** Roman Catholic

**Education** New York University School of Law, J.D., 1968 Manhattan College, B.A., 1965

**Candidate Website** [www.joinrudy2008.com](http://www.joinrudy2008.com/)

**Candidacy Status** Filed "statement of candidacy" in February 2007. Formally withdrew candidacy Jan. 30, 2008. Endorsed John McCain Jan. 30, 2008.

**Political Experience** Mayor, New York City, 1994-2001 U.S. Attorney, 1981-1989

**Professional Experience** Partner, Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP, 2005-present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Giuliani Partners, LLC, 2002-present

**Family Information** Spouse: Judith Nathan Children: Andrew Giuliani, Caroline Giuliani

## Religious Biography

**In His Own Words**

"The [Catholic] church has built the road that allows my intellect to traverse to the outer reaches of what is comprehensible and, at that point, the church offers a leap of faith to carry me where my intellect cannot go. For me, being a Catholic is not limiting but liberating." ([New York Times, April 21, 1994](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE7DA1231F932A15757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print))

Giuliani, the grandson of Italian immigrants, was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., as a [Roman Catholic](http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm). As a young man, he considered the priesthood but decided to pursue a legal career. In 1982, Giuliani had his 14-year marriage to Regina Peruggi [annulled](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/13/AR2007021301225_pf.html) by the Catholic Church, claiming he had learned the two were second cousins and that therefore the marriage was never valid in the eyes of the church. In 2000, Giuliani [declined](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7D6133EF933A25751C0A9669C8B63) to answer questions about his church attendance, calling it a personal matter.

Four months into his tenure as New York City's mayor, Giuliani gave a major [speech](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE7DA1231F932A15757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print) on religion and politics. He called for tolerance of people's right to express religious views and discussed how Catholicism has allowed him to wrestle with life's big questions. "For me," Giuliani said, "being a Catholic is not limiting but liberating." In 1999, Giuliani [threatened](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec99/art_10-8.html) the Brooklyn Museum with the loss of city funding if it did not remove several works, including a depiction of the Virgin Mary that Giuliani and others called "anti-Catholic."

If nominated, Giuliani would be the fourth Roman Catholic to win a presidential nomination and the first Catholic Republican to do so. If elected, he would be the second Catholic president, following John F. Kennedy.

