A tale of two polls

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

With every vote being so crucial in this election, it’s no wonder there’s great interest in the minds of this nation’s 67 million Catholics and how they plan on voting on November 4.  Swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida have significant Catholic populations and it is quite likely that Catholics may decide who occupies the White House and the Capitol in January.  For decades, American Catholics were considered a solid  part of the Democrats’ base, but as they increasingly become the “party of death,” Catholics are rethinking this relationship.

Since it is the time in our nation’s life when a new poll du jour is touted by this organization or another while pundits say polls don’t matter and the media report on them as though it were our national fever, it goes without saying these polls have a thing or two to say about Catholic life in America.  Just like those talking heads who are the meteorologists of our Republic, I think we should heed the results with skepticism – especially with regards to what they say about Catholics.  A couple of polls announced in the last week highlight the difference between those individuals who understand Catholics and ask the right questions and those who don’t have a clue.

According to the results of a poll released last week, sponsored by Faith in Public Life, “younger Catholics more strongly support Obama, abortion rights, and more active government than older Catholics.”  The data claims that 60% of Catholics between the ages of 18 and 34 say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.  Perhaps even more shocking is this survey found 50% of older Catholics hold a similar view.

I was immediately skeptical of this survey given my own experience as a young Catholic.  Maybe it’s just me, but the Catholics I know, especially the younger ones, are more fervent in Faith and committed to Church teachings than ever before.  Just take a look at the types of young men entering the seminaries.  They are increasingly more conservative, more traditional, and more faithful.

With this skepticism, I decided to take a look at the actual questions the survey asked.  First of all, the poll asks respondents to self identify with a particular religious group, and 23% of the young adults surveyed identified as Catholics.  This is all well and good, but being Catholic means more than calling yourself such.  There are seven precepts of the Church every Catholic must follow including weekly Mass attendance.

As the Catechism says, these are obligatory laws “meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor.”  So a natural follow up question to anyone who calls themselves Catholic is, “How often do you go to Mass?”  The Faith in Public Life survey doesn’t ask this question, but it did find that 35% of all young adults polled (not just Catholics) attend “religious services” at least once a week.

Unfortunately, the organization that put this poll together and the media that takes it seriously are more interested in showing how self-identified Catholics reject Church teachings than they are interested in finding out the opinions of faithful, practicing Catholics.

The Faith and American Politics Survey asked those who attend “religious services” once a month if the clergy at the respondent’s place of worship ever speak out about the issue of abortion.  44% of young adults (aged 18-34) said their clergy had spoken out against keeping abortion legal.  Additionally, 25% also said their religious beliefs had the biggest influence on their thoughts on the issue of abortion.

Yesterday [today], a new poll about Catholics and issues important to them was released by people who “get it.”  Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, held a press conference from Rome and Washington’s National Press Club, where he announced the results of the national poll, Moral Issues and Catholic Voters, commissioned by the K of C.

Mr. Anderson stressed the fact that although the economy is the issue at the forefront of everyone’s mind (57% of registered voters and 60% of practicing Catholics say this is the number one issue of the election),  voters prefer a candidate who shares their values.

The two main issues addressed in the survey were abortion and same-sex “marriage” and how average Catholics feel about these moral questions.  An important conclusion is the surprising consensus among Americans about abortion.  Speaking from Rome, Mr. Anderson said the labels of pro-choice or pro-life are no longer adequate and do a disservice to the overall debate because the phrases “magnify division.”

For example, 44% of Americans describe themselves as pro-life and 50% say they are pro-choice, but when asked about the abortion issue in more precise terms, an important concept emerges – 84% of Americans believe abortion should be significantly restricted.  This sentiment flies in the face of Roe v. Wade which currently makes abortion legal during all nine months of pregnancy.

