American Catholic Laity Poll, 1987 - Codebook

All Frequencies weighted by 1) WT;
(The number of missing cases reported in the codebook are unweighted)

1) Weight (WT)

	N	Mean	Std. Deviation
Total	803	1.80	0.69

2) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- Changes in the mass since the Second Vatican Council. (MASSCHNG)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	410	28.3
2) Weakened	168	11.6
3) No effect	719	49.6
4) Don't know /Refused	152	10.5
Total	1449	100.0

3) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- The Church's teaching that artificial contraception is morally wrong. (CONTWRNG)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	191	13.2
2) Weakened	504	34.8
3) No Effect	627	43.3
4) Don't know /Refused	127	8.8
Total	1449	100.0

4) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- The Church's teaching that abortion is morally wrong. (ABRTWRNG)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	650	44.8
2) Weakened	271	18.7
3) No Effect	464	32.0
4) Don't know /Refused	64	4.4
Total	1449	100.0

5) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- The policy of ordaining men, but not women, to the priesthood. (ORDAINMN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	287	19.8
2) Weakened	369	25.4
3) No Effect	678	46.8
4) Don't know /Refused	115	8.0
Total	1449	100.0

6) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- Recent statements by American bishops on national issues such as the nuclear arms race and the U.S. economy. (NATLISSU)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	394	27.2
2) Weakened	235	16.2
3) No Effect	620	42.7
4) Don't know /Refused	201	13.8
Total	1450	100.0

7) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- The Vatican's punishment of theologians who dissent from official teachings on matters of sexuality. (PUNISHSX)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	300	20.7
2) Weakened	354	24.5
3) No Effect	570	39.3
4) Don't know /Refused	224	15.5
Total	1448	100.0

8) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- Reports indicating that a significant number of priests have homosexual tendencies. (PRSTHOMO)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	62	4.3
2) Weakened	511	35.3
3) No Effect	679	46.8
4) Don't know /Refused	197	13.6
Total	1449	100.0

9) I will read eight items and after each, please tell me if it has strengthened your commitment to the Catholic Church, weakened it, or had no effect one way or the other. -- The Church's policy of giving preference to the poor in Latin America. (LATINPOR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strengthened	621	42.8
2) Weakened	200	13.8
3) No Effect	508	35.0
4) Don't know /Refused	120	8.3
Total	1449	100.0

10) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- A divorced Catholic remarrying without getting an annulment. (DVRCECTH)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	326	22.5
2) Individuals	444	30.7
3) Both	624	43.1
4) Don't know /Refused	54	3.7
Total	1448	100.0

11) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- A Catholic practicing contraceptive birth control. (BRTHCNRL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	180	12.4
2) Individuals	899	62.0
3) Both	332	22.9
4) Don't know /Refused	38	2.6
Total	1449	100.0

12) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- A Catholic advocating free choice regarding abortion. (ABORTADV)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	421	29.1
2) Individuals	649	44.8
3) Both	314	21.7
4) Don't know /Refused	64	4.4
Total	1448	100.0

13) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- A Catholic who engages in homosexual behavior. (HOMOSXBH)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	465	32.1
2) Individuals	564	38.9
3) Both	279	19.3
4) Don't know /Refused	141	9.8
Total	1449	100.0

14) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- Sexual relations outside of marriage. (SEXREL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	486	33.5
2) Individuals	607	41.8
3) Both	298	20.5
4) Don't know /Refused	59	4.0
Total	1450	100.0

15) Next, I would like your opinion on several issues that involve moral authority in the Catholic Church. In each case I would like to know who you think should have the final say about what is right or wrong. The choices are: the church leaders, that is, the pope and bishops; individuals taking church teachings into account and deciding for themselves; or both individuals and leaders working together. -- Test-tube babies. (TESTBABY)

	TOTAL	%
1) Church leaders	428	29.5
2) Individuals	535	37.0
3) Both	365	25.2
4) Don't know /Refused	120	8.3
Total	1448	100.0

16) In 1983, the American bishops issued a pastoral letter about the arms race and nuclear weapons. Have you heard or read about this letter? (ARMSRACE)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	414	28.6
2) No	967	66.7
3) Not sure	68	4.7
Total	1449	100.0

