According to Gallup’s recent survey 82% of Catholics believe contraception is morally acceptable. That’s a shame.
Gallup does point out that this has nothing to do with the fight over religious liberty but it is a helpful benchmark to know where we stand. In fact, those numbers were a little more encouraging.
At the same time, when given a choice, 56% of Catholics in a Gallup survey conducted Feb. 16-19 said they sympathized with the views of religious leaders on the contraception-healthcare coverage debate, while 39% sympathized with the Obama administration’s position.
But I think this highlights the desperate need that this fight over religious liberty affords us. Now would be a great time for priests, bishops and cardinals to preach about why contraception is morally unacceptable. Let’s use this government overreach as an opportunity to spread the message of the Catholic Church. We must remember that winning politically is great but winning souls is what we’re all about.
May 23, 2012 at 5:55 pm
My question is, whom do they define as "Catholic"? Most polls let people self-identify – thus "Catholics" who were baptized and possibly even confirmed but haven't darkened the door of a church in years are counted.
May 23, 2012 at 6:02 pm
And how did they define contraception? If NFP counts as contraception, that would screw up the numbers too.
May 23, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Good Luck!
I am celibate, now, with five living children and eight grandchildren. What's contraception? Natural family planning was bad enough. It was merely a tool to control the male of the household until
divorce came to mind with the added incentive of nullity and if that was not enough, the Catholi Church accepts adulterers with open arms anyway.
So what does any of it matter.
The deck is stacked against men and marriage.
Oh, yes. I remember finding the rubbers my wife
used with her lover after she abandoned our marriage thanks to the intervention of a Catholic priest.
Sorry, Matt. The truth sometimes is stranger than
fiction.
I am serious about the above but it is not an easy
issue to address, contraception, that is.
Commitment is the answer. Unswerving, selfless
and life-long. But throw in repentance, forgiveness and some good priests and bishops with some "huevos" and things might improve.
Oh, yes, put successful annulment respondents in charge of every tribunal, answerable only to the Holy Father. That might help too.
Karl
May 23, 2012 at 7:28 pm
The Church has shot itself in the foot on this issue. Too many years of saying nothing at the pulpit has resulted in the vast majority of Catholics using contraception. Do you really think these "Catholics" will side with the Church? Not until the Church actually starts teaching in church will this change.
For what it's worth, we embrace this teaching (as we do all teachings) of the Church, but we learned this all on our own.
May 24, 2012 at 2:26 am
Sadly, that is the truth.
May 23, 2012 at 8:31 pm
What Catholics were polled? Nobody called me. Were these Catholics at Gallop?
May 23, 2012 at 8:45 pm
I am a 52 year old, life long practising Catholic, but I too fell into the trap of using contraception. I was never taught one thing about the Church's stand on contraception during 14 years of Catholic school and marriage prep. Can't blame my parents because they learned the faith when contraception wasn't widely available. I have only come to understand the issue since EWTN came into my life (along with the many good Catholic websites that I visit regularly). Church leaders are to blame for not providing proper leadership. The only thing I can do now is try to help my sons understand the teaching of the Church on this subject.
May 23, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Karl,
In case you haven't noticed this article is about the views of Catholics on BC not on annulments.
Laura V you are in the situation many Catholics are, although truly the Church has always taught that birth control was wrong.
I am going to be 54 this year and I was told by my mom that birth control was wrong. We didn't know what we now know about the pill but I am sure glad I followed Catholic teaching.
Many priests and bishops led souls under their care down the garden path under the guise of false "mercy" and "compassion".
May 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Good luck changing that. I suspect that the poll counts everyone who was raised Catholic, instead of practicing Catholics.
May 24, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I have an article idea for you. "what is a Catholic? A self. Identifier? A baotized? A confirmed? An occassional church goer? A weekly church-goer who is registeredat their oarish? …
Based on polls, it looks like heretics and schismatics seem to hold the majority. Let's implement citizenship tests, ID cards, and 3 year recertifications.
(sorry about typos-ipod keyboarf is not my best friend)
May 24, 2012 at 4:12 pm
The young clergy and seminarians are teaching the truth, and will teach it more and more as they gain seniority.
May 24, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I am actually surprised the number is that low! Maybe things are improving little by little.
May 26, 2012 at 1:38 pm
My wonderful parish priest here in the diocese of Arlington DID take the opportunity to preach about why contraception is "intrinsically evil." Yes, evil. He said it, and it was amazing!
Thank goodness I'm no longer in Bishop Blair's backwards diocese.