## On The Issues

**Abortion **Giuliani [says](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/10/us/politics/10rudy.html?ex=1174190400&en=050bbc26d74fdc86&ei=5070) he "hates" abortion, but adds, "I believe in a woman's right to choose." In a May 2007 [debate](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/04/AR2007050402076.html), he said it would be "OK" if Roe v. Wade were overturned and "OK" if not, but later[clarified](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/us/politics/10giuliani.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1179244812-bm275imiTIqErMJTZ/bp2w) his stance, calling a woman's right to choose one of his "[core beliefs](http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usrudy0512,0,3477164.story?coll=ny-mets-print)." In October 2007, Giuliani [pledged](http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/919) to find new ways to support organizations that promote alternatives to abortion. As mayor of New York City, Giuliani approved government funding for abortion and opposed a ban on partial-birth abortion, saying he wanted to "preserve the option for women." He also [donated](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/08/giuliani.abortion/index.html)money to Planned Parenthood, a group that advocates for abortion rights. [Prior to his first campaign](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7D91E30F937A3575BC0A96F948260) for mayor in 1989, however, Giuliani opposed abortion rights. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Church and State **As mayor, Giuliani [emphasized](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE7DA1231F932A15757C0A962958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print) that believers and atheists alike must tolerate each others' views. During his 2000 senate campaign against Hillary Clinton, Giuliani [said](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7D6133EF933A25751C0A9669C8B63) the Ten Commandments are ''part of Western civilization,'' and ''if teachers want to emphasize what is in it and talk about it, there shouldn't be some kind of inquisition that they can't do that.'' [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Death Penalty **Giuliani [favors](http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/12/16/ret.giuliani.walker/index.html) the death penalty and has advocated for capital punishment for those who commit treason against the United States. He [testified](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4943196.stm) in convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui's death penalty trial and urged prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh. Giuliani has said the death penalty is "justified and [an] effective deterrent for other people doing the same thing." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Education **As mayor, Giuliani [advocated](http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0F15FD35580C708CDDAA0894D1494D81) a school voucher program that would use tax dollars to send students to private schools, including religious schools. At the Values Voter Summit in October 2007, Giuliani [said](http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/919) that he favors "school choice." He [opposes](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07E1DC143CF932A15755C0A96E958260) prayer in schools, but defended a teacher fired for praying with students, saying she should have been given another chance. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Environment **Giuliani says he [believes](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/13/GIULIANI.TMP) that global warming is taking place. He says, "The big question has always been how much of it is happening because of natural climate changes and how much of it is happening because of human intervention." He has called debate over climate change "almost unnecessary … because we should be dealing with pollution anyway." Giuliani [supports](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/us/politics/17climate.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Giuliani,%20Rudolph%20W.) expanded nuclear power development, alternative energy sources and American energy independence. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Faith-Based Initiatives **During a [speech](http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/919) at the Values Voter Summit in October 2007, Giuliani pledged to work with the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives to support organizations that promote alternatives to abortion. He also cited his work with faith-based organizations as mayor of New York. Previously, the campaign had declined to take a position on faith-based initiatives. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Gay Marriage **Giuliani [opposes](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250497,00.html) gay marriage and has stated that "marriage should be between a man and a woman." He does [not](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E2D6113BF931A25754C0A9629C8B63), however, support a federal amendment banning gay marriage. As mayor, he [signed](http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/98b/pr319-98.html) legislation recognizing domestic partnerships, [marched](http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F40911FD385D0C738FDDAF0894DE494D81) in gay pride parades, actively supported gay rights and temporarily [lived](http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F70E10FB38580C778CDDA10894D9404482) with a gay couple during his divorce. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Health Care **In August 2007, Giuliani [outlined](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/us/politics/01giuliani.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Giuliani,%20Rudolph%20W.) a health care plan that would move away from the current model of employer-provided health care by providing tax exemptions to families or individuals who buy their own insurance. He says that the resulting competition among insurance agencies would drive down the price of health coverage. Generally, Giuliani [advocates](http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=49337) expanding access to health insurance through "free market principles" and has criticized proposals for universal health care, saying that "socialization" is not the solution. As mayor, he [implemented](http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/bio.html) a program called HealthStat, which identified and enrolled uninsured children in health insurance programs. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Immigration **Giuliani [supports](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,250497,00.html) comprehensive immigration reform that includes a process to "regularize" undocumented immigrants, but insists that he does not believe in amnesty. He also says reforms should strengthen border security and require immigrants to learn English. As mayor, he[emphasized](http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/98a/lulac.html) the positive contributions of immigrants and called federal immigration laws "harsh and unfair." He also [barred](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE0D7163BF93AA25754C0A961958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fI%2fIllegal%20Immigrants) New York City employees from reporting illegal immigrants seeking government assistance. Giuliani [criticized](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/29/nyregion/29license.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Giuliani,%20Rudolph%20W.) a New York state proposal to allow immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Iraq War **Giuliani [supported](http://www.nytimes.com/ref/us/politics/IRAQPOSITIONS.html?hp) President Bush's January 2007 decision to increase troops and has said pulling the U.S. military out of Iraq would be a "terrible mistake." He advocates keeping American forces in Iraq for as long as it takes to stabilize the country, but says, "I am [not confident](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/14/giuliani.lkl/index.html) it's all going to turn around." [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Poverty **Giuliani [advocates](http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/98b/me980726.html) requiring welfare recipients to [work](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E1DE103DF936A25750C0A962958260) or engage in job training to receive benefits. New York City's welfare rolls were cut by more than half while Giuliani was mayor, and he [touts](http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=1&pageid=89) his overhaul of the city's welfare system as one of his major successes. During his 2000 senate campaign, Giuliani [indicated](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E6D71238F934A15753C1A96F958260) that he would support an increase in the minimum wage if studies showed it would not reduce the number of available jobs. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)

**Stem Cell Research **Giuliani supports loosening restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and generally broadening such research. [Compare McCain and Obama](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/11/04/religion-and-politics-08-the-candidates-on-the-issues/)