New Jersey’s Jews Want Gay Marriage More Than New Jersey’s Catholics
We believe polls like we believe television ratings: They’re based on a methodology that should prove accurate, but often they’re wildly off base. But just like television ratings, polling data dictate how huge sums of money are spent — and that makes them important. So here’s the latest out of New Jersey, which is stalling on gay marriage, and the faithful: “Despite opposition from the Catholic Church, New Jersey Catholics generally support legalizing gay marriage, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released today [with data collected in early November]. Among Catholics, 48 percent support gay marriage, while 40 percent oppose and 12 percent are undecided. Protestants hold the opposite view, with only 34 percent supporting and 55 percent opposing gay marriage; 11 percent are undecided. Jewish respondents support gay marriage, 56 percent to 40 percent, with 4 percent undecided, while those with no religion preference are the most supportive, at 85 percent to only 10 percent opposed (5 percent undecided).” (Emphasis ours.)
This demonstrates that Maggie Gallagher’s arguments are mostly wishful thinking. Religion is changing. America is changing.
We have the same problem in New Jersey that we have in the US Congress – the members are older and much more religious than the average American.
Members of the 111th US Congress and their religion:
Mormon (13) 100% Anti-LGBT
Seventh Day Adventist (2) 100% Anti-LGBT
Presbyterian (48) 75% Anti-LGBT
Protestant (45) 75% Anti-LGBT
Baptists(73) 74% Anti-LGBT
Methodist (53) 74% Anti-LGBT
Christian Scientist (3) 67% Anti-LGBT
Lutheran (23) 61% Anti-LGBT
United Church of Christ (5) 60% Anti-LGBT
Episcopalian (40) 56% Anti-LGBT
– – – – – – – -
Eastern Orthodox (8) 50% Anti-LGBT
Catholics (161) 43% Anti-LGBT
Unitarian Universalist (3) 33% Anti-LGBT
Jewish (44) 14% Anti-LGBT
Unaffiliated (9) 0% Anti-LGBT
Buddhist (2) 0% Anti-LGBT
Quaker (1) 0% Anti-LGBT
The entire Congress is 57% Anti-LGBT,
but the Senate is 65% Anti-LGBT (the big problem).
What is the margin of error with the research? That plays into the overall statics as well.
Pro and anti percentages vary depending on the specific issue.
More Jews in New Jersey support gay marriage than Catholics. Unfortunately there are more Catholics than Jews
The above numbers are not research – they are the actual positions of the 111th Congress. It is what it is – no margin of error.
There is very little difference on “specific” LGBT issues. To 94% of our Congress LGBT is a Yes or No position.
Andrew: I don’t think Kyler was referring to your table; rather the study listed in the main post. But, I think it’s vital to note (as Daniel did), that being pro/anti anything is contextual. Also, I’m not exactly sure where you came up with your percentages. I don’t dispute the counts; but I’m curious how you calculated or pro/anti percentages.
As for the study in question, it is flawed. First, it only statistically representative of New Jersians. (Is that the term?) Second, the methodology is flawed because: “Half the respondents also had been interviewed before the Nov. 3 elections. The gay marriage questions were asked only after Election Day.” That’s kind of a no-no with Social Science surveys; you can’t change your survey in the middle and expect statistically significant results.