Ny'ers Think Catholic Church Too Involved in Politics: Poll

By Erik Kriss
New York Post
May 31, 2012

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ny_ers_think_catholic_church_too_NTdEXR0M2Cjzz4ebQcZw1N#ixzz1w8uTh9Sj

ALBANY -- Too much church and state.

New York voters say the Catholic Church is too involved in politics, according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey found 43 percent saying Catholic Church leaders are too involved, with only 11 percent saying they're not involved enough. Among Catholics, 33 percent say the church is too involved and only 17 percent not involved enough.

Voters also disapprove by 55-38 of Catholic lawsuits against President Obama's contraceptive insurance coverage mandates -- though Catholics narrowly approve, 51-45.

Democrats disapprove of Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan's leadership by 33-27 percent, though overall Dolan wins 38-25 approval, fueled by 59-11 percent thumbs up from Republicans.

"How times have changed," said Quinnipiac poll director Maurice Carroll. "Once upon a time, Democrats and Catholics were one and the same. Now Democratic voters think the Catholic Church is too involved in New York politics and they give New York's assertive new cardinal low marks."

The poll out today finds 54-37 percent support for same sex marriage, with Catholics narrowly approving, 48-44.

Quinnipiac found Obama maintaining a commanding lead in New York over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, 56-31, though Catholic voters are split.

The May 22–28 telephone poll of 1,504 New York voters has a margin of error ofplus or minus 2.5 percentage points.