Topic: CNSNews.com
A Quinnipiac poll finding that support for same-sex marriage among Catholics is at 54 percent did not sit well with the right-wing Catholics at CNSNews.com. So they figured out a way to spin the numbers.
How? By essentially declaring that there are two kinds of Catholics, and the opinions of one kind don't really matter.
Catch the spin in a March 7 CNS article by Patrick Burke:
Quinnipiac University conducted a national poll and reported that “American Catholics support same-sex marriage” by a margin of 54 to 38 percent, but for those Catholics who go to church every Sunday, a requirement of their faith, the poll results showed that Mass-attending Catholics oppose same-sex “marriage” by a margin of 55 to 38 percent.
CNS then revealed how it got to that number:
CNSNews.com asked Quinnipiac if results were available to the question of same-sex marriage based on Mass attendance.
The polling institute responded by e-mail with results that showed 55 percent of Catholics who attend Mass weekly oppose same-sex "marriage" -- 38 percent voiced support for gay “marriage” and 9 percent either did not know or did not give an applicable response.
In other words, at least 55 percent of Catholics who attend Mass weekly as required by their faith oppose same-sex "marriage."
On all other questions, the poll proceeded to break down results asked of American Catholics based on rate of Mass attendance. For example, American Catholics were asked whether or not they believe the Church is headed in the right direction, in addition to their views on Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Burke doesn't explain why the opinions of Catholics who don't go to church weekly are less valid than that of those who do.
Burke also quoted Catholic League president William Donohue attacking the Quinnipiac poll without disclosing that his boss, Media Research Center chief Brent Bozell, is on the Catholic League's board of advisers.
(h/t Wonkette)
