Catholic Attitudes A presentation to the National Catholic Reporter May 6, 2010
Sample Catholic US adults Catholic US adults Catholic US adults Catholic US adults Catholic US adults Catholic US adults Methodology Sampl Margin Start e of Error Date Size 705 +/- 3.7% 4/23/1 2/23/0 0 767 +/- 3.6% 12/10/ 9 1,202 +/- 2.9% 10/17/ 08 1,000 +/- 3.2% 8/14/0 08 1,217 +/- 2.9% 3/25/0 8 1,500 +/- 2.6% 8 Note: Data is weighted by age, region, race, and gender to more accurately reflect the population. Margins of error are higher in subgroups. End Date 4/25/1 2/25/0 0 12/13/ 9 10/20/ 08 8/16/0 08 3/27/0 8 8
Current Political Opinions
Obama approval Catholics are more likely to disapprove of Obama s job performance than the general population Q. Overall, do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama s job as president? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010
Right track/wrong track Catholics are more likely to believe the country is on the wrong track Q. Overall, do you think the U.S is on the right direction, or are things on the wrong track? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010
Midterm elections Catholics are more likely to say they ll vote for Republican candidates in 2010 Q. In the Congressional race in 2010, for which party s candidate do you intend to vote? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010
Support of health care reform Catholics are more likely to not support Congress s recent healthcare reform act Q. Do you support or oppose the healthcare reform act recently passed by Congress? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010
Rights of illegal immigrants Catholics and the general public have similar views on rights of illegal immigrants Q. Level of agreement Illegal immigrants to the US are entitled to the same rights and basic freedoms as U.S. citizens Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010
Approval of Pope Benedict XVI, US Bishops, and Parish Priests Note: All remaining slides report data on Catholics only
Approval over time- summary Pope Benedict XVI s job approval has declined fifteen percentage points in the past two years. Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job that Pope Benedict XVI is doing? Source: Zogby Interactive surveys, various years
Approval over time- summary The US Bishops job approval has declined seventeen percentage points in the past two years.
Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation 56% give Pope Benedict XVI a fair or poor rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church
Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation 65% give Pope Benedict XVI a fair or poor rating on his previous handling (made while he was still a Cardinal) of sexual abuse within the Church
Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation 72% give the American Bishops a fair or poor rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church
Should Benedict XVI resign? 64% believe Pope Benedict XVI should continue as Pope and not resign.
Catholics and Voting
Parties and Catholic values Majorities of all groups say it depends on the issue when asked which party better represents Catholic values Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values? Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
Parties and Catholic Values Majorities of all groups say it depends on the issue when asked which party better represents the interest of Catholics Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values? Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
Catholic politicians and communion Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion. Q. Level of agreement Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
Catholic politicians and communion Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion. Q. Level of agreement Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
What should affect vote choice? Majorities agree that a person can be a good Catholic if they vote for politicians associated with divorce, abortion rights, death penalty and stem cell research. Q. A person can be a good Catholic if they vote for a politician who Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
What should affect vote choice? Majorities disagree that a person can be a good Catholic if they vote for politicians associated with same-sex marriage, euthanasia, or human cloning. Q. A person can be a good Catholic if they vote for a politician who Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008
Abortion
Abortion 1 Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about Source: abortion Zogby laws? International Survey, October 2008
Abortion and mass attendance Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about Source: abortion Zogby laws? International Survey, October 2008
Abortion and age Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about Source: abortion Zogby laws? International Survey, October 2008
Abortion and ethnicity Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about Source: abortion Zogby laws? International Survey, October 2008
Is abortion a sin? Majorities of all groups agree that it is a sin to have an abortion. Q. Level of agreement It is a sin to have an abortion. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008
Is abortion a sin? Frequent mass attendees are most likely to agree that it is a sin to have an abortion. Q. Level of agreement It is a sin to have an abortion. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008
Death Penalty
Is the death penalty always wrong? Those who attend mass weekly are most likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong. Q. Level of agreement The death penalty is always wrong. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007
Is the death penalty always wrong? Younger respondents are more likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong. Q. Level of agreement The death penalty is always wrong. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007
Women
Women and the Priesthood Younger respondents are more likely to agree that women should be ordained as Priests Q. Level of agreement The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007
Women and the Priesthood Frequent Mass attendees are more likely to disagree that women should be ordained as priests Q. Level of agreement The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007
Health Care
Health Care 1 Majority strongly agrees that health care is a basic human right Q. Level of agreement health care is a basic human right Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Health Care and age Younger respondents are slightly more likely to believe health care is a basic human right Q. Level of agreement health care is a basic human right Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Health Care and Mass attendance Less frequent mass attendees are more likely to agree that health care is a basic human right Q. Level of agreement health care is a basic human right Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Health Care and ethnicity Hispanics are more likely to agree that health care is a basic human right Q. Level of agreement health care is a basic human right Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Immigration
Immigration 1 Plurality strongly disagrees that undocumented immigrants should have access to services like health care and legal aid Q. Level of agreement undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Immigration and mass attendance Frequent mass attendees are more likely to disagree that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services Q. Level of agreement undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Immigration and age Younger respondents are more likely to believe that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services Q. Level of agreement undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Immigration and ethnicity Hispanics are more likely to agree that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services Q. Level of agreement undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008
Environment
Pollution is sinful Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful. Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008
Pollution is sinful Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful. Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful. Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008
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