One constant refrain in media coverage of papal visits is the insistence that the Pope is out of touch with American Catholics. The front page of Tuesday's Washington Post promsied a story on how "Pope Benedict XVI will confront a sense among some Catholics that the Roman Catholic Church is not in sync with their views." A bar graph showed a poll result:
Q. In general do you think the Roman Catholic Church is in touch the views of Catholics in America today, or out of touch? (Among Catholics)
NOW: In touch 34 % / Out of touch 62 %
APRIL 2005: In touch 44 % / Out of touch 52 %
But you'd have to turn to the 14th and very last paragraph of Jon Cohen's story on Page A-6 to learn this poll has a whopping margin of error of six points plus or minus:
The poll was conducted by telephone April 10 to13 among a random sample of 1,197 adults, including additional interviews with randomly selected Catholics. The margin of sampling error for the full poll is plus or minus three percentage points; it is six points for the sample of 292 Catholic respondents.
For students of polling, this means that the graphic impression on the front page of the Post -- alleging a ten-point increase in Catholic feelings the Church is out of touch -- is entirely within the poll's margin of error. But for readers just scanning the front page, there was no mention of those facts there.
The same sample size was employed in April 2005. A report in the April 26, 2005 newspaper reported: "A total of 284 self-described Catholics were interviewed April 21 to 24 for this survey. Margin of sampling error for the results is plus or minus six percentage points."
Couldn't the Post afford polling 1,200 Catholics to gain a better, more reliable poll? They're just pulling the Catholics out of a poll they've already paid for, which is lazy and cheap. Is a poll with this vast a margin of error worth touting on the front page?
File photo of Pope Benedict XVI by AP via FoxNews.com
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Don't want a Pope to be 'In Touch' with their Syncretism
April 15, 2008 - 16:58 ET by bulbasaurYou could take a poll of high school students, asking them whether they felt their Math teacher was 'in touch' with their desire not to have to study Math.
I bet the result would be about the same.
Grow up, liberal Catholics.
This poll assumes it's the
April 15, 2008 - 17:02 ET by motherbeltThis poll assumes it's the duty of the RCC to conform to the views of American Catholics.
Why didn't they ask how conforming to the tenets of the Church they think American Catholics are?
I agree
April 15, 2008 - 17:11 ET by Jerry MackSeems some people want to keep what they like about the Catholic church and throw out the rest.
Or how many know anything about RCC?
April 15, 2008 - 19:56 ET by WingletDriverEven though they call themselves Catholic, how many US "Catholics" can actually explain the tenets of the faith? Most of them couldn't explain the Immaculate Conception (thinking it refers to the Virgin Birth) or why the Church opposes contraception (or more accurately, recognizes the unanimous Christian teaching for 1900 years is still valid).
A few years ago, when JPII came to the US, the big story was the "priest shortage" and how to alleviate it. Obviously the MSM's solution was to allow married and female clergy. The funniest line I heard was from a Wisconsin farmer who complained that JPII didn't understand their "hardship" of having to drive 45 minutes to Mass every Sunday. Of course, I was driving one and a half hours each way to Mass in Japan and never though it a hardship considering JPII lived in Nazi-occupied Poland, was a priest and bishop in Soviet-dominated Poland, and was nearly assassinated. I suppose I'm out of touch like Benedict XVI. And so are you motherbelt for not thinking like the MSM wants you to.
It's not possible for the
April 15, 2008 - 17:12 ET by MidAmericaIt's not possible for the Catholic Church to be 'out of touch' with Americans. But Americans can be out of touch with the Catholic Church.
It's not the pope's job to
April 15, 2008 - 17:12 ET by taterIt's not the pope's job to be in touch with views of Catholics. It's his job to be in touch with the views of God on the church and doctrine.
By justice a king gives stability to a land; but he who imposes heavy taxes ruins it. -Proverbs 29:4
It won't cave in to liberal whining
April 15, 2008 - 17:46 ET by celatorThe radical liberals and their ilk have been whining for the Catholic Church to "get with the times" for centuries. They want the Church to change in the way THEY want it to change. They want the Church to become a pleasant social club where they can do what THEY want, depending on what their mood or worldview is at any given time.
