Poll Shows No Demand for Inclusive Language
by Phil Lawler
A nationwide poll of Catholic opinion, commissioned by the Catholic World Report, has demolished the notion that American Catholics demand new inclusive-language translations of liturgical texts.
A survey of 1,000 Catholics, conducted by the Roper Center, shows that 69% reject the notion that new translations of the Bible and liturgical texts should the use the "inclusive language" approach; only 21% prefer such translations.
For several years, Catholic scholars have debated whether new translations should use the "inclusive language approach," which avoids the use of words such as "man" and "mankind" in general references to humanity. Proponents of inclusive language argue that such references offend women.
The results of the Roper poll, however, show that women are as likely as men to oppose the inclusive-language approach; 68% of the women surveyed, and 70% of the men, rejected the inclusive- language approach.
When asked to compare four pairs of translations -- matching one passage from the New American Bible with new "inclusive-language" renditions of the same texts -- substantial majorities invariably chose the traditional English translation in the Roper survey.
The preference for standard English was most pronounced among regular churchgoers, and Catholics who supported Church teachings on controversial issues such as abortion and the ordination of women; it was weakest among Catholics who disagree with those teachings, and do not regularly attend Mass.
How would Catholics respond if new inclusive-language translations were introduced? The Roper survey posed that question, and found that most Catholics would not respond at all; 81% reported that they would be neither more nor less likely to attend Mass at a parish that used the new translations. That indifference stretched across the board; in every subcategory studied by the Roper poll, between 77 and 83% said the new translation would make no difference in Mass attendance.
Moreover, the Roper poll showed that any "pastoral" attempt to accommodate even the minority of Catholics who demand inclusive language would be in vain. In a perfect bell curve, the 8% of Catholics who said they would be more likely to attend Mass in their parishes if an inclusive language translation of the lectionary were introduced was exactly balanced by another 8% who would be less likely to attend.
On other topics the results of the Roper poll are often revealing, and sometimes disturbing. In general, the survey reveals:
* the majority of Catholics in America do not embrace a pro-life position;
* there is a close correlation between tolerance for abortion and advocacy for the ordination of women;
* a consistent rejection of Church teaching on contraception indicates the depth of dissent in the Church in America; and
* in spite of their dissent on other issues, a majority of Catholics believe in the Real Presence.
The full results of the Roper survey will appear in the March issue of Catholic World Report, an international monthly news magazine published by Ignatius Press in San Francisco.
This item 65 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
