Poll: Catholics Say Celibacy, Homosexuality Contributed to Sex Abuse

CBS

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.

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.

Read the Complete Poll

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.

More results will be released at 6:30 pm Eastern Time.

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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.

[black_howler]

The National Library of Medicine pubs confirm that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced in the first trimester of pregnancy, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, bearing no relation to an individuals ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work or to contribute to society.

From the American Psychological Association: homosexuality is normal; homosexual relationships are normal.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Asociation and American Psychiatric Asociation have endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples because marriage strengthens mental and physical health and longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents and seniors.

America's premier child/mental health associations endorse marriage equality.

[black_howler]

The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the National Association of Social Workers state:

"There is no scientific basis for distinguishing between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples with respect to the legal rights, obligations, benefits, and burdens conferred by civil marriage."

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/Amer_Psychological_Assn_Amicus_Curiae_Brief.pdf

Thus, mental health professionals and researchers have long recognized that being homosexual poses no inherent obstacle to leading a happy, healthy, and productive life, and that the vast majority of gay and lesbian people function well in the full array of social institutions and interpersonal relationships.

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/Amer_Psychological_Assn_Amicus_Curiae_Brief.pdf

The research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.pdf

The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation.

http://www.apa.org/about/governance/council/policy/sexual-orientation.aspx

[black_howler]

Actually a MUCH smaller percentage than you are imagining, even among those who victimize children of the same sex:
http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/Articles/000,002.htm

For your information, most pedophiles are straight white heterosexual men from mostly strict Christian backgrounds.

http://www.safeteens101.org/pedophile_profile.html


http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html

"Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals molest children."

-American Psychological Association

[black_howler]

The National Library of Medicine pubs confirm that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced in the first trimester of pregnancy, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, bearing no relation to an individuals ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work or to contribute to society.

From the American Psychological Association: homosexuality is normal; homosexual relationships are normal.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Asociation and American Psychiatric Asociation have endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples because marriage strengthens mental and physical health and longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents and seniors.

America's premier child/mental health associations endorse marriage equality.

[black_howler]

For those of you claiming homosexuality is a "lifestyle", that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.

http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men's Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. "Nurture" may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.

[black_howler]

To those of you using the Bible as a weapon against homosexuality, you are wrong. Homosexuality is not a sin. The Bible is constantly being taken out of context to support anti-gay views. Scholars who have studied the Bible in context of the times and in relation to other passages have shown those passages (Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans, etc) have nothing to do with homosexuality. These passages often cherry-picked while ignoring the rest of the Bible. The sins theses passages are referring to are idolatry, Greek temple sex worship, prostitution, pederasty with teen boys, and rape, not homosexuality or two loving consenting adults.


http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/NotASin.htm
http://www.jesus21.com/content/sex/bible_homosexuality_print.html
http://www.christchapel.com/reclaiming.html
http://www.stjohnsmcc.org/new/BibleAbuse/BiblicalReferences.php
http://www.gaychristian101.com/

Thats why Jesus never mentions it as well. There is nothing immoral, wrong, or sinful about being gay. Jesus, however, clearly states he HATES hypocrites. If you preach goodness, then promote hate and twist the words of the Bible, you are a hypocrite, and will be judged and sent to hell. Homosexuals will not go to hell, hypocrites will.

This is very similar to the religious bigots of the past, where they took Bible passages to condone slavery, keep women down, and used Bible passages to claim blacks as curses who should be enslaved by the white man. People used God to claim that blacks marrying whites was unnatural, and not of God's will.

[RobAla]

As a Protestant, I know many Catholics who are great people and fine Christians. However, I have never understood why priests in the Catholic church must be celibate. The Catholics believe Peter to be the first Pope, and he was married. Nowhere did Jesus forbid Christian leaders to marry. Paul said that he had every right to marry, but decided against it. I would like to hear explanations from Catholics, or even priests, on the subject.

[libraboi]

Wow its shocking how ignorant everyone is including the media- try asking sociologists or some other experts on this rather than making assumptions. Pedophilia is not at all related to celebacy or homosexuality. For one, if it was related to homosexuality then why are so many girls victims? Bet your already feeling stupid so lets continue. We know that girls are victims but why do there seem to be more boys? Another easy answer; boys are more likely to go home or elsewhere and say what happened while girls are more inclined to hide under pressure or fear. There's another FACT that is continuously disregarded. Now on to celebacy; any adult reading this, think to yourself, "If I wasn't getting sex would I go for a child?" The answer is an obvious no. Why? because pedophiles are attracted to children while most other people are not. If you are celebate and have normal sexual urges (hetero or ****) you would be more likely to rape an adult because thats what is sexually arousing for you- a child would still not be a sexual object. So please, everyone including those in the media are making themselves look very unprofessional and ignorant when the facts can be found from any University or even common sense lol. Celebacy and homosexualy playing a part in pedophilia lol. Its really sad we live in the information age and yet no one makes use of it

[thesevenveils]

Hold on a minute. Not getting your rocks off is UN human. Jesus masturbated, he was a guy.

[HGOODGUY]

SO THEY JUST REALIZED THAT CELIBACY LEADS TO HOMOSEXUALITY AND CHILD ABUSE??????

WELL DUHHHH!!!!!