Opposition to same-sex marriage dropping in US, among Catholics
April 26, 2012
Opposition to same-sex marriage in the US is rapidly diminishing, according to a new Pew Research study.
In 2004 a solid majority of Americans (60%) were opposed to same-sex marriage, and the number strongly opposed (36%) easily outweighed those who were strongly in favor (11%). By 2012 the number of those opposing same-sex marriage (43%) was slightly less than the number in favor (47%), with those strongly opposed only matching those strongly in favor (22%).
In 2004, Pew found that 60% of American respondents opposed same-sex marriage, with 36% saying that they were strongly opposed. By 2008 the figures had dropped to 51% opposed, and 30% strongly. This year’s survey found only 43% opposed, and just 22% strongly.
Catholic respondents were slightly less likely than other Americans to oppose same-sex marriage. In 2004, 55% of Catholics were opposed, and 28% strongly. By 2012 those figures had dropped to 42% and 17%. Protestants were more likely than Catholics to oppose same-sex marriage. In the 2012 poll, 56% of Protestants were opposed, and 32% strongly. The figures of white Evangelical Protestants were even more adverse for same-sex marriage, with on overwhelming 78% opposed, and 56% strongly.
The same Pew survey, touching on some of the more controversial issues on the American political scene, found a rise in public support for the rights of gun owners, while attitudes regarding legal abortion remains fundamentally unchanged.
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Posted by: -
Apr. 28, 2012 6:25 PM ET USA
Pew's numbers are wrong: They did not poll Catholics who go to Sunday Mass separate from Catholics in name only ... Catholics who go to Sunday Mass will poll much higher in the 'strongly opposed' numbers than the lukewarm heretic social Catholics like Nancy Pelosi who support abortion, contraception, etc.
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Posted by: Defender -
Apr. 27, 2012 2:42 AM ET USA
There are many in our Catholic schools who have never heard the reasons why the Church says same-sex marriage is wrong, let alone the Church's rationale on homosexuality (including Biblical references). It is, then, small wonder that Catholic opposition to same-sex marriage is dropping - there is no instruction. It also doesn't help that the Church's hierarchy (e.g., Washington, D.C. and Vienna) seems to run away these topics, as well. "Make nice" never seems to work.
