Poll discovers rich U.S. Catholic life

Submitted on November 29, 2001

Send to friend Polls and surveys provide a kind of snapshot of contemporary life. Sometimes they are derided for their superficiality and lack of depth when it comes to analysis of the situation under study. Politicians are scorned for "governing by survey," yet surveys and polls frequently are cited by national and local news media - sometimes becoming the story instead of simply illustrating it. One such survey is the Le Moyne College/Zogby International "Contemporary Catholic Trends" poll, released on Nov. 16. The poll, which surveyed 1,508 American Catholics between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, was a joint venture of Le Moyne College of Syracuse, N.Y., and Zogby International of Utica, N.Y. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent. You may not have heard much about the poll. That's because as a snapshot, its results largely were not surprising. Ninety percent agreed that Pope John Paul II is doing a good job leading the worldwide Church, 85 percent said the same of the bishops of the United States and their leadership of the Church in the United States; 83 percent said that local bishops are doing a good job leading their local dioceses, and 86 percent agreed that local pastors are doing a good job leading local parishes. Ninety-seven percent agreed that God has the power to answer all prayers. One element of the survey was eye-catching: While the poll noted that 50- to 64-year-old Catholics attend Mass once a week slightly more often than 25- to 34-year-old Catholics (which is not surprising), it also noted that 8 percent of the U.S. Catholic population attends Mass every day. While 8 percent may seem low - after all, it amounts to one in 12 - a quick run of the numbers shows that's more than 5 million people in the United States. With Catholics making up one-fourth of the U.S. population, that means that, more or less, one out of every four dozen people you meet attends Mass daily. In Missouri, that amounts to more than 100,000 people! The poll also noted that one in four say they "have increased their devotional practices in direct response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon." It is a blessing borne of tragedy. As we progress into the Season of Advent, now is the time to consider increasing our own devotional practices even further. Take the next step. If you haven't been to Mass in a while, come. If you attend Mass nearly every Sunday, renew your determination to come each and every Sunday. If you come every Sunday, make an effort to attend daily Mass at least once a week. If you attend daily Mass, look at what additional opportunities exist for you to serve your faith. Most of all, reflect on our Lord's love as we remember his birth in a stable in Bethlehem. Then reflect that love to those you meet. The Le Moyne/Zogby poll included a lot of what most polls include: data about how people "feel" about a number of hot-button issues. The results in this area, too, were as per the usual and generally are not worth rehashing in this space. But the "action" questions display what we have known for some time in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: We are a part of a vital, vibrant Church; a large and growing family. We love the Lord and we wish to share his joy. Let us reflect on that raw data throughout the Advent season, anticipating with hopeful exuberance the coming of our Savior - preparing a place in our life for him.