Tag Archives: public opinion
Again and Again, Statistics Tell a Positive Story About Catholics
Over the past month, several polls have confirmed what many previous polls have already shown: the Catholic laity support LGBT equality, including marriage equality.
In the most recent survey, a Quinnipiac poll released last week, Catholics outpace average Americans when it comes to marriage equality. According to Newsmax.com:
“While same sex unions are approved by 48 percent to 46 percent overall, Catholics give them the thumbs-up by 49 percent to 43 percent, the survey from Quinnipiac University found.
“ ‘It seems pretty clear that attitudes toward same-sex marriage in American society are changing rapidly,’ said Peter Brown, the assistant director of the Connecticut university’s polling institute.
“ ‘While the country remains split on the issue, supporters have come pretty far in the last four years.’ . . .
“The biggest opposition among any group is with white Protestants who oppose it 63 percent to 32 percent.”
A Public Religion Research Institute report confirms that Catholics are ahead of the average American population on marriage equality:
“A slim majority (52%) of Americans favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, and 44% oppose.
“Among religious groups, majorities of Catholics (59%), white mainline Protestants (56%), and the unaffiliated (77%) favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.”
A recent survey of Catholics in Illinois, conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, showed an overwhelming majority support some form of legal relationship recognition for lesbian/gay couples. According to LGBTQNation.com:
“. . . 81 percent of Catholics surveyed support either full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples or the right to a civil union. Specifically, 39.9 percent said they support marriage rights and 40.1 percent said their position is for same-sex couples to have civil unions. Only 15.7 percent said there should be no legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
“. . . the same poll found that 43.6 percent of Illinois residents approve of full marriage equality, 31.8 percent preferred civil unions and 20.2 percent said there should be no legal recognition. In 2010, the same poll reported 33.6 percent of people were in favor of marriage rights.”
The Illinois statistics are significant because that state, which already has a civil unions law, may well take up the discussion of a marriage equality law in 2013.
–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry
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Poll: Gay Marriage Gaining Support, Especially Among Catholics
Roman Catholic voters are more accepting of gay marriage than other Americans, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
While same sex unions are approved by 48 percent to 46 percent overall, Catholics give them the thumbs-up by 49 percent to 43 percent, the survey from Quinnipiac University found.
“It seems pretty clear that attitudes toward same-sex marriage in American society are changing rapidly,” said Peter Brown, the assistant director of the Connecitcut university’s polling institute.
“While the country remains split on the issue, supporters have come pretty far in the last four years.”
The poll found that men in particular have shifted their position. Four years ago they opposed gay marriage by 61 percent to 31 percent. That figure is now down to 50 percent opposition and 43 percent support. Women now back gay marriage by 52 percent to 42 percent.
The biggest opposition among any group is with white Protestants who oppose it 63 percent to 32 percent.
-more at NewsMax.
Related articles
- Polls Shows Growing Catholic, Male Support For Same-Sex Marriage: VIDEO (towleroad.com)
- Gay marriage: France is not uptight … but some French politicians are | Romain Burrel (guardian.co.uk)
- MSU Poll: Gay Marriage Gaining Support In Michigan (detroit.cbslocal.com)
- Gov. Signs Wash. Gay Marriage Law (abcnews.go.com)
- BREAKING: Mexican Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban On Gay Marriage (joemygod.blogspot.com)
61% of UK Christians back equal rights for gay couples – Survey
There is extensive evidence that the US is moving to embrace full equality for lesbian and gay couples, and that Catholics are more supportive than the population at large. American Evangelicals though, remain (mostly) hostile. There has not been nearly as much polling for the UK, but a new survey shows even more support than in the US – including from 61% of all Christians.
61% of Christians back equal rights for gay couples
Results of a poll released today say 61% of people in the UK who identify as Christian back fully equal rights for gay couples.
The 2011 Ipsos MORI study explored the “beliefs, knowledge and attitudes” of people who identified as Christian after the nationwide census last year.
74% of respondents said as Christians they thought religion should not have a special influence on public life.
The survey was conducted on behalf of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.
Six in ten respondents, 61%, agreed that gays should have the same rights in all aspects of their lives as straight people.
Only 29% said they disapproved of sexual relationships between gays. Nearly half said they did not actively disapprove.
A word of caution here, is that the survey was sponsored by the explicitly secularist Richard Dawkins Foundation, which is using the results to demonstrate that the UK is a secular society, and not a “Christian country”. It does not appear to have released the full questionnaire or tables. The only results currently available are those selected for inclusion in the press release by the Foundation. In particular, the description “Christian” appears to be used for those who describe themselves as such – many of whom do not actively practice their religion.
There is no reason to disregard the main thrust of the finding though, which is in agreement with what previous research is available. British opinion is firmly on the side of LGBT inclusion – and that includes those who think of themselves Christian.