Posted on 03/10/2013 5:24:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Don't look at me --- I was the one arguing that the state should get out of the marriage business entirely, and that the only true state interest in marriage, from a secular point of view at least, is enforcing paternal responsibility, which has no connection to same-sex relationships. This latest poll from Quinnipiac only surprises me to the extent that Catholic voters seem to be ahead of the general population in redefining the legal definition of marriage while still identifying as Catholic:
American voter support for same-sex marriage is inching up and now stands at 47 --- 43 percent, including 54 ---- 38 percent among Catholic voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 48 – 46 percent statistical tie among all voters on same-sex marriage December 5 and reverses the 55 – 36 percent opposition in a July, 2008, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. …
“Catholic voters are leading American voters toward support for same-sex marriage,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Among all voters, there is almost no gender gap, but a big age gap. Voters 18 to 34 years old support same sex marriage 62 – 30 percent; voters 35 to 54 years old are divided 48 – 45 percent and voters over 55 are opposed 50 – 39 percent.["]
This seems surprising for two reasons. First, as a rule, the Catholic voting bloc doesn’t truly lead much anymore. They tend to just reflect the current status quo of the general electorate. This kind of gap from the topline finding is unusual, and perhaps speaks to the demographics of self-identifying Catholics in the US — more centralized in urban areas, trending younger, but perhaps more culturally and ethnically identified than practicing. Only 31% in this sample attend Mass every week, and another 12% “almost” every week. By contrast, 39% either “never” attend Mass or only attend a few times a year, with 18% only attending “once or twice a month.”
The other surprise is the significant majority presented in this poll that is willing to let the state redefine what is a sacrament in the religion with which these voters are affiliated. It’s certainly intellectually possible to separate the church function in marriage from the state function, and a good number of decent and well-intentioned members of my faith make that argument. Unfortunately, in the real world, those functions have been linked, and it’s not too difficult to see what will happen in the future if the state redefines marriage. Eventually, a refusal to perform these unions will result in state sanctions and potentially the end of the ability of the church to perform one of its core sacramental duties; the HHS contraception mandate shows the demands popular culture will make on those of faith, and the penalties for refusal.
Also, not to hammer the point unnecessarily, but marriage in the Catholic faith is not a utilitarian tool for worldly pleasure. It’s a mirror of the internal life of the Trinity, which like its progenitor creates life and operates on both a material and spiritual plane to help us attain the holiness that will eventually (we certainly hope) bring us into that Trinitarian presence for eternity. That’s why it’s considered a sacrament, and why the Church teaches that marriages have to be open to new life in order to operate in a fully sacramental way — which, by the way, is the reason that the next Pope isn’t going to bless same-sex marriage or contraception, no matter how much the media wants it. Now, secular voters aren’t required to believe this, but one might think that Catholic voters would. The question of whether they have been taught this by their churches is certainly open to debate, however.
Yesterday I met author Christopher Ferrara, who wrote a provocative book called Liberty, the God That Failed: Policing the Sacred and Constructing the Myths of the Secular State, from Locke to Obama, which explores some of these issues. Chris is also president and chief counsel of the American Catholic Lawyers Association, which takes the cases of Catholics facing legal action for living their faith in the world, especially focused on pro-life issues. Chris and I discussed these issues yesterday at the media center here at the Vatican:
I may catch up with Chris later to discuss more of the issues facing this conclave and the Catholic Church in the US.
Satire?
Something something salt something something savor
RE: Satire?
You decide.
See here:
TITLE:
American Catholics Support Same-Sex Marriage, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Catholics Want New Direction From Next Pope
EXCERPT:
American voter support for same-sex marriage is inching up and now stands at 47 - 43 percent, including 54 - 38 percent among Catholic voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 48 - 46 percent statistical tie among all voters on same-sex marriage December 5 and reverses the 55 - 36 percent opposition in a July, 2008, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
Among all adult Catholics, 52 percent say the Church is moving in the right direction, while 31 percent say it is going in the wrong direction.
Church leaders are out of touch with the views of Catholics in America today, all Catholics say 52 - 40 percent. Men say out of touch, 54 - 37 percent, while women agree by a smaller 49 - 43 percent margin.
