WASHINGTON (CNA)—Most Catholic voters oppose the federal rule requiring religious institutions to buy insurance that covers contraception and sterilization, according to new research published Feb. 7.
Public Religion Research Institute’s poll found that 52% of voting Catholics do not believe the contraception coverage mandate should apply to religiously affiliated colleges and hospitals. Only 45% of Catholic voters said the rule should apply to these ministries.
This figure, indicating Catholic voters’ disapproval with a prominent Obama administration policy, may add to growing speculation about their role in the 2012 election. A Pew Research Center analysis released Feb. 2 showed that Catholics had drifted from the Democratic Party since 2008.
The Public Religion Research Institute released its findings one day after the U.S. bishops published a fact sheet on Health and Human Services’ recently finalized mandate. The bishops said the rule makes schools, hospitals and charities act “against their conscience, to pay for things they consider immoral.”
Approved over objections from Catholic bishops and laypersons, along with other religious groups, the rule applies to many types of faith-based institutions. Only those organizations that mainly hire and serve members of the same faith, for the purpose of promoting religious values, are exempt.
While politically active Catholics tended to disapprove of the mandate being applied to religious ministries that serve the public at large, their non-voting Catholic counterparts leaned toward a different view. With non-voters included, Catholic support for a mandate of this kind reached 52%.
Catholic voters, however, were joined in their opposition to the contraceptive mandate by many evangelical Protestants. Only 31% of white evangelicals said religious colleges and hospitals should be forced to buy insurance to give employees access to the drugs and methods without a co-pay.
Minority Catholics were more likely to believe the insurance mandate should apply to the Church’s schools and hospitals, compared with their white co-religionists. Only 41% of white Catholics believe the contraception rule should apply to these institutions.
Among Americans of no religious affiliation, 59% thought the government should require religious colleges and hospitals to purchase insurance covering contraception. A slightly higher proportion of the non-religious, 61%, said employers in general should have to do so.
While 73% of Democrats said employers in general should be forced to make contraception available to employees without a co-pay, only 36% of Republicans agreed.
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52%? God save us.
What percent of the Catholics currently use contraception or have used contraception in the past?
Glass houses…..
I am tired of the secular left, the mainstream media, and their Quislings within the Church mentioning polls that claim 95 percent of Catholic women have used birth control. It really does not matter if 95 percent of so-called Catholic women insist on committing a mortal sin and imperil their souls. The Catholic Church is not a democracy; the teachings of the Church are founded on eternal truth, not the shifting sands of public opinion. Perhaps the greatest thing that can come out of this fight for freedom is that the Church will finally rid itself of these disobedient “Catholics”. Let them have their free birth control; we’ll be free of heretics in our midst.
Calling all Catholics, please sign this petition to let the Obama administration know we will not let our rights as Americans be trampled
http://www.nrsc.org/campaigns/stand-up-for-first-amendment-freedoms/
I must confess I am surprised that as many as 52% oppose the mandate. I would have figured the number to be much lower, so this is somewhat gratifying. Nevertheless I must agree with Jon H. above: God save us. And Jesus have mercy on us.
48% of “Catholics are not Catholic. Contraception is the greatest scourge of mankind ever.
Church teaching is not determined or affected by popular vote. It’s teaching on contraception testifies to it’s divine origin; profoundly wise, largely ignored, hated for it.
Whether we agree on contraception or not, can we get beyond contraception and think of the bigger picture here? It’s our religious freedom we are talking about!!!!! Let’s stand united for that.
The Catholic Church is NOT a democracy. Issues of Faith and Morals are NOT decided by individuals without incurring the consequences of union or disunion with God AND His one only true Church. There has been a great distortion of Catholic Teaching in regard to “conscience” and salvation if conscience is followed. The Catholic Faith is a Covenant (the New Covenant) with God. If we abide in it, we will be sons of God and as members of the Body of Christ/God we will enjoy the rewards of Sonship. If we follow our own way instead of Christ’s Way through life, we will be cut off from permanent union with God and cast into hell forever.
When Media pundits lure us into voting for Church issues just remember that the Media is the voice of the World and NOT the voice of the Church. The World is the seed of the serpent. (Gen. 3:15) The Church is the Body of Christ—the seed of the woman—in, with and through Jesus.
The 45% of Catholics who approve are actually not Catholics in the true sense. They are the select group who want to change the Catholic Church by doing away with the rules laid down by GOD. Morality is not one of their better points. They for the most part are CCC (Card Carrying Catholics) members who actually do not support their religion. And that is sad because they basically took an oath to support the Bishops, Pope, and God when they became Catholic. Education by our priests would be a great help in these terrible days. God bless America…
As the poll indicates, minorities are more likely to approve of the mandate. I suppose they want the free services for themselves and friends. Do they not know PP supplies them for free or almost free. An interview with a grad student in a Catholic college showed her protesting having to pay for her own birth control. She was not married. Not long ago she would have not had the effrontery to demand others pay to protect her fornication. It is a sad, bad world today. God help us.
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