Catholics: Why Support Gay Marriage?

stewstew03 · #1 May 9, '12, 7:45 am

This is an offshoot from a thread on the social consequences of marriage (located here). As I was reading through the posts I noticed a paradox. As Catholics, we seem to have a solid understanding of marriage and what it means. In my view, and some may disagree, Protestants (in general) seem to take marriage "less seriously." In fact, I think Protestant support of "no-fault" divorce laws in the '70s led to the increase of divorce in the '80s and corresponding decline of the American family.

However, it's interesting that when polled, those who identify themselves as Catholics seem to strongly support gay marriage, while those who identify themselves as Protestants seem to strongly oppose gay marriage. What's going on here? Are so-called social justice Catholics skewing the data? Are Protestants more conservative?

bscastro · #2 May 9, '12, 8:49 am

My main thought when seeing this is that there are a lot more Catholics than any of the other Christian groups, so you will tend to get "regression toward the mean" with regard to statistics. A minority percentage of the Catholics are conservative, obedient, Catholics who would oppose it. You have more liberal Catholics who would support it, and you also have the casual Catholic who even though they identify themselves as Catholic would vote along the lines of the American averages. If you were to split up the groups into these three categories for example, you would be probably see a high percentage of the conservative Catholics opposing it.

Just my humble thoughts.

God bless,
Bryan

stewstew03 · #3 May 9, '12, 8:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by bscastro

My main thought when seeing this is that there are a lot more Catholics than any of the other Christian groups, so you will tend to get "regression toward the mean" with regard to statistics. A minority percentage of the Catholics are conservative, obedient, Catholics who would oppose it. You have more liberal Catholics who would support it, and you also have the casual Catholic who even though they identify themselves as Catholic would vote along the lines of the American averages. If you were to split up the groups into these three categories for example, you would be probably see a high percentage of the conservative Catholics opposing it.

Just my humble thoughts.

God bless,
Bryan

I think you're probably right about that - particularly with so-called "cafeteria Catholics." If you notice they broke out the Protestant group into "evangelical" and "mainline." If they broke out the Catholics into how often they attend mass or go to confession, we could gain a better understanding of the data.

**Joe 5859** · #4 May 9, '12, 9:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewstew03

This is an offshoot from a thread on the social consequences of marriage (located here). As I was reading through the posts I noticed a paradox. As Catholics, we seem to have a solid understanding of marriage and what it means. In my view, and some may disagree, Protestants (in general) seem to take marriage "less seriously." In fact, I think Protestant support of "no-fault" divorce laws in the '70s led to the increase of divorce in the '80s and corresponding decline of the American family.

However, it's interesting that when polled, those who identify themselves as Catholics seem to strongly support gay marriage, while those who identify themselves as Protestants seem to strongly oppose gay marriage. What's going on here? Are so-called social justice Catholics skewing the data? Are Protestants more conservative?

It's mainly the Evangelical that are tilting the data. Compare the approval rating from mainline Protestants to Catholics. It's pretty comparable.

I think Stew is right that if they subdivided Catholics into "those who attend Mass at least weekily" and "those who attend Mass less frequently", you would probably get a similar comparison as the Evangelicals to the mainline Protestants.

ignatius777 · #5 May 9, '12, 9:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewstew03

This is an offshoot from a thread on the social consequences of marriage (located here). As I was reading through the posts I noticed a paradox. As Catholics, we seem to have a solid understanding of marriage and what it means. In my view, and some may disagree, Protestants (in general) seem to take marriage "less seriously." In fact, I think Protestant support of "no-fault" divorce laws in the '70s led to the increase of divorce in the '80s and corresponding decline of the American family.

However, it's interesting that when polled, those who identify themselves as Catholics seem to strongly support gay marriage, while those who identify themselves as Protestants seem to strongly oppose gay marriage. What's going on here? Are so-called social justice Catholics skewing the data? Are Protestants more conservative?

A very high % of catholics also dont believe the real presence in the eucharist. Sadly liberal applications of catholic principles have become all too commonplace. If you ever listen to talk radio you will observe a very strange phenomenon. Some of the strongest advocates of christian and catholic beliefs are jewish, namely Michael Medved and Dennis Prager. I am happy they are there but how sad is it that they are the strongest voices for christianity on the radio.

Swiss Guy · #6 May 9, '12, 5:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewstew03

This is an offshoot from a thread on the social consequences of marriage (located here). As I was reading through the posts I noticed a paradox. As Catholics, we seem to have a solid understanding of marriage and what it means. In my view, and some may disagree, Protestants (in general) seem to take marriage "less seriously." In fact, I think Protestant support of "no-fault" divorce laws in the '70s led to the increase of divorce in the '80s and corresponding decline of the American family.

