 |
Pope
Francis waves to pilgrims gathered at Saint Peter's square in the
Vatican, on
February 5, 2014 (AFP, Vincenzo Pinto)
|
Washington
— Catholics believe Pope Francis is doing a good job, but many disagree with
Church doctrine on hot-button issues, especially contraceptives, according to a
global poll out on Sunday.
The survey
by the US-based Spanish-language network Univision of Catholics in 12 countries
found that those most likely to support Church teachings are married men and
women 55 years and older who attend mass frequently and live in rural areas.
For the
rest, opinions on issues such as gay marriage, abortion, divorce and female
priests vary by region, age, geographic location and income.
According
to the poll, 87 percent of Catholics believe that Francis is doing a good or
excellent job as his papacy reaches its first anniversary in March.
Yet 78
percent favor using contraceptives, a violation of Church doctrine.
On other
issues there are marked regional differences: for example 80 percent of
Catholics in Africa and 76 percent in the Philippines support the ban on female
priests, but only 30 percent in Europe and 36 percent in the United States are
in favor.
The most
controversial subject is gay marriage: opposition to such unions is
overwhelming in Africa at 99 percent, compared with 40 percent in the United
States.
"On
average, five percent more women, 18 percent more young people and 10 percent
more upper and upper middle class members are in favor of gay marriage compared
to their counterparts," the pollsters said.
Catholics
in Spain -- which for centuries enforced Church doctrine through the Holy
Inquisition -- are among the most liberal in the world, according to the
survey, along with those in France.
Catholics
in Africa and the Philippines are the most conservative, while those in
Argentina and Brazil are mostly liberal.
The poll by
Bendixen & Amandi International for Univision surveyed 12,036 Catholics in
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Italy,
Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Uganda and the United States.
The
countries represent 61 percent of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, and
pollsters say the survey has a 0.9 percent overall margin of error.
An
interactive presentation of the poll is available at
http://www.univision.com/interactivos/openpage/2014-02-06/la-voz-del-pueblo-portada-en
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