Poll finds divides between Vatican, US Catholics

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More than two-thirds of U.S. Roman Catholics don’t think it is very important to have an all-male, celibate clergy…
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That is a very broad poll question. Three types of people would fit in the majority: 1) Those who are disagree with the Magesterium in principle – and so should not truly be considered Catholics, 2) Those who think women should be allowed to be priests, and 3) Those who think at least some priests should be allowed to marry.

There are a lot of variables there. Personally, I wouldn’t say that it’s “very” important that all clergy be celibate. Important, yes. But the Eastern Orthodox church – and the Roman church, before the Middle Ages – has married priests, and manages to remain quite vibrant and doctrinally sound.

The problem is progressivism, the sense that the “old rules don’t apply.” Absolutely, we must root that out.

But I don’t imagine that the majority of real Catholics disagree.
 
I don’t trust polls. Remember the last election? I just think that polls are becoming a propaganda tool. If you notice in the ABC article, the magazine that did the polling is “libreral leaning” and I’ve heard the same thing about that particular “catholic” publication.
 
tom.wineman said:
What are the Catholic bishops doing about it ?
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We know that there are a lot of problems in the Church today. I would be skeptical of this poll, however, given that it’s the National Catholic Reporter giving it. Remember not to take polls too seriously. You’d need to see the questions and how they were asked.

… and about the Bishops? … well, we know there are some who are in dissent themselves, but there are many who are working for the truth, and they need our support. It must be hard being a bishop today and having to fight the people and your own brother bishops on some issues. I suggest every time there’s an article or news report of a bishop doing something good, those who agree should send just a note of appreciation.

Keep praying. The devil is still working hard for souls.

God bless,
Ruthmary
 
I am not surprised by these poll results. Many of the Catholic friends I have seem to support the findings of these polls, and I am a bit distressed about it.

But I don’t intend to just sit idly by and let them continue with their “me-myself-and-I” beliefs in regards to their Catholicism. I feel that for those who are fully in union with the Vatican are called to fraternal correction with our fellow Catholics and we must continue to strive to enlighten them with the truths of Catholic doctrine.

I ain’t gonna give up the “seach & rescue” - it’s my call and my duty! 👍
 
A couple quotes which I think apply here:

“America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance. It is not. It is suffering from tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos. Our country is not nearly so much overrun with the bigoted as it is overrun with the broadminded.”
~Bishop Fulton Sheen, “A Plea for Intolerance”, 1931.

Even if Catholics faithful to Tradition are reduced to a handful, they are the ones who are the True Church of Jesus Christ."
~St. Athanasius
 
Don’t be too upset about it. It was stacked against us.

First, self-identified Catholics are counted. Most dissenters don’t go to Church.

Second, the question is too broad. An all-male priesthood is Tradition (capital T) that can’t be changed. An all-celibate priesthood is tradition (small t) and can be changed. In fact, Eastern-rite Catholics have married priests.

So if my answer to the question about an all-male celibate priesthood was I disagree, I could still be in full communion with the Church and Magisterium.

How about a question like: is there spiritual value to abstaining from sex as a devotion to God? or: do you support Benedict as the head of your Church?

You’ll find the answers to both the questions above form a large majority. It’s not suprising that ABC polls on questions that will elicit an anti-Catholic response.
 
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marvin:
I don’t trust polls. Remember the last election? I just think that polls are becoming a propaganda tool. If you notice in the ABC article, the magazine that did the polling is “libreral leaning” and I’ve heard the same thing about that particular “catholic” publication.
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I agree. I don’t trust polls or statistics – too few seem to come from sources that are impartial and unbiased. Even when the source is unbiased, the poll can be badly designed.

A book entitled “How to Lie with Statistics” comes to mind. It’s a worthwhile read. 😉

Crazy Internet Junkies Society
Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
 
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Outraged? This is old news. Even if the poll was poorly done there is plenty of evidence it does reflect the truth about Catholics in America.
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I agree. I call myself a former catholic, but I know the Church was filled with like minded folks. The difference is that I decided that I could nolonger call myself a Catholic.

Interesting that a “dissenter” like me can agree with traditionalists that these people are not Catholics.

