Politics in the Parish: The Political Influence of Catholic Priests

Appendix C: 2004 Survey of Priests

Appendix C 2004 Survey of Priests Instructions: For each question, please circle the most accurate response . 1. In the past few months, how often have you briefly touched on abortion in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 2. In the past few months, how often have you spoken extensively about abortion in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 3. If you have spoken about abortion in your homilies over the past few months, either by touching briefly on it or by discussing it more extensively , how have you done so? That is, have you concentrated mostly on public policy toward abortion or on the implications of abortion for individual morality, or both? 1. Concentrated mostly on public policy toward abortion 2. Concentrated mostly on abortion as it relates to individual morality 3. Concentrated on both public policy and individual morality 4. I have not addressed abortion in my homilies 5. Other:_______________________________________________ 212 4. What about aid to the poor? In the past few months, how often have you briefly touched on aid to the poor in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 5. In the past few months, how often have you spoken extensively about aid to the poor in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 6. If you have spoken about aid to the poor in your homilies over the past few months, either by touching briefly on it or by discussing it more extensively , how have you done so? That is, have you concentrated mostly on public policy with regard to aid to the poor or have you concentrated mostly on encouraging individuals, in their private capacity, to provide assistance to the needy, or both? 1. Concentrated mostly on public policy with regard to aid to the poor 2. Concentrated mostly on encouraging individuals to provide aid to the poor 3. Concentrated on both public policy and encouraging individuals to provide aid to the poor 4. I have not addressed aid to the poor in my homilies 5. Other:_______________________________________________ 7. What about capital punishment? In the past few months, how often have you briefly touched on capital punishment in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 8. In the past few months, how often have you spoken extensively about capital punishment in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 2004 Survey of Priests 213 9. If you have spoken about capital punishment in your homilies over the past few months, either by touching briefly on it or by discussing it more extensively, how have you done so? That is, have you emphasized the Church’s opposition to capital punishment, or have you pointed out that historically the Church has upheld the right of the state to enforce capital punishment under certain circumstances, or have you done both? 1. Concentrated mostly on the Church’s opposition to capital punishment 2. Pointed out that capital punishment may sometimes be justifiable 3. Stressed both the Church’s opposition to capital punishment and pointed out that capital punishment may sometimes be justifiable 4. I have not addressed capital punishment in my homilies 5. Other:________________________________________________ 10. What about foreign affairs, including the war in Iraq and the war on terror ? In the past few months, how often have you briefly touched on foreign affairs in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 11. In the past few months, how often have you spoken extensively about foreign affairs in your homilies? 1. Never 2. A few times 3. Several times per month 4. Every week 12. If you have spoken about foreign affairs in your homilies over the past few months, either by touching briefly on it or by discussing it more extensively , how have you done so? That is, have you concentrated mostly on the need to support the troops or have you concentrated mostly on the need to pray and work for peace, or both? 1. Concentrated mostly on the need to support the troops 2. Concentrated mostly on the...