Survey Exposes Deep Divide Among Catholics
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center delved into the nuanced stance of American Catholics on the issue of abortion. While a majority of Catholics in the United States support the legalization of abortion in all or most cases, the survey highlighted significant differences in opinion based on the frequency of Mass attendance.
Conducted between March 27 and April 2, 2023, the survey revealed that 61% of American Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a percentage slightly lower than that of the general U.S. adult population, which stands at 62%. However, when examining specific groups within the Catholic community, variations become apparent. Hispanic Catholics, for instance, demonstrated slightly higher support for legal abortion at 63%, compared to their white Catholic counterparts at 59%.
Interestingly, the disparity in abortion views is most pronounced between Catholics who attend Mass regularly and those who do not. While only 34% of Catholics who attend Mass weekly advocate for legal abortion in all or most circumstances, a stark contrast emerges with 68% of Catholics who attend Mass less frequently or not at all holding such views.
Michael New, a pro-life scholar, emphasized the significant impact of church attendance on abortion attitudes, suggesting it supersedes the influence of denominational affiliation. On the other hand, conservative commentator Carol Swain interpreted these findings as indicative of a departure from orthodox Christian teachings, attributing part of this shift to the influence of prominent Catholic figures like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, despite their public support for abortion conflicting with their Catholic faith.
The survey also shed light on partisan divisions among Catholics regarding abortion, reflecting broader political schisms in the United States. While 43% of Catholic Republicans favor legal abortion in all or most cases, the figure rises substantially to 78% among Catholic Democrats.
In addition to abortion attitudes, the Pew Research Center’s data explored Catholics’ perceptions of Pope Francis. Despite an overall favorable opinion of the pontiff among U.S. Catholics (75%), disparities emerged based on partisan lines. While 89% of Catholic Democrats viewed Pope Francis favorably, only 63% of Catholic Republicans shared the same sentiment.
Overall, the survey underscores the multifaceted perspectives within the American Catholic community on issues such as abortion and Pope Francis, illustrating the intersection of religious beliefs, political affiliations, and societal influences.