NOTE THE HEADLINES FROM THE SAME NEWS STORY, JUST WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE?

CBS did a Poll on Catholic attitudes concerning the sex abuse scandal. The following are copied headlines from various newspapers and blogs reporting on this poll. I find these rather interesting. It lets you know that there is definitely a bias in reporting depending on the reporter and the political points they are trying to score!

Practicing Catholics unfazed by abuse scandals; Pope’s popularity increasing

Gays in the priesthood and the ban on married priests are significant factors contributing to the sexual abuse of children by clergy

Vatican's Handling of Clergy Sex Abuse Gets Failing Grade in Survey

Catholics Criticize Pope on Abuse Scandal, but See Some Hope (This headline from Laurie Goodstein's article which I posted in the previous blog, could have just as well been, Catholic Criticize Laurie Goodstein and New York Times)

Poll: Most Say Sex Abuse by Priests Remains a Problem

New Study Confirms: Clerical Sexual Abuse NOT Gay Related

Poll: Catholics Say Celibacy, Homosexuality Contributed to Sex Abuse

Now the Actual CBS News Story:

CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.

More than one in two Catholics see both celibacy and homosexuality as at least minor factors in child sex abuse by some priests, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.

Less than one in three believe celibacy and homosexuality are "major" factors in the abuse, however -- which means that, overall, a majority of Catholics don't see those two issues as a significant factor leading to abuse.

Now the Actual Poll:

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL
For release: Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
2:00 pm (EDT)
CATHOLICS: CELIBACY AND HOMOSEXUALITY NOT MAJOR FACTORS IN CHILD SEX
ABUSE BY PRIESTS
April 28-May 2, 2010
As reports have recently come to light regarding sexual abuse of
children by some priests, Catholics think celibacy and homosexuality
play some part in the abuse, but fewer than a third think either is a
major factor. American Catholics are even less likely to say that only
permitting men to be priests plays a major role in child sexual abuse
by priests.
Just 31% of Catholics say celibacy among priests is a major factor
that contributes to child sex abuse, and 30% say homosexuality is a
major contributing factor.
Only men are allowed to be priests in the Catholic Church, and just
17% of Catholics think this is a major factor that contributes to
child sex abuse by priests. In fact, more than half do not think this
is a contributing factor at all.
FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO CHILD SEX ABUSE BY PRIESTS
(Among all Catholics)
Major Minor Not a factor
Celibacy 31% 28 35
Homosexuality 30% 23 37
Only allowing men to be priests 17% 27 53
More observant Catholics (those who attend Mass at least once a week)
are even less likely than Catholics overall to think these factors
contribute to child sex abuse by priests.
___________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1079 adults nationwide, interviewed
by telephone April 28-May 2, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both
standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on
the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for
subgroups is higher.
An oversample of Catholics was interviewed, for a total of 412 interviews. The results
were then weighted in proportion to the adult population. The margin of error for the
sample of Catholics is five points. This poll release conforms to the Standards of
Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls

Thirty-one percent of Catholics called celibacy a major factor leading to sexual abuse, while another 28 percent called it a minor factor. Thirty-five percent said celibacy did not play a part in the abuse.

Thirty percent, meanwhile, said homosexuality played a major role. An additional 23 percent said it played a minor role. Thirty-seven percent said it was not a factor.

Catholics were less likely to see the practice of only allowing men to be priests as a contributing factor in sexual abuse. Just 17 percent said it was a major factor leading to abuse, while 27 percent said it was a minor factor.

The majority -- 53 percent -- said the men-only nature of the priesthood was not a factor.

Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week are less likely than Catholics overall to think these factors contribute to child sex abuse by priests.

The survey was conducted between April 28th and May 2nd, and 412 Catholics were interviewed.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1079 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone April 28-May 2, 2010. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

An oversample of Catholics was interviewed, for a total of 412 interviews. The results were then weighted in proportion to the adult population. The margin of error for the sample of Catholics is five points. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.