17) Concerning the letter's criticism of the nuclear arms race, would you say you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree strongly, disagree somewhat with the letter, or don't know? (NUKELTR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Agree strongly	104	25.0
2) Agree somewhat	131	31.7
3) Disagree strongly	48	11.7
4) Disagree somewhat	71	17.2
5) Don't know	60	14.4
Missing	542
Total	414	100.0

18) In 1986, the American bishops issued a pastoral letter calling for changes in the U.S. economy. Have you heard or read about this letter? (ECNMYLTR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	356	24.6
2) No	1035	71.4
3) Not sure	58	4.0
Total	1449	100.0

19) Concerning the letter's criticism of the American economy and the need for giving more help to the poor, would you say you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree strongly, disagree somewhat with the letter, or don't know? (CRITECON)

	TOTAL	%
1) Agree strongly	147	41.4
2) Agree somewhat	104	29.4
3) Disagree strongly	26	7.3
4) Disagree somewhat	49	13.9
5) Don't know	29	8.2
Missing	589
Total	355	100.0

20) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Can one be a good Catholic without going to Church every Sunday. (NOCHURCH)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	1018	70.3
2) No	395	27.3
3) Not sure /Refused	36	2.5
Total	1449	100.0

21) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without obeying the Church's teaching regarding birth control. (BRTHOBEY)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	959	66.2
2) No	394	27.2
3) Not sure /Refused	95	6.6
Total	1448	100.0

22) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without obeying the Church's teaching regarding divorce and remarriage. (DIVROBEY)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	830	57.3
2) No	496	34.2
3) Not sure /Refused	123	8.5
Total	1449	100.0

23) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without obeying the Church's teaching regarding abortion. (ABRTOBEY)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	568	39.2
2) No	796	54.9
3) Not sure /Refused	85	5.9
Total	1449	100.0

24) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without going to private confession at least once a year. (CONFESSI)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	844	58.2
2) No	555	38.3
3) Not sure /Refused	50	3.4
Total	1449	100.0

25) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without receiving communion during the Easter time. (EASTRCOM)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	783	54.0
2) No	612	42.3
3) Not sure /Refused	54	3.7
Total	1449	100.0

26) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without believing in the infallibility of the Pope. (INFALLI)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	654	45.1
2) No	659	45.5
3) Not sure /Refused	136	9.4
Total	1449	100.0

27) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without getting married in the Church. (NOCHMARR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	741	51.1
2) No	645	44.5
3) Not sure /Refused	63	4.4
Total	1449	100.0

28) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without donating time or money to help the poor. (NOPOOR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	641	44.2
2) No	740	51.1
3) Not sure /Refused	68	4.7
Total	1449	100.0

29) The following statements deal with what you think it takes to be a good Catholic. Please tell me if you think a person can be a good Catholic without performing these actions. -- Without contributing money annually to the special collection of the Pope (that is, Peter's Pence). (NOCOLLEC)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	989	68.2
2) No	397	27.4
3) Not sure /Refused	63	4.3
Total	1449	100.0

30) Some people think that the Catholic Church should have more democratic decision-making in church affairs that do not involve matters of faith than it has at the present time. -- Do you favor or oppose this idea at the local parish level? (PRSHDECI)

	TOTAL	%
1) Favor	863	59.5
2) Oppose	394	27.2
3) Don't know /Refused	193	13.3
Total	1450	100.0

31) Some people think that the Catholic Church should have more democratic decision-making in church affairs that do not involve matters of faith than it has at the present time. -- Do you favor or oppose this idea at the diocesan level? (DIODECI)

	TOTAL	%
1) Favor	798	55.0
2) Oppose	410	28.3
3) Don't know /Refused	241	16.6
Total	1449	100.0

32) Some people think that the Catholic Church should have more democratic decision-making in church affairs that do not involve matters of faith than it has at the present time. -- Do you favor or oppose this idea at the level of the Vatican? (VATDECI)

	TOTAL	%
1) Favor	745	51.4
2) Oppose	434	29.9
3) Don't know /Refused	270	18.7
Total	1449	100.0

33) Here is a question about the American Catholic bishops. Should the American bishops become more independent or less independent from the Vatican and the Pope in the way they run the Catholic Church in America? Or, should the situation remain as it is now? (BSHPIND)

