Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Catholics SUpport Marriage Equality. . .and the Polls


Again and Again, Statistics Tell a Positive Story About Catholics

by newwaysministryblog

statisticsOver 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."
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 toLGBTQNation.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

7 comments:

JustinO'Shea said...

Doesn't this sound like I am bragging? Hmmm. . maybe it does and maybe I am. . .

I am happy to see the heavy swing of the Catholic vote on this issue. In the last elections when 4 States voted for same-gender marriagee or voted to oppose a constitution ban on marriage equality, the heaviest numbers who from voters who identified as Catholic.

One of the heavy messages contained in this vote was a notice to the U.S. bishops that Catholics in general favor equality and strongly oppose the huge amount of money spent by the bishops in the 4 States to try to defeat the favorable votes.

I hope these gentleman are informed enough to realize that their tax exempt status in under careful legal scrutiny because of the bishops' political activities. (And, by the way, I strongly suspect their so-called GOP "friends" with whom they ally will be right there "for the kill". . .

Wisdom from a Salada tea-bag: "Why does history repeat itself? Because no one listens the first time."

J said...

The complete disconnect between the laity and Rome is schizophrenic at best. I can't see how your church has a very bright future unless there is change in thinking at the top.

JustinO'Shea said...

Btw, many of the US clergy - lower eschelon..lol. . .are "with the laity" and the Sisters. . . ;-)

So, wanna know how it is all gonna end? Stay tuned. . . .hehehee. . .be my guest. It's gonna be quite the trip. . . .

p.s. Keep an eye open to the newest and youngest cardinal recently named by Benedict. . .the guy from the Philippines. . . .

Gary Kelly said...

If Rome believes that contraception is wrong, that the only purpose of sex is to have children, that marriage is basically a license to have sex, and that gay sex is wrong, then how can it sanction same sex marriage?

JustinO'Shea said...

GARY. . .good questions!

JustinO'Shea said...

Amen, Bro-THER. . . Amen. . .

Aaaaah - MEN !

(Hey, Coopsta, I'm H_O_M_E. . .on The Dunes ! Hallelujaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Cacth up with ya in a bit. .. ;-))

JustinO'Shea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.