All of this is political nonsense. It ain't gonna happen.
The Church is an eternal institution for the conversion of the human heart. The Church implores us to strive for sainthood, to amend our lives, to fall in love with Christ. The Church is a hospital for sinners, which is all of us.
The Church is by definition counter-cultural. Yes, while we live in the world, and must strive to do our part to make this a safer, freer world. But this earthly life is not our final destination; it is not the final chapter in the book. That's the BIG message of the Church, isn't it?
When I read or hear "the Church must change with the times", I know that whomever said or wrote those words does not yet understand the Church.
celator
April 15, 2008 - 20:26 ET by maryerinEXACTLY.
The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away.
Fulton J. Sheen
wow
April 15, 2008 - 18:00 ET by UndercoverConservativeDarn the whole Institution of Church for not being "in sync" with "their" views! Everybody and everything needs to get with the program and do/believe as *I* want! Right now!
The arrogance...grr....
Let's take a poll: how many people think the MSM, the government, the entire democratic party, the Global Warming movement, racial hatred from inner city churches, fundamentalist terrorists, etc. are not "in sync" with their lives? Would Media ever ask *that* question? He11 no!
But hey, it's only a problem if it's Christian or Western in origin. If Islam decided to be "out of sync" then we'd hear all sorts of chastisement of "it's the word of Allah, he does not cater to you, but the other way around!" What about african american folks who don't buy into the "victim" and racist rhetoric? Ask them if they feel the ACLU or Sharpton or Wright is "in sync" with them or not? never!
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
292 respondents is a
April 15, 2008 - 18:45 ET by stratman292 respondents is a horribly low number for statistical relevance in a poll of this type given the number of Catholics in the USA.
Not enough respondents, no age breakdown, no attribution of the geographical distribution of the respondents, no information on the religious observation of these respondents, no Confidence Level given, auto-dial or real polster asking question, etc.
I wonder if the WaPo took their own advice with this stinkeroo?
This poll is hardly useful even for latrine duty (too scratchy).
For 20 questions to ask about a poll to guage its validity, see here.
RRAM Tough!
The Real Question should be...
April 15, 2008 - 20:21 ET by maryerinHow many Catholics are in touch with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church:
NOW: In touch 34 % / Out of touch 62 %
APRIL 2005: In touch 44 % / Out of touch 52 %
The Pope and the Church will never be swayed by the cries of supposed Catholics who are so decidedly against principle teachings of the Church.
The Church is not Liberal.
The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away.
Fulton J. Sheen
Another MSM double standard
April 15, 2008 - 20:32 ET by nkviking75When William Donahue accuses John Hagee of being anti-Catholic (a charge Hagee vehemently denies), the media jumps on Hagee as a bigot to be shunned. But when you find Catholics who oppose Catholic doctrine or people like Bill Maher who spew real anti-Catholic hate, the MSM is silent. Or worse, they treat these people as courageous. There's no need to be consistent as long as they're destroying Catholics and evangelicals who resist the MSM agenda.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Can I report MY Poll numbers???
April 15, 2008 - 23:27 ET by Ole_SargeInformal poll today with a "sample group"
Are you glad the Pope is visiting the United States?
100% ............................Yes
Do you approve of the Pope
100%.............................Yes
Is the Pope more Conservative than you are?
60%..............................No
30%..............................Yes
10%..............................Not Sure
There again, MY sample was at my parish's daily Mass this morning and the sample was small, 10 people including our priest.
It just depends WHERE and WHEN you ask the questions.
I forgot this gem, "The cafeteria is closed."
I heard on a news break....
April 16, 2008 - 04:58 ET by old croyesterday that "some" people were mad because President Bush met the Holy Father at the airport, but did not show such respect to other "world leaders" when they visited the states. I remarked to my son that it's the "pope" darnit. You show such respect to people who deserve it and the pope surely does, at least in my mind.
