The latest research that finds many U.S. Catholics out of sync with
their church's teachings on personal morality is out.
This time it's a
look at Catholics' support for gay rights, in particular marriage and civil unions.
The Public Religion Research Institute report, based on surveys of 3,000 people, finds:
- 43% of Catholic favor allowing gay and lesbian people to marry
- 31% would allow them to form civil unions
- 22% say there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship.
The
Catholic church teaches that all persons deserve dignity but that
homosexual behavior is "disordered." But the laity isn't buying that.
According to the report
A majority of Catholics (56%) believe that sexual relations between two adults of the same gender is not a sin. Among the general population, less than half (46%) believe it is not a sin.
But don't raise the rainbow flag in
celebration too quickly.
There are two ways to read these numbers, says
Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research and
Catholic Studies at Catholic University, and an admitted opponent of
same sex marriage.
Religion Dispatches quotes Schneck parsing the numbers in a PRRI sponsored teleconference:
"If Catholics that support civil unions are counted among those favoring same-sex marriage, then a majority of Catholics support same-sex marriage,"
he said.
"If, on the other hand, civil union supporters are counted
among those who oppose same-sex marriage, then the majority of Catholics
oppose same-sex marriage by 55 to 43 percent. It's the possible swing
group for both sides on this issue."
Reuters' FaithWorld coverage highlighted the generation gap that showed:
...Catholics under 35 are much more liberal
than those 65 and older.
The influx of Hispanic Catholics into the U.S.
church in recent years did not skew the results, as the young newcomers
were divided between liberal and conservative views of homosexuality.