	TOTAL	%
1) More	466	32.1
2) Less	151	10.4
3) Same	706	48.7
4) Don't know /Refused	126	8.7
Total	1449	100.0

34) How important is the Catholic Church to you personally? (CHRCHIMP)

	TOTAL	%
1) The most important part of my life	191	13.2
2) Among the most important parts of my life	519	35.8
3) Quite important to me, but so are many other areas of my life	547	37.8
4) Not terribly important to me	134	9.2
5) Not very important to me at all	47	3.3
6) Not sure	11	0.8
Total	1449	100.0

35) How often do you attend Mass? (MASSATT)

	TOTAL	%
1) Daily	59	4.1
2) At least once a week	580	40.0
3) Almost every week	181	12.5
4) About once a month	250	17.3
5) Seldom	312	21.5
6) Never	56	3.9
7) Don't know/No answer/Refused	11	0.8
Total	1449	100.0

36) How often do you read the Bible? (READBIBL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Daily	93	6.4
2) At least once a week	148	10.2
3) Almost every week	36	2.5
4) About once a month	157	10.8
5) Seldom	678	46.8
6) Never	335	23.1
7) Don't know	2	0.1
Total	1449	100.0

37) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- How about in deciding how parish income should be spent. (PRSHINCO)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	1168	80.6
2) Should not	198	13.7
3) Not Sure /Refused	83	5.7
Total	1449	100.0

38) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Selecting the priests for their parish. (PICKPRST)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	831	57.3
2) Should not	510	35.1
3) Not Sure /Refused	109	7.5
Total	1450	100.0

39) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Making church policy about divorce. (DIVORCPL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	725	50.1
2) Should not	631	43.6
3) Not Sure /Refused	92	6.4
Total	1448	100.0

40) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Making church policy about birth control. (CRTHCLPL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	761	52.5
2) Should not	577	39.8
3) Not Sure /Refused	111	7.7
Total	1449	100.0

41) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Deciding whether women should be ordained to the priesthood. (WMNORDAN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	692	47.7
2) Should not	668	46.1
3) Not Sure /Refused	89	6.1
Total	1449	100.0

42) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Deciding whether priests should be allowed to marry. (PRSTMARR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	671	46.3
2) Should not	658	45.4
3) Not Sure /Refused	120	8.3
Total	1449	100.0

43) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Giving occasional sermons. (GIVESERM)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	998	68.9
2) Should not	377	26.0
3) Not Sure /Refused	74	5.1
Total	1449	100.0

44) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Teaching in diocesan seminaries. (TEACHSEM)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	987	68.1
2) Should not	334	23.1
3) Not Sure /Refused	128	8.8
Total	1449	100.0

45) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Deciding whether or not to have altar girls (ALTRGIRL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	961	66.3
2) Should not	404	27.9
3) Not Sure /Refused	84	5.8
Total	1449	100.0

46) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Being in charge of a parish. (CHRGPRSH)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	945	65.2
2) Should not	387	26.7
3) Not Sure /Refused	117	8.1
Total	1449	100.0

47) For each of the following areas of church life, please tell me if you think the Catholic laity should have the right to participate, or should not have the right to participate. -- Making policies about homosexual behavior. (HOMOSXPL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Should	570	39.3
2) Should not	726	50.1
3) Not Sure /Refused	153	10.5
Total	1449	100.0

48) Imagine a scale from 1 to 7. At point 1 is the statement, 'I would never leave the Catholic Church.' At point 7 is the statement, 'Yes, I might leave the Catholic Church.' Where would you place yourself on that scale? (LEAVECH)

	TOTAL	%
1) I would never leave the Catholic Church	795	55.7
2) 2	134	9.4
3) 3	132	9.2
4) 4	137	9.6
5) 5	102	7.2
6) 6	47	3.3
7) I might leave the Catholic Church	80	5.6
Missing	12
Total	1427	100.0

49) Are you currently: (MARITAL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Married	904	62.4
2) Divorced	100	6.9
3) Widowed	93	6.4
4) Separated	30	2.1
5) Never married	313	21.6
6) No answer	9	0.6
Total	1449	100.0

50) Is this your first marriage? (FRSTMARR)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	756	83.6
2) No	147	16.2
3) Don't know	1	0.1
Missing	314
Total	904	100.0

