1. A presentation to the National Catholic Reporter
Catholic Attitudes
A presentation to the National Catholic Reporter
May 6, 2010

2. Methodology Sample Size Margin of Error Start Date End
Catholic US adults
705
+/- 3.7%
4/23/10
4/25/10
767
+/- 3.6%
2/23/09
2/25/09
1,202
+/- 2.9%
12/10/08
12/13/08
1,000
+/- 3.2%
10/17/08
10/20/08
1,217
8/14/08
8/16/08
1,500
+/- 2.6%
3/25/08
3/27/08
Katy – I’ll fill in details for LeMoyne and ZI surveys
Note: Data is weighted by age, region, race, and gender to more accurately reflect the population. Margins of error are higher in subgroups.

3. Current Political Opinions

4. Obama approval
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

5. Right track/wrong track
Catholics are more likely to believe the country is on the wrong track
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

6. Midterm elections
Catholics are more likely to say they’ll vote for Republican candidates in 2010
In the Congressional race in 2010, for which party’s candidate do you intend to vote?
Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

7. Support of health care reform
Catholics are more likely to not support Congress’s recent healthcare reform act
Do you support or oppose the healthcare reform act recently passed by Congress?
Source: Zogby Interactive survey, April 2010

8. Rights of illegal immigrants
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

9. Approval of Pope Benedict XVI, US Bishops, and Parish Priests Note: All remaining slides report data on Catholics only

10. 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

11. Approval over time- summary
The US Bishops’ job approval has declined seventeen percentage points in the past two years.

12. Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation
56% give Pope Benedict XVI a “fair” or “poor” rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church

13. Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation
65% 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

14. Handling of Sexual Abuse Situation
72% give the American Bishops a “fair” or “poor” rating on handling sexual abuse within the Church

15. Should Benedict XVI resign?
64% believe Pope Benedict XVI should continue as Pope and not resign.

16. Catholics and Voting

17. Parties and Catholic values
Majorities of all groups say “it depends on the issue” when asked which party better represents Catholic values
Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values?
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

18. Parties and Catholic Values
Majorities of all groups say “it depends on the issue” when asked which party better represents the interest of Catholics
Q. Which party do you think better represents Catholic values?
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

19. Catholic politicians and communion
Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion.
Q. Level of agreement – Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

20. Catholic politicians and communion
Majorities of all groups disagree that Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with Church teachings such as abortion.
Q. Level of agreement – Catholic politicians should be denied communion when they support positions that conflict with church teachings such as abortion.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

21. What should affect vote choice?
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…
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

22. What should affect vote choice?
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…
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2008

23. Abortion

24. Abortion 1
Q. Which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion about abortion laws?
Source: Zogby International Survey, October 2008

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

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

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

28. Majorities of all groups agree that it is a sin to have an abortion.
Is abortion a sin?
Majorities of all groups agree that it is a sin to have an abortion.
Q. Level of agreement – It is a sin to have an abortion.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008

29. Is abortion a sin?
Frequent mass attendees are most likely to agree that it is a sin to have an abortion.
Q. Level of agreement – It is a sin to have an abortion.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008

30. Death Penalty

31. Is the death penalty always wrong?
Those who attend mass weekly are most likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong.
Q. Level of agreement – The death penalty is always wrong.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007

32. Is the death penalty always wrong?
Younger respondents are more likely to agree that the death penalty is always wrong.
Q. Level of agreement – The death penalty is always wrong.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007

33. Women

34. Women and the Priesthood
Younger respondents are more likely to agree that women should be ordained as Priests
Q. Level of agreement – The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007

35. Women and the Priesthood
Frequent Mass attendees are more likely to disagree that women should be ordained as priests
Q. Level of agreement – The Catholic Church should allow women to be ordained as priests.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, October 2007

36. Health Care

37. 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

38. Health Care and age
Younger respondents are slightly more likely to believe health care is a basic human right
Q. Level of agreement – health care is a basic human right Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008

39. Health Care and Mass attendance
Less frequent mass attendees are more likely to agree 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

40. Health Care and ethnicity
Hispanics are more likely to agree 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

41. Immigration

42. Immigration 1
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

43. Immigration and mass attendance
Frequent mass attendees are more likely to disagree that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services
Q. Level of agreement – undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008

44. Immigration and age
Younger respondents are more likely to believe that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services
Q. Level of agreement – undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008

45. Immigration and ethnicity
Hispanics are more likely to agree that undocumented immigrants should have access to public services
Q. Level of agreement – undocumented immigrants should have access to public services like health care and legal aid Source: Zogby Interactive survey, October 2008

46. Environment

47. Pollution is sinful
Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful.
Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008

48. Pollution is sinful
Majorities of all groups agree that polluting the environment is sinful.
Q. Level of agreement - Polluting the environment is sinful.
Source: Zogby International Interactive Survey, April 2008

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