Dual loyalty is a shorthand for the accusation that citizens of one state whose cultural or religious affiliation with another country is strong have a loyalty to the other country which equals or exceeds their loyalty to their home country. Such accusations are often leveled against those of minority religious views who feel a loyalty to their faith as well as their country.
In modern times, the charge of dual loyalty is often applied to Jews outside of Israel. Such accusations of dual loyalty are generally considered to be a form of anti-Semitism, especially when no additional justification for the charge is given.
Similarly, Catholics have been accused of dual loyalty due to their affiliation with the Vatican and the Pope; in particular, this was widely urged in the United States as a reason not to vote for John F. Kennedy for president in 1960.
