Lies, Damn Lies, and ... Polling

Much is being made of Faith in Public Life's new poll "The Young and the Faithful". I've discussed it previously here and, after asking, found the AmP community's input to be very helpful. Read through those here.

Recently, CNS published it's take on the results:

The survey indicated that younger Catholics are less traditional than older Catholics. More young Catholics identified themselves as Democrats than as Republicans -- 54 percent to 35 percent -- whereas older Catholics were almost evenly split between the two political parties . Only 28 percent of young Catholics said they are politically conservative, compared to 42 percent of older Catholics.

CNS gives the last word to a Faith in Public Life spokeswoman:

Expect to see the dividing lines of the culture wars continue to fade," said Katie Paris, director of communications strategy at Faith in Public Life.

My take? I think this poll and the accompanying analysis of its results have many blind spots.

If I had to choose *one* blind spot, it would be the difference between active and nominal Catholics. This difference applies to Catholics over 35, and even more so to those under 35.

Nominal Catholics, not surprisingly, closely follow the national trends. As AmP reader Gradchica said: "One might think these infrequent attenders have learned just enough of their faith to dangerously misinterpret it, and to miss the fine distinctions."

Active Catholics, however, are counter-cultural and don't follow the national trends. The proof for this claim is very easy to provide.....

For instance, a CNA editorial notes:

Where Obama has broken the pattern, his Catholic problem shows up among weekly Mass attendees. He won in Missouri, 50 percent to 46 percent, but lost active Catholics, 46 percent to 53 percent. He tied in Wisconsin but lost among active Catholics, 46 percent to 53 percent.

CWNews, commenting on a Pew forum study, also points out:

The Pew profile confirm that Catholics compose a crucial political constituency. But the survey also shows a sharp distinction between the Catholics who attend Mass regularly and those who are not active. Thus for example, among Catholics who attend Mass weekly, 60% say that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances; among those who do not go to Mass regularly the figure is 29%. Similarly, 42% of the regular Mass-goers oppose research that entails the destruction of human embryos; only 22% of the less active Catholics take that stand.

More troubling, however, is another trend: younger Catholics are less likely to be as active in their faith as their parents. This fact explains the general trend of young Catholics being "less conservative", or what have you.

Which brings us back to the point Archbishop Charles Chaput makes in his book Render Unto Caesar, that the crisis of voting is at root a crisis of faith. It should therefore not surprise us that people who do not even attend Mass regularly, who do not live an active faith, also do not have the same perspective on moral issues as the Church does.

I realize this is a bold claim, and that I have expressed it without all the qualifications, provisos and considerations that a more full treatment would contain, but I think it remains the fundamental insight which explains both how a) active Catholics vote differently and yet b) overall, Catholics are more "mainstream" in their voting habits than the previous generation.

Final consideration:

Are things getting worse? I don't think so. I think matters are becoming more clear. Pope Benedict has said, and I have quoted him before as saying, that active, passionate minorities shape cultures. The cohesion shown among conservative Catholics, and the stable dedication they demonstrate to the teachings of the Church, is more able to spread itself through teaching and witness, and propogate itself through children and education, than a nominal faith ever can or will.

One only has to look to the constant biblical admonition of Jesus that, to those who have much faith, more will be given, and to those who have little faith, even what they have will be taken away - to begin understanding the reality that I would claim is again present here before us.

So our task? Increase our faith, live it, and share it with others.

And don't fret about the polls.