catholic attitudes a presentation to the national catholic reporter may 6, 2010

© 2010, Zogby International

Catholic Attitudes

A presentation to the National Catholic Reporter

May 6, 2010


MethodologySample Sample

SizeMargin of

ErrorStartDate

EndDate

Catholic US adults 705 +/- 3.7% 4/23/10 4/25/10

Catholic US adults 767 +/- 3.6% 2/23/09 2/25/09

Catholic US adults 1,202 +/- 2.9% 12/10/08 12/13/08




Note: Data is weighted by age, region, race, and gender to more accurately reflect the population. Margins of error are higher in subgroups.


Current Political Opinions


Obama approval

Disapprove

Approve

66

34

50

49General popula-tion

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

Wrong Track

Right Direction

68

27

53

38General popula-tion

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

Not sure

Neither

Republican

Democratic

14

5

54

27

17

3

42

38 General popula-tion

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

Support Recent Health Care Reform Act

Do Not Support Recent Healthcare Reform Act

33

66

43


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

Agree That Illegal Immigrants Are Entitled to the Same Rights and Freedom

Disagree that Illegal Immigrants are Entitled to the Same Rights and Freedoms as US citizens

20

76

21


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


Pope Benedict Approval

7071

56Apr-10Apr-08Oct-07

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


US Bishops Approval

6162

45 Apr-10Apr-08

Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job that the US Bishops are 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.


Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

30

26

23

15

Q. Overall, how would you rate Pope Benedict XVI’s current efforts to address the sexual abuse situation within the Catholic Church? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation56% give Pope Benedict XVI a “fair” or

“poor” rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church


Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

44

21

12

10

Q. Overall, how would you rate the previous efforts Pope Benedict XVI made to address the sex-ual abuse situation within the Catholic Church while he was Cardinal Ratzinger and not yet Pope?

Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation65% 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


Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

43

29

12

8

Q. Overall, how would you rate the American Bishops’ efforts to address the sexual abuse situa-tion within the Catholic Church? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation72% give the American Bishops a “fair” or

“poor” rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church


Don't Know/Not Sure

Should Continue as Pope

Should Resign

20

64

16

Q. Some have called for Pope Benedict XVI to resign as a result of the sexual abuse incidents within the Catholic Church. Others believe he should not resign. Do you believe Pope Benedict XVI should resign, or do you believe he should continue as Pope? Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

Should Benedict XVI resign?64% believe Pope Benedict XVI should

continue as Pope and not resign.


Catholics and Voting


Parties and Catholic values

Overall 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+5 9 5 5 4

58 55 59 59 54

25 1629 24 26

12 207 11 14 Democrat

sRepub-licansIt Depends on IssueNeither

Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values?

Majorities of all groups say “it depends on the issue” when asked which party better represents

Catholic values


Parties and Catholic Values

5 6 3 4 6

58 5371

5163

25 3012

34 13

12 10 14 10 18 DemocratsRepub-licansIt Depends on IssueNeither


Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values?

Majorities of all groups say “it depends on the issue” when asked which party better represents

the interest of Catholics


Catholic politicians and communion

28 29 25 3919

66.9 66.8 63.855

77.1

DisagreeAgree


Q. Level of agreement – Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion.

Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions

that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion.


Catholic politicians and communion

Overall 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

28 19.1 27.9 27.3 36.6

66.9 81 69.2 64.6 52

DisagreeAgree


Q. Level of agreement – Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion.

Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions

that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion.


What should affect vote choice?

2036 44 42

76 60 54 55 Agree

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…


What should affect vote choice?

54 5976

44 36 19 Agree

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…


Abortion


Abortion 1

Abortion should never be permitted

Abortion should be allowed for any reason

Abortion should only be permitted in case of rape, incest, or threat to mother's health

22

33

42

Plurality believe abortion should only be permitted under certain circumstances

Source: Zogby International Survey, October 2008Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about abortion laws?


