Washington Post/ABC News poll question on Kim Davis, results by religion

The Washington Post ^ | 9/15/15

[Faith Presses On]

Washington Post/ABC News poll, September 7-10

Q: As you may know, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry. Nonetheless a county clerk in Kentucky has refused to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, saying she objects on religious grounds. Do you think this county clerk should or should not be required to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples?

All adults: 63% 33

By religion:

White evangelical Protestant 37 61

White non-evangelical Protestant 77 21

White Catholic 70 28

No religion 79 16

By race:

White 66 31

**NET Non-white** 58 38

African American 57 39

Hispanic 57 37

[tanknetter]

Isn’t the question a misrepresentation of the situation?

Davis is allowing licenses to be issued. Just without her name and signature.

[Salvation]

**All adults: 63% 33**

63% Should be required

33% Should not be required

I thought it would be the other way around.

[Vic S]

And Congress and Obama do nothing. Maybe they think the Supreme Court just did their job?

[Faith Presses On]

The poll was taken last week, 9/7-9/10.

[tanknetter]

The poll was taken last week, 9/7-9/10.

True - I misphrased that. Davis' position hasn't changed. She's said all along that she wouldn't stand in the way of licenses being issued, so long as her name and signature didn't have to be on them.

So the question could be reworded along the lines of "Should reasonable accommodations exist that would allow marriage licenses for same-sex couples to be issued without the signatures of government officials who object on religious or conscience grounds?"

Which is a much more accurate representation of the issue here, and would almost certainly produce a very different result.

[Vigilanteman]

You are too nice. I`d phrase the question like “Should congress be abolished and just allow the Supreme Court to legislate from the bench?”

[ealgeone]

uh-o.....not looking too good for some denominations.

[metmom]

Before I read, let me guess.......

[ealgeone]

amazing isn’t it. something’s not getting through. Christians are in a distinct minority.

[Mark17]

White evangelical Protestant 37 61

Just the fact that there are ANY white evangelical Protestants in favor of this, is alarming.

[ealgeone]

True....truth be told the whole thing is alarming and shows just how influential the lgbt community has been in shifting the conversation.

Imagine if believers had the zeal they did......

[daniel1212]

37% of white evangelical Protestants say should be required to issue..

61% say should not be required

70% of White Catholic say should be required to issue

28% say should not be required

Once again the overall fruit of Rome overwhelmingly opposes God and evangelicals

[Lera]

“Just the fact that there are ANY white evangelical Protestants in favor of this, is alarming. “

Half the churches calling themselves evangelicals are NOT

[daniel1212]

Just the fact that there are ANY white evangelical Protestants in favor of this, is alarming.

There is much misunderstanding on this. What if they asked,

As you may know, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry in all states. Nonetheless a county clerk in Kentucky has refused to violate her conscience and the Kentucky Constitution (that she was to uphold), by issuing marriage licenses to gays with her signature on them.

Do you think this county clerk should be required to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples or lose her job, or that she can keep her job by the state providing licenses without her name on them instead.

1. Be required.

2. Not be required.

[Wallace T.]

The argument some evangelicals make with respect to this issue derives from a misinterpretation of Romans 13, relative to submission to civil authorities. This form of submission resembles that of the “German Christians” who acquiesced to the Nazi regime.

[Mark17]

Imagine if believers had the zeal they did......

I have been saying for decades, as well as a lot of others, who thought of it long before I did, that there are many people who are willing to do more for a lie, than the righteous are willing to do for the truth. That's sad, but we all need to hang in there, and keep preaching. BTW, "hang in there" is what Dr Walter Martin told me on the phone once, when I was on his Bible Answer Man program. 😎

[Mark17]

Half the churches calling themselves evangelicals are NOT

Maybe more than half. I just know He will say to many, "I never knew you."

[Springfield Reformer]

Which is a much more accurate representation of the issue here, and would almost certainly produce a very different result.

While there is no doubt the results could be altered by changing the question as you suggest, try to imagine this poll being taken in America in the 1950's. No form of the question would have mattered, because the absurd premise would have been rejected nearly universally, either as a joke or a blasphemy. It is a testament to how far we have been desensitized to the evil around us.

Peace,

SR

[.45 Long Colt]

I’m not surprised. Liberals like Jimmy Carter are considered “evangelical” so it is a word that has lost much of its traditional meaning, much as “Protestant.” These days most “Protestants” are in lockstep with Rome; they may not believe in the pope, but they aren’t protesting anything. They see Rome as an alternative Christian system and if asked they would probably say it’s time hold hands and to put the Reformation behind us. It’s sad really.