The thing that sets this poll apart from the Faith and American Politics Survey is the fact the Knights of Columbus know what it means to be Catholic.  During today’s press conference, Mr. Anderson cautioned the media, pollsters, and pundits that Catholics are not a “monolithic voting bloc” and are distinguished by two sub-groups, practicing Catholics, which this survey identified as those who attend Mass at least once a month (which I think is pretty weak since Catholics are expected to go at least once a week), and non-practicing Catholics, those who were raised Catholics and for whatever reason have fallen away from the Church, and thus, her teaching.

The Moral Issues and Catholic Voters poll found a distinct difference between practicing and non-practicing Catholics.  46% of non-practicing Catholics, for example, believe same-sex couples should be allowed to legally “marry,” compared to only 22% of practicing Catholics.  The differences, I suspect, would be much different if practicing Catholics were considered to be those who abide by the Church’s precept of weekly attendance at Mass.

Who would practicing Catholic voters choose in the McCain-Obama match up?  The answer is unknown since the Knights of Columbus decided not to ask partisan questions in their poll.  One thing is for certain, though – this will be an historic election for Catholic voters.

By Eric Wilson.

Read other articles by Eric Wilson at www.examiner.com.

               

Notable News Links: October 15, 2008

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

Is the Reagan era over? Is conservativism dead? Harold Meyerson of the Washington Post tell us The Reagan-Thatcher Era is Over.

Surprise: ABC denies pro-life ad.

What is the “bailout” and is it working? Andy Kessler of the Wall Street Journal explains, What Paulson Is Trying to Do.

Obama supports abortion, late-term abortion, partial-birth abortion, and infanticide for infants who survive birth. Robert George, a man that I highly respect wrote an excellent article on: Obama’s Abortion Extremism.

In case you’re still wondering, George Weigel explains why there are Pro-life Catholics for Obama (Newsweek).

               

Pope speaks against modern Godless societies

Meeting at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome (the site of the Apostle Paul’s burial), Pope Benedict XVI discussed the importance of Bible study and the collapse of Christian culture:

“Today, nations once rich in faith and vocations are losing their own identity, under the harmful and destructive influence of a certain modern culture.”

Pope Benedict has also convened a synod to discuss the Catholic Church’s persecution under the anti-Catholic policies of communist China.

               

Biden loses the Catholic Vote for Obama

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

Gerald Warner at the Telegraph has written a scathing article against Barack Obama’s choice of Joe Biden in the VP slot entitled: “Joe Biden loses Barack Obama the Catholic vote“.

Here are some fun facts from Warner about the demographics of the Catholic vote in the United States:

There are 47 million Catholic voters in the United States. One quarter of all registered voters are Catholics. At every presidential election in the past 30 years the Catholic vote has gone to the winning candidate, except for Al Gore in 2000. This year 41 per cent of Catholics are independents – up from 30 per cent in 2004. Psephologists claim practising Catholics were the decisive factor in the crucial swing states in 2004: in Ohio 65 per cent of Catholics voted for Bush, in Florida 66 per cent. They were drifting away in disillusionment from the Republicans and split 50-50, until Joe Biden worked his magic. This is electoral suicide by the Democrats.

Hat tip to Walker Dollahon.

               

Christian and American Hero: Thomas Vander Woude

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

On September 8, 2008, Thomas Vander Woude died after rescuing his downs syndrome son from a septic take. Vander Woude was 66 years old.

The father jumped into the septic and held up his son over the sewage. When a rescue team pulled Vander Woude from the septic tank, they rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Washington Post did a great write up on this outstanding witness to charity and fortitude.

When Joseph, 20, who has Down syndrome, fell into a septic tank Monday in his back yard, Vander Woude jumped in after him. He saved him. And he died where he spent so much time living: at his son’s side.

“That’s how he lived,” Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law and neighbor, Maryan Vander Woude, said yesterday. “He lived sacrificing his life, everything, for his family.”

Vander Woude, 66, had gone to Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville on Monday, just as he did every day, and then worked in the yard with Joseph, the youngest of his seven sons, affectionately known as Josie. Joseph apparently fell through a piece of metal that covered a 2-by-2-foot opening in the septic tank, according to Prince William County police and family members.