However, it's interesting that when polled, those who identify themselves as Catholics seem to strongly support gay marriage, while those who identify themselves as Protestants seem to strongly oppose gay marriage. What's going on here? Are so-called social justice Catholics skewing the data? Are Protestants more conservative?

I agree with the first paragraph.

Unorthodox Catholics are skewing the data. I suppose the Northeast has plenty of them (like Nancy Pelosi, etc.). I would say Protestants are more conservative than Catholics (including orthodox ones) because of the Evangelicals in the Bible Belt; not on sexual issues, but everything else.

FaithBuild18 · #7 May 9, '12, 5:33 pm

I feel like giving up. I actually feel more strongly about this issue than I do abortion, which is saying a lot. Neither would be legal without the feminist movement.

The post-modern world is more liberal each passing day, at least on social issues. It sickens me. And in 25 years when the history books are written, those who stand with us will be the bad guys. We either already lost or we will lose - so long as the Church remains as idle as She has been.

But I'll never accept this garbage as legitimate. Ever.

Viva Cristo Rey!

white sheep · #8 May 9, '12, 7:49 pm

Really? Is anyone still believing any of these polls? What was the 98% one that came out the other day? Oh yes, 98% of Catholics use birth control. Guess what their method of conducting the poll was?

No really... guess.

They eliminated all the results of women who didn't use birth control and only counted the ones who did until they got the number they wanted. hahahaha, wow, so scientific.

This poll in the internal data has 67% of weekly mass going Catholics opposed. That's more of a real number.

CorinneV · #9 May 9, '12, 7:56 pm

I personally oppose extending the privileges of marriage to homosexuals. This is consistent with our Church's teaching, and I could go on for pages on what my own reasons for opposing are.
I think that the Catholics who support 'marriage' for homosexuals do so because they feel that the financial benefits of the marriage status should be shared with all persons. I think it is a feeling of economic justice. I absolutely do not agree with this opinion, but I think this is the logic used by those who support it.

CorinneV · #10 May 9, '12, 8:01 pm

I want to also say, the polls are very malleable, as stated by other posters before me. And to 'WhiteSheep,' pull up your socks!! Our sinful times are not the worst of all times, the Church and God's people have always been surrounded by all the bad things in the world. Hold fast to your faith! The Holy Spirit will be always with us.

stewstew03 · #11 May 9, '12, 8:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by white sheep

Really? Is anyone still believing any of these polls? What was the 98% one that came out the other day? Oh yes, 98% of Catholics use birth control. Guess what their method of conducting the poll was?

No really... guess.

They eliminated all the results of women who didn't use birth control and only counted the ones who did until they got the number they wanted. hahahaha, wow, so scientific.

This poll in the internal data has 67% of weekly mass going Catholics opposed. That's more of a real number.

Where are you getting 67%? Of white Catholics who attend mass weekly, only 55% oppose gay marriage - compared to 81% of white evangelicals who attend weekly service.

rossum · #12 May 10, '12, 3:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewstew03

This is an offshoot from a thread on the social consequences of marriage (located here). As I was reading through the posts I noticed a paradox. As Catholics, we seem to have a solid understanding of marriage and what it means. In my view, and some may disagree, Protestants (in general) seem to take marriage "less seriously." In fact, I think Protestant support of "no-fault" divorce laws in the '70s led to the increase of divorce in the '80s and corresponding decline of the American family.

However, it's interesting that when polled, those who identify themselves as Catholics seem to strongly support gay marriage, while those who identify themselves as Protestants seem to strongly oppose gay marriage. What's going on here? Are so-called social justice Catholics skewing the data? Are Protestants more conservative?

Catholic marriage does not allow divorce, while Civil marriage does allow divorce, hence there is already a disconnect in that the two are different. For Protestants, at least in those denominations that recognise divorce, this difference does not apply.

It may be that some Catholics see Civil marriage as already separate from Catholic marriage, and are content to leave it up to government to define it.

$0.02

rossum

**Joe 5859** · #13 May 10, '12, 6:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorinneV

I want to also say, the polls are very malleable, as stated by other posters before me. And to 'WhiteSheep,' pull up your socks!! Our sinful times are not the worst of all times, the Church and God's people have always been surrounded by all the bad things in the world. Hold fast to your faith! The Holy Spirit will be always with us.

Amen!

Polls, whether they are accurate or not, do not dictate our faith. It doesn't matter whether 98% or 1% of Catholics accept the Church teaching. Our shepherds are the ones who authentically hand down the deposit of faith. We either gather around them or else we scatter. If we're close to the shepherd, we'll be okay.