51) Before you married again, were you widowed? (WIDOWED)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	44	30.0
2) No	100	67.9
3) Don't know	3	1.9
Missing	733
Total	147	100.0

52) If divorced, did you get an annulment? (MARRANNL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	46	23.2
2) No	152	76.0
3) Don't know	2	0.9
Missing	693
Total	200	100.0

53) What was the last grade or class you completed in school? (EDUCATIO)

	TOTAL	%
1) Some high school or less	307	21.2
2) High school graduate	579	40.0
3) Some college or vocational school	286	19.7
4) College graduate	171	11.8
5) Some graduate or professional school	25	1.7
6) Graduate or professional degree	79	5.5
7) Don't know /Refused	2	0.1
Total	1449	100.0

54) What is your race - White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or some other? (RACE)

	TOTAL	%
1) White	1240	85.6
2) Black	38	2.6
3) Hispanic	146	10.1
4) Asian	10	0.7
5) Other	9	0.6
6) Don't know /Refused	6	0.4
Total	1449	100.0

55) What is your annual income before taxes? (INCOME)

	TOTAL	%
1) Under $10,000	169	14.2
2) $10,000 TO 19,999	175	14.6
3) $20,000 to 29,999	114	9.5
4) $30,000 to 39,999	118	9.9
5) $40,000 to 49,999	153	12.8
6) $50,000 to 74,999	104	8.7
7) $75,000 and over	84	7.1
8) Don't know /Refused/No answer	278	23.3
Missing	131
Total	1195	100.0

56) Age of respondent (AGE)

	N	Mean	Std. Deviation
Total	1,447	41.88	16.90

57) Sex of respondent (GENDER)

	TOTAL	%
1) Male	689	47.5
2) Female	760	52.5
Total	1449	100.0

58) Respondent's region of the country (REGION)

	TOTAL	%
1) East	189	13.1
2) Midwest	397	27.4
3) South	476	32.8
4) West	387	26.7
Total	1449	100.0

59) Did you ever attend Catholic grade school? (ELEMSCHL)

	TOTAL	%
0) No	695	47.9
1) Yes	754	52.1
Total	1449	100.0

60) Did you ever attend Catholic high school? (HIGHSCHL)

	TOTAL	%
0) No	1094	75.5
1) Yes	355	24.5
Total	1449	100.0

61) Did you ever attend Catholic college? (COLLEGE)

	TOTAL	%
0) No	1339	92.4
1) Yes	110	7.6
Total	1449	100.0

62) Weight 2 (WT2)

	N	Mean	Std. Deviation
Total	1,449	1.15	0.44

63) Are you currently: (recoded for use with online analysis) (I-MARITAL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Married	904	62.8
2) Divorced/Separated	130	9.0
3) Widowed	93	6.4
4) Never married	313	21.8
Missing	5
Total	1440	100.0

64) What was the last grade or class you completed in school? (recoded for use with online analysis) (I-EDUC)

	TOTAL	%
1) Some high school or less	307	21.2
2) High school graduate	579	40.0
3) Some college or vocational school	286	19.8
4) College graduate	171	11.8
5) Graduate or professional school (including 'some graduate or professional school' and 'graduate or professional degree')	104	7.2
Missing	2
Total	1447	100.0

65) What is your race - White, Black, Hispanic, or some other? (recoded for use with online analysis) (I-RACE)

	TOTAL	%
1) White	1240	86.0
2) Black	38	2.6
3) Hispanic	146	10.1
4) Other (including Asian)	19	1.3
Missing	2
Total	1443	100.0

66) Age of respondent (recoded for use with online analysis) (I-AGE)

	TOTAL	%
1) 18-29	417	28.8
2) 30-39	340	23.5
3) 40-49	233	16.1
4) 50 & over	458	31.6
Missing	2
Total	1448	100.0

67) Sex of respondent (for use with online analysis) (I-SEX)

	TOTAL	%
1) Male	689	47.5
2) Female	760	52.5
Total	1449	100.0

68) Respondent's region of the country (for use with online analysis) (I-REGION)

	TOTAL	%
1) East	189	13.1
2) Midwest	397	27.4
3) South	476	32.8
4) West	387	26.7
Total	1449	100.0