Abortion and mass attendance



Abortion should only be permitted in case of rape,

incest, or threat to mother's health

35

18

45

9

47

41 Attend mass less than weekly

Those who attend mass weekly are more likely to believe abortion should never be

permitted



Abortion and age





27

24

47

21

32

46

21

37

40

19

40

38 18-2930-4950-6465+

Older respondents are more likely to believe abortion should never be permitted



Abortion and ethnicity





18

38

42

23

33

42 White, non-His-panicHispanic

Hispanic respondents are slightly less likely to be-lieve abortion should never be permitted



Is abortion a sin?

Overall 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

73.4 69.6 73.1 73.4 76

21.9 21.6 23.1 22.4 20.2 DisagreeAgree

Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008

Q. Level of agreement – It is a sin to have an abortion.

Majorities of all groups agree that it is a sin to have an abortion.


Is abortion a sin?

73.4 74 71.384

62.6

21.9 20.6 27.313.3

30.6 Disagree

Agree


Q. Level of agreement – It is a sin to have an abortion.

Frequent mass attendees are most likely to agree that it is a sin to have an abortion.


Death Penalty


Is the death penalty always wrong?

Overall Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic Attend mass weekly

Attend mass less than weekly

4242 42 48

36

55 55 53 48 62Disagree that the death penalty is always wrongAgree that the death penalty is always wrong


Q. Level of agreement – The death penalty is always wrong.

Those who attend mass weekly are most likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong.


Is the death penalty always wrong?

Overall 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

42 57

38 41 38

55 39 58 58 57Disagree that the death penalty is always wrongAgree that the death penalty is always wrong


Q. Level of agreement – The death penalty is always wrong.

Younger respondents are more likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong.


Women


Women and the Priesthood

Overall 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

58

78

58 5545

35 13 37 40 49Disagree that the Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priestsAgree that the Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests


Q. Level of agreement – The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests.

Younger respondents are more likely to agree that women should be ordained as Priests


Women and the Priesthood

58 60 5948

69

35 29 36 45 25 Disagree that the Catholic Church should allow women to be or-dained as priestsAgree that the Catholic Church should allow women to be or-dained as priests


Q. Level of agreement – The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests.

Frequent Mass attendees are more likely to disagree that women should be ordained as

priests


Health Care


Health Care 1

5721

9 12 Strongly agreeSomewhat agreeSomewhat disagree

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

18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

8673 78 79

14 27 22 17 Disagree that healthcare is a basic human right

Younger respondents are slightly more likely to believe health care is a basic

human right



Health Care and Mass attendance


Attend mass weekly or more

8273

18 25Disagree that healthcare is a basic rightAgree that healthcare is a basic human right

Less frequent mass attendees are more likely to agree that health care is a basic

human right



Health Care and ethnicity

Non-Hispanic whites Hispanics

7488

26 11Disagree that healthcare is a basic human rightAgree that healthcare is a basic human right

Hispanics are more likely to agree that health care is a basic human right



Immigration


Immigration 1

17

2021

41

Strongly agreeSomewhat agreeSomewhat disagreeStrongly disagree

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


Attend mass weekly or more

39 35

60 64Disagree that undocu-mented im-migrants should have access to public ser-vicesAgree that undocu-mented im-migrants should have access to public ser-vices

Frequent mass attendees are more likely to disagree that undocumented immigrants should have access to public

services



Immigration and age

65+ 50-64 30-49 18-29

34 36 3353

64 63 67 47 Disagree that undoc-umented immigrants should have access to public ser-vices

Younger respondents are more likely to believe that undocumented immigrants should have access to

public services



Immigration and ethnicity

Hispanics Non-Hispanic Whites

63

31

36 68Disagree that undocumented immigrants should have access to pub-lic services

Agree that un-documented immigrants should have access to pub-lic services

Hispanics are more likely to agree that undocumented immigrants should have access to

public services



Environment


Pollution is sinful

76.3 74.5 81.6 77.1 7619.4 22 12.4 18.4 20 Dis-

agreeAgree


Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful.

Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful.


Pollution is sinful

Overall 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

76.3 69.6 73.1 73.4 76

19.4 21.6 23.1 22.4 20.2Dis-agreeAgree


Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful.

Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful.


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catholic attitudes a presentation to the national catholic reporter may 6, 2010

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