Bennis had attained approximately 5% of the vote in the 1994 European election in the Munster constituency, running under the Family First label.

Bennis played a role in the campaign against the divorce referendum of that year, which passed with 50.3% of vote in favour.

The party's policies also included financial support for rural communities and a smaller role for the state in economic affairs.

The party ran three candidates in the 2016 general election;[6][7] Bennis in Limerick City, Heaney in Cork South-West and Noel McKervey in Longford-Westmeath.

[8] In November 2017, the Standards in Public Office Commission stated that no statements of accounts had been received from the Catholic Democrats, in breach of the Electoral Act.