The next pope should move the Church in new directions, 55 percent of Catholics say, while 38 percent say the pope should maintain the current direction.
“Catholic voters are leading American voters toward support for same-sex marriage,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Among all voters, there is almost no gender gap, but a big age gap. Voters 18 to 34 years old support same sex marriage 62 - 30 percent; voters 35 to 54 years old are divided 48 - 45 percent and voters over 55 are opposed 50 - 39 percent.
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST
Another dummy repeating the dumbest argument ever.
A poll of the people is an excellent source of truth for religious direction. The crowd around the Arc and the bunch at Sodom and Gomorrah had the right ideas, didn’t they?
REGISTERED VOTERS..........................................
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp
Support 47% 23% 65% 50% 46% 48% 48% 32% 63%
Oppose 43 69 29 38 44 42 43 56 32
DK/NA 10 8 6 12 9 10 9 12 5
WHITE...............................................
COLLEGE DEG BornAgnEv
Cath Yes No Prot Cath Men Wom Yes No
Support 54% 59% 42% 34% 50% 45% 50% 20% 55%
Oppose 38 32 48 55 41 46 40 72 34
DK/NA 8 9 9 10 9 9 9 7 11
COLLEGE DEG ANNUAL HSHOLD INC AGE IN YRS....... Mltry
Yes No <50K 50-100 >100K 18-34 35-54 55+ HsHld
Support 58% 42% 43% 54% 58% 62% 48% 39% 43%
Oppose 32 48 47 37 37 30 45 50 45
DK/NA 10 9 9 9 6 7 7 11 12 |
I have noticed and believe that quinnipiac is pretty anti-Catholic so a little investigation was in order.
http://www.catholicleague.org/quinnipiac-poll-on-gay-marriage/
“Quinnipiac asked Catholic voters 14 questions on issues of interest to them, and on all but one the survey disaggregated the answers on the basis of church attendance. The one exception was on same-sex marriage.”
Now, if there wasn’t an agenda why didn’t they?
I think this survey reflects what the general Roman Catholic electorate voted for in November 2012. Remember, Obama is the gay-marriage and abortion (up to and including infanticide) supporting President.
Post-election polling shows U.S. Roman Catholics were as likely to favor President Barack Obama as the general population in 2012, continuing the Catholic record as the bellwether of the popular vote.
Catholics – the country’s largest religious group with one-quarter of the population – have supported the winner of the popular vote in every election since 1972.
See here:
http://www.cathnewsusa.com/2012/11/most-catholics-vote-for-obama-but-latinos-and-whites-divided/
EXCERPT:
Reuters/Ipsos exit polling found that 51 percent of Catholics favored President Barack Obama, compared with 48 percent for Republican contender Mitt Romney. A report by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life had a similar finding, with 50 percent of Catholics for Obama and 48 percent for Romney, the same as the popular vote in the general population.
Hispanic Catholics were far more likely to favor Obama – by 76 percent to 23 percent – than white Catholics, who favored Romney by 56 percent to 43 percent, according to the Reuters poll. Black Protestants favored Obama by 97 percent to 3 percent, while white Protestants favored Romney by 69 percent compared to 29 percent for Obama.
“When you talk about Catholics, there are really two Catholic votes, the white vote and the Hispanic vote, which look starkly different,” said Robert Jones, chief executive of the Public Religion Research Institute. He said exit polls found that overall, voters were focused mainly on economic issues.
Good research.
Even well-known Athiest Penn Jillette knows that not all self-professed catholics are truly Catholics!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsqzCDaS5uI
Just because these morons call themselves Catholic doesn’t mean they truly are.
Just like all of those Jews who hate Israel.
Lies.
CINOs are being quoted as REAL Catholics. Sickening.
When will something be done about the Hispanics and Black Protestants that voted for Obama?? I know Catholics are working on the Hispanics. I wonder what is happening with the black Protestants -- NOTHING?
we refer to these lost souls as CINO’s Catholics in name only.....you cannot be a participating Catholic and preach this nonsense......Easter is coming and I’m certain that many of them might even show up for their semi-annual Mass....
Exactly. People who never attend Mass (or only attend it at Christmas and Easter) aren’t legitimate Catholics.
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