New poll results must be sending the gay hating Catholic Church hierarchy into apoplexy: Catholics in New Jersey generally favor gay marriage and worse yet believe that stopping legislative approval of same sex marriage is not an important issue. Adding to the hierarchy's angst is the fact that Protestants - those same people I was taught as a proper Catholic child were guaranteed to go to Hell - are more homophobic than the Catholic laity. It would seem that all of the Catholic Church hierarchy's efforts to rant about gay marriage to keep Catholics from paying attention to the latest sex abuse exposes in Ireland and around the world are not working. Such a pity - not. As readers of this blog are well aware, I believe that because of its meddling in CIVIL LAW matters, the Catholic Church has declared itself the enemy of LGBT Americans and is deserving of having all of its dirty linen exposed to the bright light of day until either the Church loses all credibility - as is rapidly occurring in Ireland - or is forced to clean its own house. Here are some poll highlights:*
Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, New Jersey Catholics generally support legalizing gay marriage, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today. Among Catholics, 48 percent support gay marriage, while 40 percent oppose and 12 percent are undecided. Protestants hold the opposite view, with only 34 percent supporting and 55 percent opposing gay marriage; 11 percent are undecided. Jewish respondents support gay marriage, 56 percent to 40 percent, with 4 percent undecided, while those with no religion preference are the most supportive, at 85 percent to only 10 percent opposed ( 5 percent undecided ).
Catholics, 46 percent of all respondents, generally support same-sex marriage and 53 percent believe that if the Legislature approves a gay marriage bill, it should be accepted. They do not see the issue as one of the most important facing the state – 46 percent say the issue is “not at all important.”
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“As with several social issues, many Catholics support a more liberal public policy than does the Church itself,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University.
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“The gay marriage issue is being framed as one of civil rights for gays and lesbians versus strong religious traditions favoring marriage between a man and a woman,” said Redlawsk. “Of the demographic differences between supporters and opponents, the clearest is based on religiosity – the frequency of attendance at services. While those who attend most often are most opposed, they represent a small share of all New Jersey residents. Every other group shows more support than opposition, regardless of the particular religion.”
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Though Evangelical Christians strongly oppose gay marriage, they do not consider it an important issue in New Jersey, paralleling the view of other religious groups. Only 2 percent of Evangelicals call gay marriage the “most important” issue, while another 14 percent say it is “very important” and 34 percent “somewhat important.” The same is true of all other religious groups in the survey. “While the issue matters to a very small but passionate group on both sides, by far, most New Jerseyans of all stripes think there are more critical issues that need to be addressed,” Redlawsk said.
Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, New Jersey Catholics generally support legalizing gay marriage, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today. Among Catholics, 48 percent support gay marriage, while 40 percent oppose and 12 percent are undecided. Protestants hold the opposite view, with only 34 percent supporting and 55 percent opposing gay marriage; 11 percent are undecided. Jewish respondents support gay marriage, 56 percent to 40 percent, with 4 percent undecided, while those with no religion preference are the most supportive, at 85 percent to only 10 percent opposed ( 5 percent undecided ).
Catholics, 46 percent of all respondents, generally support same-sex marriage and 53 percent believe that if the Legislature approves a gay marriage bill, it should be accepted. They do not see the issue as one of the most important facing the state – 46 percent say the issue is “not at all important.”
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“As with several social issues, many Catholics support a more liberal public policy than does the Church itself,” said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and professor of political science at Rutgers University.
*
“The gay marriage issue is being framed as one of civil rights for gays and lesbians versus strong religious traditions favoring marriage between a man and a woman,” said Redlawsk. “Of the demographic differences between supporters and opponents, the clearest is based on religiosity – the frequency of attendance at services. While those who attend most often are most opposed, they represent a small share of all New Jersey residents. Every other group shows more support than opposition, regardless of the particular religion.”
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Though Evangelical Christians strongly oppose gay marriage, they do not consider it an important issue in New Jersey, paralleling the view of other religious groups. Only 2 percent of Evangelicals call gay marriage the “most important” issue, while another 14 percent say it is “very important” and 34 percent “somewhat important.” The same is true of all other religious groups in the survey. “While the issue matters to a very small but passionate group on both sides, by far, most New Jerseyans of all stripes think there are more critical issues that need to be addressed,” Redlawsk said.
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Once again, it is the religious extremists who seek to inflict their religious beliefs on all that are the main proponents of blocking same sex marriage. They want religious freedom for themselves but no one else.
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