CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

American Catholics: Views of the Catholic Church and Pope Francis Before his first U.S. Visit
September 9-13, 2015
Q30. (Abort3) Which of these comes closest to your view? 1. Abortion should be generally available to those who want it; OR 2.
Abortion should be available but under stricter limits than it is now; OR 3. Abortion should not be permitted?

Generally available
Available but limits
Should not be permitted
Dont know/no answer

*********** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ************

******** CATHOLICS *********
All
Total
*Attend Mass*
Americans
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
%
34
27
12
35
37
41
40
41
25
30
44
22
3
2
4
1

Oct14f
%
39
34
25
3

Q31. (DthPen) Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?

Favor
Oppose
Dont know/no answer

59
31
10

54
36
10

41
47
12

61
30
9

Apr15a
56
34
10

Q32. (SameSexMarriage) Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same sex couples to marry?

Legal
Not legal
Dont know/no answer

55
37
8

61
31
8

47
46
7

68
23
9

Jun15b
57%
35
8

Q33. (Imm3Prt) Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are living in the U.S.? 1. (They should be allowed to
stay in the U.S and eventually apply for citizenship), 2. They should be allowed to stay in the U.S. legally, but not be
allowed to apply for citizenship or 3. (They should be required to leave the U.S.)
Stay and apply for citizenship
Stay in the US legally, but not apply
Required to leave the US
Dont know/no answer

59%
10
27
5

65
7
24
3

74
6
18
2

61
8
27
4

Q34. Released previously

Q35. (GlWrmCause) Which statement comes closest to your view about global warming? (Global warming is caused mostly by
human activity such as burning fossil fuels) or (Global warming is caused mostly by natural patterns in the earth's
environment) or Global warming does not exist.

Human activity
Natural patterns
Global warming does not exist
Caused by both (vol.)
Don't know what causes it (vol.)
Dont know/no answer

*********** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ************

******** CATHOLICS *********
All
Total
*Attend Mass*
Americans
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
%
51
54
49
57
29
28
31
26
9
7
10
6
5
4
3
5
2
2
3
1
3
5
3
5

Sep14a2
%
54
31
10
3
1
1

Q36. (FrncsFav) Is your opinion of Pope Francis favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Pope
Francis yet to have an opinion?

Favorable
Not favorable
Undecided
Haven't heard enough
Don't know/No answer

41
8
11
37
3

63
3
7
26
1

75
1
4
17
3

58
4
8
30
1

Q37. (FrncsDirect) Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the direction in which Pope Francis is leading the Catholic Church?
Approve strongly
Approve somewhat
Disapprove somewhat
Disapprove strongly
Don't know/No answer

29
23
9
7
31

53
26
6
3
11

66
25
3
1
6

47
28
8
3
15

Q38. (CathDirChng)Do you think the direction of the Catholic Church has changed a lot, somewhat, not much, or not at all under the
leadership of Pope Francis?
A lot
Somewhat
Not much
Nothing at all
Don't know/No answer

23
39
10
4
23

30
46
14
4
6

32
46
15
4
3

29
46
13
4
7

Q39. (FrncsHuman) Do you regard Pope Francis more as (the leader of and spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church), or more as (a
moral and humanitarian spokesman for all people regardless of their religion)?
Leader/spokesman Catholic Church
Moral/humanitarian for all
Both (vol.)
Neither (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

35
45
2
2
16

29
61
3
*
6

30
64
5
1

28
61
3
8

Q40.(CathMIP) What do you think is the most important problem facing the Catholic Church today?

Sex abuse by priests/cover up

Churches closing down/loss of members
Shortage of priests & nuns
Same sex marriage issue
Need to bring in more young people
Church generally too strict
Church not in touch /living in the past
Position on gays and lesbians too rigid
No credibility/decline in morals/values/ethics
Other
Nothing/no problems
Don't know/No answer

******** CATHOLICS *********

Total
*Attend Mass*
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
18
16
19
8
9
8
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
2
2
3
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
4
1
32
37
33
1
1
*
22
16
25

Feb13b
%
30
5
5
-4
1
6
3
3
20
0
23

Q41. (RateCath) Overall, would you rate the way things are going in the Catholic Church in the United States today as excellent,
good, not so good, or poor?
Excellent
Good
Not so good
Poor
Don't know/No answer

4
59
28
5
3

8
67
24
1
1

2
57
31
6
3

4
50
35
10
1

Q42.(CathDirect) Would you say things in the Catholic Church in the United States are generally getting better, getting worse, or
staying about the same?
Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

36
12
49
3

46
10
41
2

31
13
54
2

17
22
60
1

Q43. (CathInTouch)In general, do you think the Catholic Church is in touch with the needs of Catholics today, or is it out of touch?
In touch
Out of touch
Don't know/No answer

53
40
8

72
22
5

43
50
8

39
53
7

Q44.(PopevConsc) On difficult moral questions, which are you more likely to follow the teachings of the Pope, or your conscience?
Pope's teachings
Conscience
Both (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

13
77
6
3

22
68
8
2

9
83
5
3

13
78
7
1

Q45. (PopeMorlIss) Do you think its possible to disagree with the Pope on issues like birth control, abortion or divorce and still be a
good Catholic?

