Poll taken that most people disagree with Catholic bishops denying Communion to politicians who support abortion.

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The news media seems to have a very difficult time realising that Catholic theology isn’t determined by the results of a poll…:rolleyes:
 
I wonder what percent of people who lived when during Jesus’ public ministry disagreed with His teaching.
 
“Truth is not determined by majority vote.” - Pope Benedict XVI

That being said, I also wonder who was polled. My guess would be people on the more socially liberal side of the spectrum who identify as “Catholic” despite the fact that they disagree with the Church on most major issues. :rolleyes:
 
stbruno said:
lifenews.com/nat3150.html

No one asked me. I wonder who was asked on this poll. I don’t think they asked very many people.
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You will notice this poll only called 1000 people nationwide. It was not limited to Catholics, which is probably who it should have been aimed at (not that we actually vote on theology).

When I was in graduate school we had to design polls and execute some of them in a “statistically scientific” manner. They way they work is that you select a population *(for example you pick a small town) *and you can get an accurate representation of the feelings of that town by calling a certain % of the population and asking them questions. On a nationwide basis, to get a statistically significant valuation you only need a couple thousand answers.
 
melensdad said:
You will notice this poll only called 1000 people nationwide. It was not limited to Catholics, which is probably who it should have been aimed at (not that we actually vote on theology).

When I was in graduate school we had to design polls and execute some of them in a “statistically scientific” manner. They way they work is that you select a population *(for example you pick a small town) *and you can get an accurate representation of the feelings of that town by calling a certain % of the population and asking them questions. On a nationwide basis, to get a statistically significant valuation you only need a couple thousand answers.
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Of course, it matters which people you poll. The results of a poll can be manipulated, depending on how you pick your sample.

I wonder what the results of this poll would have been if the sample had consisted of people coming out of Mass on Sunday morning. Or on a weekday morning. (Not that the results of a poll like this matter in this situation, as some have already pointed out. 🙂 )
 
melensdad said:
You will notice this poll only called 1000 people nationwide. It was not limited to Catholics, which is probably who it should have been aimed at (not that we actually vote on theology).

When I was in graduate school we had to design polls and execute some of them in a “statistically scientific” manner. They way they work is that you select a population *(for example you pick a small town) *and you can get an accurate representation of the feelings of that town by calling a certain % of the population and asking them questions. On a nationwide basis, to get a statistically significant valuation you only need a couple thousand answers.
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This is true but you can certainly skew the results depending on where you call. For instance, Catholics in more socially liberal areas like Boston, particularly with a Senator they support being one of the pols. in question - may have vastly different opinions than Catholics in other areas. So, pick a heavy Catholic community in Boston where past studies show the majority is pro-choice and voted Kerry and - voila’ - you have a poll “showing a majority of Catholics disagree with Bishops on Communion to pro-choice politicians.” Release the details of who was polled (not incl. actual identities of those polled) and then I may lend a little credence to the notion that a majority disagree.

Which basically is a lot of work for nothing anyways - morality is not up to a majority vote, so who cares what any poll says on the matter.
 
It would be hard to take this “poll” seriously even if it had any meaning for the bishops in how they ought to act. As was pointed out, the poll apparently was not limited to Catholics and there is little reason to believe that the average non-Catholic has any real understanding of what communion is all about. Regrettably, many Catholics are confused about it as well. Catholics make up only 25% of the population; no poll on this subject that includes non-Catholics is meaningful.

My take on this is that the poll is purely political and is intended to provide support for the Catholic politicians who support abortion. Did you notice who is receiving communion in the picture accompanying the article? Bill Clinton. This was a scandal when it happened; that the editors chose that photo to illustrate the article reinforces my belief about the purpose of the poll.

Ender
 
As I read this, it was not a poll of Catholics, and no control amongst Catholics for practicing versus “ultural Catholics.”

I am reminded of an old saying, “Figures doen’t lie, but liars can figure.”
 
If they asked non Catholics (or Catholics!) who don’t understand the Real Presence, of course it makes no sense to withhold Communion. They think it’s just bread. —KCT
 
Oddly, the article did not identify who commission the poll.

If it was done by secular media or some political action groups it would seem to me the purpose is to fan the flames of Papal dissent and Anti-Catholic bigotry among non-Catholics. It would do this by painting the Pope and faithful bishops as extremist because it does not present a context. Nor in that same vein, does it properly explain how radically different the Catholic Church teaching about the Holy Communion is from most Protestant teaching and the true requirements a person must meet before receiving Holy Communion.
 
melensdad said:
You will notice this poll only called 1000 people nationwide. It was not limited to Catholics, which is probably who it should have been aimed at (not that we actually vote on theology)..
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Apparently, only 28% of Catholic respondents to the poll supported the Pope’s stand on denying communion.
rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/23_agree_with_pope_on_denying_communion_to_pro_choice_politicians

As you mentioned, certainly these results are questionable based upon sample size.

But if you want to treat the poll as somewhat valid, there was an interestig breakdown on how Americans viewed Pope Benedict:
Pope Benedict XVI is viewed favorably by 44% of American adults and unfavorably by 26%. The latest Rasmussen Reports survey found that 30% have no opinion one way or the other. He is viewed favorably by 71% of Catholic Americans, 51% of Evangelical Christians, and 38% of other Protestants. His ratings are lower among Atheists and those who follow a non-Christian religion.
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the question is…is there any possible reason…any crime,any opinion…any act by a politician that would cause a priest in a parish on a sunday morning…to deny him/her holy communion…lets start with that…this of course can easily be done by a fake but polite giving of the sacred Host …so there would not be any scene!..Nino
 
I’m not troubled by the poll, in that it is probably an accurate assessment of how the general public views such a stance. If anything, I’m more impressed by the fact that a quarter of the respondants agreed with the position of withholding communion. Among the general population, I think that says something worth thinking about.
 
Nino said:
the question is…is there any possible reason…any crime,any opinion…any act by a politician that would cause a priest in a parish on a sunday morning…to deny him/her holy communion…lets start with that…this of course can easily be done by a fake but polite giving of the sacred Host …so there would not be any scene!..Nino
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Personally, I think the priest should keep a couple of unconsecratrd wafers soaked with tabasco sauce – to sort of remind the miscreants of the possible consequences of their acts.😃
 
vern_humphrey said:
Personally, I think the priest should keep a couple of unconsecratrd wafers soaked with tabasco sauce – to sort of remind the miscreants of the possible consequences of their acts.😃
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I don’t think any priest would actually do that, but thanks for the laugh! 😃 😃
 
Nino said:
the question is…is there any possible reason…any crime,any opinion…any act by a politician that would cause a priest in a parish on a sunday morning…to deny him/her holy communion…lets start with that…this of course can easily be done by a fake but polite giving of the sacred Host …so there would not be any scene!..Nino
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That’s a valid question: what would it take for a priest or bishop to deny communion to someone who manifestly should not receive it? Apparently some would not reject the local abortionist.

As for avoiding a scene, I think that would be a mistake even if it could be done. If an individual was warned in private - and such communication should definitely be private - then it would be a scandal to appear to offer communion, just as it would be a scandal to actually offer it. If the Church’s ministers act as if the sacraments are not holy why should the laity believe they are?

Ender
 
So if Bishops are going to deny politicians communion for not voting pro-life, should they do the same thing when a politician is pro-capital punishment? Pro Iraq war? The church has very clear teachings on those topics as well. Why aren’t they brought up?
 
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