catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=7008
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.
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.
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.
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.The pro “gay marriage” folks have been hard at work since the election.
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.
That’s perfectly in line with this poll, which shows that only 37% of white Catholics and 44% of Latino Catholics support same-sex marriage. although the majority support “homosexual unions”, a different thing.
They are a distinction without a difference according to the Church. As Catholics, we shouldn’t support either.
As Americans we should support the equal and just application of the law to all citizens. Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what any one church teaches, because civil rights cannot be taken by a majority vote. This is why Prop 8 is being challenged in court. The rights of the minority are protected from the will of the majority by the Constitution. This is a prime example of why religion has no place in government.
Actually, Jedi, it matters what one Church teaches. Homosexual behaviour is contrary to nature and the Bible. Thankfully, God’s Truth is not dependent on democratic processes. No one is infringing upon your civil rights as marriage is a privilege and responsibility not something you are entitled to.