Possible
Not possible
Depends (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

******** CATHOLICS *********

Total
*Attend Mass*
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
81
73
86
15
22
11
1
3
1
3
2
2

Feb13b
%
83
13
1
3

Q46. (PopeSocIss) Do you think its possible to disagree with the Pope on issues like the environment, immigration, and the
distribution of wealth and still be a good Catholic?
Possible
Not possible
Depends (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

82
14
1
3

85
12
1
2

82
16
1
2

Q47.(PrstMarriage) Are you in favor of or opposed to letting Catholic priests get married?
Favor
Oppose
Don't care (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

65
29
2
4

58
37
1
3

68
26
2
4

66
26
3
5

Q48. (WomenPrst) Are you in favor of or opposed to letting women be ordained as Catholic priests?
Favor
Oppose
Don't care (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

64
29
1
5

51
43
1
5

72
23
1
4

66
28
2
3

Q49. (ArtBrthCntrl) Are you in favor or opposed to the use of artificial methods of birth control?
Favor
Oppose
Don't care (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

73
22
1
4

58
38
1
4

82
14
1
3

79
16
1
4

Q50.(AnnulComm)Are you in favor of or opposed to the Catholic Church allowing divorced and remarried Catholics who have not
had their previous marriages annulled to receive communion?
Favor
Oppose
Don't care (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

63
33
1
4

52
45
1
3

69
27
1
3

Q51. (FrncsPrior)Do you think Pope Francis has the same priorities for the Catholic Church as you have, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

******** CATHOLICS *********

Total
*Attend Mass*
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
53
67
47
33
26
37
14
7
16

Q52. (FrncsSocIss)When it comes to issues like the environment, immigration, and the distribution of wealth, would you say that
Pope Francis is more liberal than you, OR more conservative than you, OR are his opinions pretty much like yours?
More liberal
More conservative
Like yours
Don't know/No answer

24
22
43
11

27
21
45
7

21
24
43
12

Q53. (FrncsMorlIss)When it comes to issues like birth control, abortion or divorce, would you say that Pope Francis is more liberal
than you, or more conservative than you, or are his opinions pretty much like yours?
More liberal
More conservative
Like yours
Don't know/No answer

10
43
40
8

11
35
51
3

9
48
34
9

Q54. (FrncsWmn) Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in responding to the concerns of women in the
church?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

62
17
20

75
12
13

57
20
24

Q55.(FrncsPoor) Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in addressing the needs and concerns of the poor?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

84
8
8

92
3
5

82
10
8

Q56. (FrncsEnvrn)Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in addressing environmental issues?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

68
15
16

75
10
15

66
18
17

Q57. (FrncsSameSex)Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in addressing social issues like abortion and
same-sex marriage?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

63
26
11

75
18
7

57
30
13

Q58. (FrncsImm)Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in addressing immigration issues?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

******** CATHOLICS *********

Total
*Attend Mass*
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
60
66
58
19
15
21
20
19
21

Q58a. (FrncsDist)Do you approve or disapprove of the job Pope Francis is doing in addressing the distribution of wealth in the world?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

61
22
16

67
19
14

59
24
17

Q59. (FrncsSexAbse)Do you think Pope Francis and the Vatican have done a good job or a poor job of handling the reports of past
sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests?
Good job
Poor job
Don't know/No answer

48
40
11

58
32
10

44
44
12

Q65. (FrncsFrgvAbr)Pope Francis recently announced that during the Catholic Churchs Holy Year of Mercy, all priests will be allowed
to grant forgiveness to women who have had an abortion and have repented for it. Do you favor or oppose this decision by Pope
Francis?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

88
8
3

87
10
3

90
7
3

Q65a. (QuickAnnul) Pope Francis recently announced some changes to the process for granting marriage annulments. The changes
will speed up the process and make it free in most cases. Do you favor or oppose this decision by Pope Francis?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

87
8
6

86
10
4

88
6
6

Q60.(AtndMass) Would you say you attend Mass more than once a week, once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year,
or never?
More than once a week
Once a week
Once or twice a month
A few times a year
Never
Don't know/No answer

9
25
21
32
11
2

26
74
-

32
50
18
-

Q61. (AtndMassChng) In the last two years, has your attendance at Mass changed much, or not? (IF YES, ASK: Have you attended
Mass more often or less often?)
******** CATHOLICS *********
Total
*Attend Mass*
Catholics
1/Wk+ <1/Wk
%
%
%
13
13
13
12
7
15
74
80
72
1
-

Yes, more
Yes, less
Has not changed
Don't know/No answer

Total respondents
Total Catholics
Attend Mass 1/week+
Attend Mass less than 1/week

UNWEIGHTED
1,559
513
213
298

WEIGHTED

MARGIN OF ERROR
3 pts

329
112
212

6 pts
9 pts
8 pts