Posted on 08/27/2015 2:15:17 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A study by the Public Religion Research Institute released in August on the beliefs of American Catholics has found that despite the Church's teachings, they support same-sex marriage and abortion just as much as the general population. What is more, a large percentage of Catholic respondents mistakenly believed Pope Francis has backed gay marriage.
A profile on American Catholics shared by PRRI noted that they make up roughly one in five, or 22 percent of all American adults, with 59 percent of Catholics categorized as white non-Hispanic, while 34 percent identifying as Hispanic.
When asked about whether gay and lesbian couples should have the legal right to marry, 60 percent of all U.S. Catholics said that they are in favor - compared to 55 percent of all Americans.
Similarly, 51 percent of Catholics said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases — with 53 percent of the general population saying the same.
The views stand in contrast with the official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, which defines marriage as a union only between a man and a woman, and strongly opposes the practice of abortion.
While American Catholic views of Pope Francis remained favorable, they also revealed great confusion about where he stands on issues such as gay marriage. As many as 49 percent of Catholics who backed gay marriage also believed that the pontiff has backed the practice, and even 15 percent of those opposed to same-sex marriage believed the same.
The survey, which was based on a total sample of 1,331 interviews conducted between Aug. 5-11, noted that there was a deep partisan divide on issues, with roughly one-third of Republican Catholics supporting abortion in all or most cases, compared to nearly two-thirds of Democratic Catholics saying the same.
Catholic groups in America, such as the The Little Sisters of the Poor, have been involved in court battles with President Barack Obama's administration, seeking exemption from the federal birth control mandate, which is forcing them to provide employee healthcare plans that include free contraceptives.
Pope Francis has spoken out both in favor of the Catholic definition of marriage and its views of life, though an ongoing petition from the conservative Tradition Family Property Student Action has called on the pontiff to clarify the "widespread confusion" in society over the Catholic stance on hot-button issues.
"After Ireland and the U.S. Supreme Court both approved same-sex 'marriage,' a strong reaffirmation of Church teaching could save the sacred institution of marriage, strengthen the family and dispel the lies of the homosexual revolution," said John Ritchie, director of Tradition Family Property Student Action
"Young Catholics — even non-Catholics — look to the Church as a beacon of morality and stability in our Godless culture, but some of our shepherds have issued confusing statements."
The petition, calling on Francis to speak out at the upcoming Synod on the Family in October, has been signed by over half a million people, including five cardinals, 117 bishops, and hundreds of civil leaders.
Oh great. Another Catholic bashing thread.
/sarc
If only 1 in 5 Americans support gay marriage, why is it now mandatory for all states? Tyranny of the courts.
The Pope has opened the flood gates and openly stirred this pot of ashes and he can openly put out the fire. But, will he?
I think he may retire first, and leave the mess for others who are worse to clean up.
This isn’t over.
I’m a Catholic and I don’t find this topic to be bashing the Church.
The results speak for themselves and are sad and alarming.
+1
I’m afraid that RCC, Orthodox or protestant all have those who claim to belong, who are heterodox. When swimming in the sewer one is likely to acquire an unsightly smell. The culture is the sewer and all are affected. The mainline denominations have long ago abandoned truth for feelings. PSUSA, ELCA, UMC, et al they have all turned toward antinomianism; we can hardly blame the RC’s for the same without being hypocrites. Even with their top-down authoritarian structure the RCC cannot escape the cultural assault on the Lordship of Christ. There is a winnowing fork that does not respect denomination that will separate wheat and chaff on a very different criteria.
Really? Because - as you say - “The results speak for themselves and are sad and alarming”; then in fact this DOES bash the Catholic Church.
Yeah, I suppose. You’re probably right.
CINO’s right? Catholics in name only.
It’s not “bashing” to point out where some of the leaders of the Church have failed to forcefully uphold the perennial teachings of the faith.
Of course, the people in the pews need to pray for and encourage their pastors to stay the course, no matter how much persecution comes their way. This problem of weak leadership is a result of our fallen human nature, and is found in all the churches and in society at large.
RE: Oh great. Another Catholic bashing thread.
Let’s not confuse what the Church teaches with what those who profess to be Catholics believe shall we...
**Believe Pope Francis Has Backed It**
Another misinformed reporter.
Similarly, 51 percent of Catholics said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases — with 53 percent of the general population saying the same.
Similar to results of other researchers, but many RCs blame such in bias.
He is referring to a knee-jerk reaction often seen by certain RCs regularly on the RF in response to most anything by Prots that impugns Roman Catholicism, even the use of the abbreviation "RC." Some have blamed such consistent poll results on bias. Of course, a poll by the church itself was also confirmatory of overall liberal fruit.
RE: Another misinformed reporter.
Misinformed Reporter? Or misinformed Catholics who were surveyed?
Unfortunately, I have known one so called evangelical who showed support for the gay lifestyle. I quit associating with him. That is the only one I knew for sure, and I had suspected he was gay for years.
Where would Catholics get the idea the Pope supports gay marriage?
Could it have something to do with the fact that he has exiled from the Vatican everyone who opposes gay marriage, etc.?
Could it have something to do with the fact that he elevates and appoints notoriously homosexual bishops and Cardinals, and has had a Conga-line of pro-gay, pro-fornication, pro-adultery “theologians” coming to advise him?
RE: Where would Catholics get the idea the Pope supports gay marriage?
What we need is a FORCEFUL PUBLIC, UNEQUIVOCAL statement from Pope Francis about the church’s stand on both abortion and marriage.
When he comes to the USA, I’d like him to address PUBLICLY the issue of Planned Parenthood’s sale of baby parts.
Most recently, all we’ve been hearing from him is Climate Change.
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