POLYGAMIST CULT IS JUST THAT
April 16, 2008 - 09:04 ET by reelman46POLYGAMIST CULT IS JUST THAT
Inside the polygamist ‘underage sex cult’: Pictures show the grief of mothers who had their children taken away
Updated 15th April 2008
Sobbing mothers from the polygamist sect at the centre of child abuse
allegations said today that their children had now been taken away from
them. Most of the 416 children rescued after a raid on April 3 were
taken away from their mothers yesterday.
CRAWFISH NOTE: How many times does it take for women
to be abused by maniac cultish males hiding their arrogant sicko
personalties behind some renegade church? Three of the women, looking
quite dim-witted or programmed, gave some odd responses to the few
questions by Fox & Friends this morning. They refused to answer or
evaded a couple of very key questions. They tried to steer the exchange
in another direction.
Cultists always say they “can leave anytime”… wonder why they don’t?
Would you leave your children with not a dime or a vehicle or a place
to go? Total dependence is the cult game. Always has been.
You notice that no husbands were present? I sure did and they “ain’t
single Moms” for sure. Had one husband been with each woman maybe they
could have scored some “cred points”. No way those arrogant sissy males
would show. Makes all real men ashamed of their gender.
It may not be a duck but it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck.
The worst thing may be that these “religious” cults-churches give ammo
to the secular socialists for years every time these isolated wacko
groups are revealed to the public. God help the clueless children.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Sure... why on earth would
April 16, 2008 - 09:37 ET by Jack BauerSure... why on earth would the President personally greet the spiritual leader of a billion people... when he won't get out of bed to meet some commie scumbag dictator of a third world crap hole.
Talk about getting your priorities all wrong Bush.
A total of 284
April 16, 2008 - 09:44 ET by Jack BauerSounds like they just went to the nearest Catholic church on a Sunday morning and collared the congregation as they were leaving Mass.
Jack, more like caught the ones leaving confession
April 16, 2008 - 09:49 ET by PawpawNJack, looks like they caught the ones leaving confession, or maybe O'Grady's Pub!
Live Pope coverage:
April 16, 2008 - 10:01 ET by upcountrywaterHis last words: ( in his speech) GOD BLESS AMERICA!
<tears here> Thank You Pope.
<gaia/love>SAVVVE The Whales N' Earth; conserve N' recycle !
IranianUranium<sleep>New/Infrastructure/repair?/ROFLMAO
Poll anyone except a Catholic Church attendee!
April 16, 2008 - 10:52 ET by Philly Pete 07Rest assured the one place they did not poll for opinions were of the people coming out of a Catholic Church. Especially, out of a Mass or of a Catholic leaving the confessional. A bar or a ball game or even a shopping mall, or a strip club maybe, but they certainly did not look for an opinion from anyone that might be a practicing Catholic. If they were to poll outside a Catholic Church on a Sunday, I suspect that they would get results much the opposite of what they found. The people who actually practice their faith are in accord with Church teaching and are, by and large, in conformity with the magisterium of the Catholic Church. I imagine that the percentage of the "Church-goers" agreeing with Rome on matters of faith and morals would be in the 90th percentile.
New poll - 100% hate Bush.
April 16, 2008 - 13:19 ET by Gary HallNew poll - 100% hate Bush.
Results:
100% hate him.
The poll was conducted in person April 10 to13 among a random sample of 1,197 adults at a national gathering of Code Pink members, including additional interviews with randomly selected pinko radical nutcases. The margin of sampling error for the full poll is plus or minus three percentage points.
Gary H....I'm laughing
April 16, 2008 - 13:23 ET by bigtimerGary H....
I'm laughing so hard I almost choked to death..that post was good!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
bt - you're quite welcome.
April 16, 2008 - 13:42 ET by Gary HallI hope you heeded NS's long standing advice and set your coffee cup down first. Take care, my friend. gary
Where were those 292 alleged Catholics?
April 16, 2008 - 13:31 ET by greenfairieIn West L.A.?
In midtown Manhattan?
In Berkeley or San Francisco?
DNC headquarters???