Catholic Voter Poll

Posted by Tom McFeely

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 3:51 PM

(CNS/Reuters)

A new survey has found sharp differences between Catholic voters who regularly attend Mass and those who don’t.

The poll, commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, found that 59% of “practicing” Catholics say they are pro-life whereas 65% of “non-practicing” Catholics say they are pro-choice.

A practicing Catholic was defined by the poll as a person who attends a religious service at least once or twice a month.

Given the gap in voter preferences between practicing and non-practicing Catholics, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said political analysts should stop discussing the Catholic vote as if it were a monolithic bloc.

Said Anderson, “I would certainly encourage pollsters, reporters and commentators to take this distinction into consideration when reporting on Catholics.”

The poll, entitled “Moral Issues and Catholic Voters,” also indicated that the term “pro-choice” is a misnomer, in terms of designating a person as being supportive of abortion on demand in all circumstances.

It found that 89% of all Catholics favor at least some restrictions on abortion, including a large majority — 76% — of those who identify themselves as “pro-choice.”

More information about the poll can be found here.

— Tom McFeely

Filed under catholic voters, politics