Le Moyne College/Zogby International
Latest Contemporary Catholic Trends Poll

As part of its ongoing project to track the views of American Catholics, Le Moyne College has released the findings of the latest Contemporary Catholic Trends (CCT) poll in conjunction with Zogby International. The survey included questions on attitudes about women, the workplace, the war in Iraq, and religious belief and practice. It also asked about Catholic approval of the performance of the pope, the U.S. bishops, and local pastors.

APPROVAL RATINGS FOR PASTORS, POPE, AND BISHOPS

When asked about how they would rate their pastors, the U.S. bishops, and the pope American Catholics expressed the most satisfaction with those closest to them, their local pastors. A large majority of American Catholics (87%) strongly agree (67%) or somewhat agree (20%) that the pastors of their parishes are doing a good job leading the local church. Catholics continue to be pleased with the new pope. Most respondents (84%) agreed (47% strongly, 37% somewhat) that Benedict XVI is doing a good job leading the Catholic Church.

Since October 2001, CCT has tracked American Catholics’ assessment of how well the U.S. bishops are leading the American church. In Fall of 2001 before news of the clergy sex scandal broke the bishops enjoyed an approval rating of 83% with 43% strongly agreeing and 40% agreeing that they were doing a good job. In the latest survey 67% of respondents strongly (26%) or somewhat agree (41%) that the bishops are doing a good job. This is similar to the 66% of the March 2006 survey.

CURRENT ISSUES

Iraq

Respondents to the May 2006 CCT survey were asked several questions about the War in Iraq and the wider War on Terror. 56% of those who attend weekly or more reported hearing a sermon about the War on Terror in the last year. Asked if the war in Iraq has reduced the threat of terrorism in the United States, 20% of all respondents strongly agreed that it has, while 19% somewhat agreed. This belief is most common among political conservatives (58%), and least common among political liberals (18%). Overall, 43% believe that the U.S. will be successful in Iraq in the long term, but there are divisions among political identification: 63% of conservatives believe the war will succeed, while only 20% of liberals and 34% of moderates agree.

Asked about the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, 51% agreed it was worth the money the U.S. has spent on the endeavor, and 32% said it justified the loss of soldiers’ lives. Considered across political identification, 45% of conservatives believe Hussein’s removal justified the loss of soldiers’ lives, as do 24% of moderates, and 20% of liberals.

Immigration

Related to recent news about U.S. immigration policy, 31% of those who attend weekly or more say they have heard a sermon about immigration issues. Overall, 56% of respondents support providing undocumented immigrants with work permits so that they could stay in the United States legally. Support is lowest among political conservatives at 47%, and highest among political liberals at 65%. Much of this debate has centered on the growing presence of Latino immigrants in the United States, and 38% of respondents who attend Mass say they their parish provides a Spanish language Mass. The majority of these are in the south where 62% say their parish has such a Mass, and in the west where a Spanish language Mass is reported by 76%. Further, 83% of Latinos say they attend such a parish, while only 25% of non-Latinos attend a parish that provides a Spanish language Mass.

RELIGION AND WORK

The May CCT asked a series of questions about employment issues. Sixty-nine percent of employed Catholics said their religious values impact decisions they make at work. Among those polled 66% said they sometimes (33%) or very often (33%) find themselves thinking about their moral values while at work. Endorsing a fundamental Catholic social teaching, 92% of all respondents agreed that employers should pay a living wage.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN

Respondents to the poll were asked about their level of comfort with women in certain social roles. For example, 52% said they would be very (38%) or somewhat (14%) comfortable with a woman serving as their priest. A smaller constituency, 41%, said they would be very (29%) or somewhat (12%) comfortable with a woman as pope. Among those who attend weekly or more, 32% said they would be comfortable with a female pope, while 54% of those who attend less than weekly supported the idea.

Asked about other roles, about 80% reported feeling comfortable with a woman serving as President, and over 90% said they would be comfortable with a woman as a U.S. Senator (93%), a C.E.O. (95%), or their own boss (94%).

RELIGIOUS BELIEF

Asked about basic human nature, about 2% of Catholics think human beings are basically sinful, 38% said humans are basically good, while 59% said people are both good and sinful. Almost 80% of respondents said that they ask God for assistance at least weekly, 55% saying they do so daily. 70% percent of the Catholics polled said they pray daily.

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Zogby International conducted interviews of 1507 Roman Catholics chosen nationwide from a Zogby compiled database of Roman Catholics self identified from previous polls. All calls were made from Zogby International headquarters in Utica, N.Y., from 5/02/06 thru 5/10/06. The margin of error is +/- 2.6 percentage points. Slight weights were added to region, age, race, gender to more accurately reflect the Roman Catholic population. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.