Vander Woude rushed to the tank; a workman at the house saw what was happening and told Vander Woude’s wife, Mary Ellen, police said. They called 911 about 12 p.m. and tried to help the father and son in the meantime.

At some point, Vander Woude jumped in the tank, submerging himself in sewage so he could push his son up from below and keep his head above the muck, while Joseph’s mom and the workman pulled from above.

When rescue workers arrived, they pulled the two out, police said. Vander Woude, who had been in the tank for 15 to 20 minutes, was unconscious. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Joseph remains in Prince William Hospital with double pneumonia, and doctors are monitoring him for infection, said Erin Vander Woude, Thomas Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law. Joseph is in critical condition and on a ventilator, she said.

“He doesn’t know that his dad died,” she said.

For those who knew him, Vander Woude’s sacrifice was in keeping with a lifetime of giving.

“He’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back,” said neighbor Lee DeBrish. “And if he didn’t have one, he’d buy one for you.”

Vander Woude was a pilot in Vietnam, a daughter-in-law said. After the war, he worked as a commercial airline pilot and in the early 1980s moved his family to Prince William from Georgia. In the years to come, he would wear many hats: farmer, athletic director, volunteer coach, parishioner, handy neighbor, grandfather of 24, husband for 43 years.

He divided his Nokesville farm into multiple plots, offering land to all his sons so they could stay close to home if they wanted, the daughter-in-law said. His eldest, Tom, became a priest. Five others — Steve, Dan, Bob, Chris and Pat — all married. And there was Joseph, who loved helping with all the odd jobs that filled the retired days of his father.

“He was retired,” DeBrish said, “but that was a misnomer, because he was always out crankin’ with the backhoe or the tractor.”

All of Vander Woude’s sons except Joseph attended Seton School in Manassas, where Vander Woude volunteered as coach of the boys’ soccer and basketball teams for about 10 years, said the school’s director, Anne Carroll.

“He never took a cent for it,” she said. Carroll said that Vander Woude was a successful coach, winning multiple championships, but that his greatest strength was his ability to guide kids through challenges off the field.

“He was a mentor,” she said. “He wanted them to be good young men, not just good players.”

Vander Woude also served as athletic director at Christendom College in Front Royal for about five years, the school’s president, Timothy T. O’Donnell, said.

But loved ones said his favorite job was the one he did last: being a good dad.

“They always considered Joseph a wonderful blessing to the family,” said Francis Peffley, pastor at Holy Trinity, where Vander Woude served as a sacristan and also trained altar servers. “His whole life was spent serving people and sacrificing himself. . . . He gave the ultimate sacrifice. . . . Giving his life to save his son.”

               

Catholics for McCain/Palin

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

“Students at my conservative, Catholic college were psyched about Palin. On Friday when she was announced, the buzz around campus was about Palin and it was all positive. My college draws conservative students from across America, so I think it provided a real snapshot of how young conservatives now feel about the ticket. I emphasize now, because there was a big chunk of students I know who were not enthused at all about McCain… Most could stomach voting for him, but ask them to knock on doors, make phone calls? Not a chance. Another portion of those students were going to write in Ron Paul or not vote at all. That all changed with the Palin pick. Students are asking how to get involved, and those that weren’t going to pull the lever for McCain are now.”

Read the whole thing from Billy Valentine.

               

Sarah Palin was Catholic before she was Pentecostal

Warning: gzinflate() [function.gzinflate]: data error in /home/taylor12/public_html/christianandamerican.com/wp-includes/http.php on line 1787

How about that speech last night? Wow. It was awesome. I would actually like her to be President. Powerful

Not to judge, but I just read this over at Fox News:

Palin was baptized Roman Catholic as a newborn. She was then baptized in a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church as a teen and attended that church until six years ago, when she and her family adopted a different home church, an independent evangelical church.

Interesting…

For the Catholic readers – Does this matter to you?

It doesn’t matter to me, at all. In fact, it makes me hopeful that she’ll return to her roots.

               

« Previous Page