A new Pew Research report has found that older Catholics are more liberal on key issues than their younger counterparts. Catholics aged 50 and older were more likely to support female priests, contraception, and priests being allowed to marry compared to those aged 18 to 49. The survey, based on responses from over 2,000 Catholics in February, showed that while 75 percent of U.S. Catholics have a favorable view of Pope Francis, they are divided on specific church practices. Historically, the Vatican has opposed contraception, gay marriage, and female priests, but there is growing support among Catholics for these changes.
Across the board, Catholics are leaning more liberally than in the past, with 83 percent supporting the church allowing contraception, 69 percent in favor of priests being able to marry, and 64 percent supporting women being allowed to become priests. Additionally, 54 percent of Catholics believed the church should recognize same-sex marriage. Older Catholics were more likely to support these ideas than younger Catholics, with differences in support particularly pronounced for contraception and priests getting married. The only issue where younger Catholics were more supportive was recognizing gay marriage, with both groups showing similar levels of support.
The shift towards more liberal views among older Catholics likely reflects the time in which they grew up, with many having been inspired by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Pope Francis has been more progressive on various fronts, leading to optimism among older Catholics for further progress. Highly conservative Catholics may receive more media attention, but the reality is that there are also more progressive voices within the Catholic community. The survey results may also reflect differences in how younger and older generations define religion, with some older Catholics considering themselves “culturally” Catholic while younger Catholics identify more with specific teachings.
Another factor influencing the survey results may be the overall trend towards declining religiosity in the U.S., especially among younger Americans. A 2019 Pew Research study found that a significant percentage of Americans identified as atheist, agnostic, or unaffiliated with any religion, with this trend more pronounced among younger Americans. Young Catholics may have a higher religiosity than their elders, with some younger conservative Christians also converting to Catholicism. This influx of new Catholics may reflect a different cultural and political perspective, drawn to the teachings of the church on gender and sex.
In conclusion, the Pew Research report highlights a generational divide within the Catholic community, with older Catholics showing more liberal views on key issues compared to younger Catholics. While the official stance of the church may be more conservative on topics like contraception, gay marriage, and female priests, there is growing support among Catholics for more progressive changes. The survey results reflect a complex interplay of factors, including the influence of historical events like the Second Vatican Council, shifting definitions of religion among different generations, and broader societal trends towards declining religiosity. The presence of diverse voices within the Catholic community underscores the complexity of views and beliefs among followers of the faith.
