THE STUDY FEBRUARY 10, 2012
-
Read Later
READ LATERAvailable only to subscribers. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
-
Listen
ARTICLE AUDIO
- Font Size
After several days of heated controversy, the White House is unveiling a new compromise on contraception coverage. The plan seeks to protect the religious liberty of institutions whose beliefs condemn contraception while still preserving access to birth control for employees of those institutions. Administration officials undoubtedly hope that their offer will calm Catholic bishops who voiced outrage about the original rule, but the controversy raises a broader question: How do lay Catholics feel about the Church’s teachings on this issue?
Polling data from Gallup suggests that the vast majority of American Catholics would like to see a change in the Church’s teachings. Now, throughout this debate, many have cited survey data indicating that nearly all American Catholic women have used birth control at some point, and most use it regularly. But the question of how Catholics behave is different from the question of what Catholics think the Church should teach. Even on this question, though, there seems to be broad consensus: A 2005 Gallup survey released after the death of Pope John Paul II showed that nearly eighty percent of American Catholics thought the next pope should allow the use of birth control. That doesn’t necessarily indicate that a similar proportion will support the White House’s stance, but it does suggest that many of the faithful in this country want to close the gap between teachings and behavior.
4 comments
Speaking of gaps. Another is evident when the post's title is compared with the body. The controversy arose when officials of the US Catholic Church opposed the requirement that employers within the US make birth control available to employees through insurance. Despite being an employer in the US, the US Catholic Church prefers Vatican ideology to the ideology of Washington. Religious attitudes for the faithful are made by those who are not democratically chosen.
- Doug12
February 10, 2012 at 2:49pm
I have heard that in part of the world, a concept called "saving face" is important. In English I think this means that once a person has committed him or herself to an untenable position, that person needs a way to change position without anyone realizing or noticing the change. I guess everyone has to send a signal that communicates "We all agree not to mention that your fly is unzipped while you pull it up." Of course, not being a Catholic (much less a priest) I don't know what priests, bishops, cardinals or Popes keep under their robes. Whatever it is, let's all agree to pretend to notice whatever they are doing as they save face, give head, or put on a "love glove."
- skahn
February 10, 2012 at 10:57pm
Darn. "agree to pretend NOT to notice." All my TNR critics get one free pass to call me "demented." Use it well.
- skahn
February 10, 2012 at 10:59pm
Hahaha...I went to mass this morning, and skahn, the last line of your post made me laugh. I am skeptical that the ones wearing pointy hats, and appreciate a good laugh at their expense. Anyway, back to the point at issue: "Polling data from Gallup suggests that the vast majority of American Catholics would like to see a change in the Church’s teachings." I would doubt that most of the aforementioned "ones-wearing-pointy-hats" care much at all: the major donors, the ones making really big contributions, DO not want to see a change on this issue at all (or presumably, that is true). I would hazard to make an educated guess that NOT compromising is better for the Church (read, my Church's [*sigh*]) overall fundraising. Until the folks writing big checks are on-board, good luck to Obama & Co. making any changes here. As a final point: (again, I have no evidence for this), but I would imagine that the vast majority of those who would alter the voting patterns based on the instructions of the US Conference of Bishops simply haven't been Democratic voters in nearly a generation....
- mcmahon.an
February 12, 2012 at 4:47pm