Poll: California Catholics strongly support homosexual unions

**Holly3278** · #1 Jul 28, '10, 1:24 am

Quote:

A survey of over 3,000 Californians conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in June has found that Catholics strongly support the legal recognition of homosexual unions.

Only 22% of white Catholics and 23% of Latino Catholics oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions. 37% of white Catholics and 44% of Latino Catholics support same-sex marriage, while an additional 41% of white Catholics and 28% of Latino Catholics support homosexual civil unions. In contrast, 53% of Latino Protestants oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/...m?storyid=7008

How sad. This is a travesty! It would seem that the majority of California's Catholics are not Catholic at all but are Catholic in name only! A bunch of cafeteria "Catholics" is what we have here!

**Dale_M** · #2 Jul 28, '10, 2:07 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by the article

The survey did not distinguish Catholics by frequency of Church attendance.

This may be key. Past surveys have shown that individuals tend to continue to identify as Catholic even if they rarely, or never attend, Mass.

canadianguy1143 · #3 Jul 28, '10, 2:38 am

If this poll were accurate then how did California pass Proposition 8 defeating gay marriage?

**Dale_M** · #4 Jul 28, '10, 4:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadianguy1143

If this poll were accurate then how did California pass Proposition 8 defeating gay marriage?

I don't have a link handy, but what I read earlier is that a hefty number of anti-Prop 8 Californians didn't vote. Prior to the election, I remember seeing on some blogs heated accusations that the TV ads against Prop 8 were too mild and insufficiently rousing. Perhaps it may have come down to the pro-8 campaign doing a better job mobilizing their supporters than the anti-8 campaign did.

OriginalJS · #5 Jul 28, '10, 5:31 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale_M

This may be key. Past surveys have shown that individuals tend to continue to identify as Catholic even if they rarely, or never attend, Mass.

The Church generally continues to count as Catholic any person who has been baptized Catholic. So, it seems such persons have a reasonable basis to identify themselves as Catholics.

IHeartAquinas · #6 Jul 28, '10, 6:17 am

Cafeteria Catholicism is a rampant problem in the US.

At my parish, we had an after-Mass discussion (informal) that included about a dozen people all randomly ending up at a local coffee shop together, and one of the younger priests (in a CASSOCK! I hope when I enter Seminary, the Bishop confirms my call so I can wear one!

I know....I'm lame....) sat down with us. Somehow we got on the subject of contraception, and one woman tried to explain that "in the interest of preventing wars for resources and overpopulation, God would understand if one used contraception. But only if they were concerned with sustainability." I've never seen a priest almost fall out of his chair. Come to think of it, I've never seen a dozen people simultaneously almost fall out of their chairs. This woman is on the board for CCAD and RCIA. I'm fairly certain she won't be for much longer.

But seriously, Cafeteria Catholicism should be addressed to a greater extent. There are a few beliefs that I have trouble completely conforming my mind around, but knowing that I call myself Catholic, I also know that I cannot speak my mind about these things because, to do so, I would not be conforming myself as a Catholic.

Another Mary · #7 Jul 28, '10, 10:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadianguy1143

If this poll were accurate then how did California pass Proposition 8 defeating gay marriage?

The pro "gay marriage" folks have been hard at work since the election.

I won't even get into the appeal of Proposition 8 that is due to be decided soon by Judge Walker...

irishpatrick · #8 Jul 28, '10, 11:14 am

They are NOT Catholics.

It is easy for people to refer to themselves as any number of things...does not make it true.

**Dale_M** · #9 Jul 28, '10, 11:35 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishpatrick

They are NOT Catholics.

That might be going too far. As OriginalJS mentioned earlier, the Church still counts them as Catholics, whether they attend Mass or not. So if a person self-identifies themselves as Catholic, I'm not sure any of us are in a position to deny them that label.

The Fool · #10 Jul 28, '10, 1:27 pm

I think the only thing I can honestly say against this poll is that it is a survey of "over 3,000 Californians" and I have no idea how many of those who responded were Catholic or even where they live.

irishpatrick · #11 Jul 28, '10, 1:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale_M

That might be going too far. As OriginalJS mentioned earlier, the Church still counts them as Catholics, whether they attend Mass or not. So if a person self-identifies themselves as Catholic, I'm not sure any of us are in a position to deny them that label.

I can and do.

Ockham · #12 Jul 28, '10, 2:30 pm

This should come as no surprise if you follow the LA Religous Congress.

Luigi Daniele · #13 Jul 28, '10, 2:34 pm

The last time we voted (Prop 8), I believe there was a plurality of hispanics that voted to recognize marriage as between one man and one woman.

Maybe it depends on how they ask the question.

I really doubt these #''s, TBH.

AnotherVoice · #14 Jul 28, '10, 7:51 pm

I wonder what the bishops in California have been doing over the years. In fact I am concerned about a number of other states.

Ockham · #15 Jul 28, '10, 8:01 pm

This should give you an idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ5it20gKqw