Nohome
 
It doesn’t shock me. This is why we must applaud our bishops and send them notes of support when they stand up for Truth, because when they do they often are attacked by the dissenters.
 
I wonder how they define Catholic? I know lots of people who call themselves Catholic who seldom go to Mass , do not participate in Parish activitiesand & disagree with most of the Church’s Teachings. Yet in this poll I suspect their opinion is just as valid as the Daily Communicate who is actively involved in their parish.

My second question is “So what”? The Church is not a democracy. Who cares what peoples opinion on female ordination? Its settled doctrine and has been so for 2,000 years. What next-a poll as to whether the Church should consider Jesus to be the Son of God?
 
Some very confused people came up with the questionnaire.
church teachings against same-sex marriage… helping the poor… Christianity’s central belief in the resurrection of Jesus… having “a celibate male clergy”… teachings opposing abortion… opposition to the death penalty
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Not to get into a debate into what are important and what aren’t, but only three of those are real Catholic teaching and are unchangeable (doctrine/dogmas/Church teaching). The other two are not.

The same thing happened during the Papal Interregnum. When the MSM talking heads were debating with each other whether the new pope would allow a married priesthood (failing to comprehend it already exists in some of the Eastern Rites and even in the Latin Rite), women priests, contraception, abortion, etc.

The MSM and various rebellious groups are very misleading whenever the topic of the Catholic Church comes up. I’d suggest they stick with something they truly know, maybe Sports coverage, Hollywood, and uh… um…

I was surprised they forgot the Church is against eating meat and is pro-vegetarian. 😉 “Do you think Church teaching against eating meat is very important?” :rolleyes:
 
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Outraged? This is old news. Even if the poll was poorly done there is plenty of evidence it does reflect the truth about Catholics in America.
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Yes, the poll results over at least the past twenty-five years have consistently shown that a large percentage of American Catholics disagree with official Church teachings on the subjects mentioned.

I don’t have the older poll results to compare, but it seems that the percentage has grown with time.
 
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Hildebrand:
Some very confused people came up with the questionnaire.
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Thats for sure. For instance just what constitues helping the poor??? Is it supporting massive govt spending programs or is it the ideas embodied in the welfare reform act of 1996-? Or a little of both.

The left would have us beleive that we are being unchrisitian if we dont support the massive Govt give away programs which have little effect on the poverty level but make everyone who supports them feel very good about themslves-it is GREAT to be able to show compassion while using someone elses money.

So we get the great arguments like we had in last years election. So what if canidate A supports abortion and same sex marriage - by golly he wants increased spending for the poor and tolerancee for all lifestyles-he LOVES his neighbor by gosh-that is all that matters-not all those quaint Catholic teachings.
 
“The survey published by the liberal-leaning Reporter is the fourth in a series dating back to 1987 tracking attitudes of U.S. Catholics to their church and their faith.”

This should be a big red foag to take what comes next with a great big grain of salt.

And as has been stated, the Church is not a democracy.
 
What’s ironic is that I have seen many, many posts in this forum that disagreed with the Vatican on such subjects as:
  1. the death penalty
  2. America’s use of the atomic bomb against Japan
  3. preferential option for the poor
  4. abuse of Iraqi prisoners
  5. the war in Iraq
Indeed, I remember one posts that said “I don’t care what the Pope says”.

We have met the enemy and he is us.
 
starrs0 said:
abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1167083

What is going on in The Church in America? This amount of dissention is a disgrace! :mad: :mad: :mad:

{moderator’s note: edited thread title. Title must be the same as news article, please review the guidelines before posting}
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This could have been entitled:

The Catholic Church is Wrong So “I” Am Changing It:banghead:

It never ceases to amaze me that people that won’t folow Church teachings continue to call themselves Catholics. IMHO it would be more honest to say former-Catholic. We have many converts to the Catholic Church that are former-______________(insert the denomination) and will honestly tell you so.

Just praying that those that do not follow the teachings of the Holy Mother Church will return to a true communion with their former Faith.
 
It’s no wonder the poll got those results with the way it was laid out. Ranking items by level of importance rather than “Do you agree or disagree with these statements” gives a false impression that people have lax attitudes on the items stated.
 
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