On most hot-button issues, the beliefs of both Catholics and ex-Catholics in Chicago differ dramatically from church teaching.
  Chicago Catholics
  American Catholics
  Chicago ex-Catholics
Percentage who believe that …

 
Total agreement with Church teaching
Total disagreement with Church teaching
… same-sex marriage should be legal
45%
54%
55%
 
… women should be allowed to become priests
52%
68%
69%
 
… divorced and remarried people should be able to receive communion
69%
72%
79%
 
… birth control should be allowed
70%
79%
84%
 
… employers should not be able to opt out of covering birth control
47%
45%
64%
 
… abortion should be legal in all or most cases
42%
52%
58%
 
… priests should be allowed to marry
59%
72%
81%
 
… doctors should be allowed to end the life of the terminally ill at the patient’s request
52%
68%
64%
Both groups agree that job one for Cupich is to stop priest sexual abuse.

Most important issue for church leaders to address1

Chicago Catholics have been feeling better about the church lately …
Percentage who think things in the Church are getting better
Better
44%
Worse
10%
… in part, no doubt, because they love Pope Francis …
84%
percentage who feel positive about Pope Francis
… and they like the new archbishop too.
65%
percentage who feel positive about Cupich
Photos: (POPE FRANCIS) Thanassis Stavrakis/AP; (Archbishop CUPICH) Phil Velazquez/Chicago Tribune
Percentage who rated performance good or excellent for …

… Cardinal George
65%
41%
 
… Pope Francis
84%
70%
89%
 
Percentage who had positive feelings about incoming archbishop Blase Cupich
65%
51%
  Chicago Catholics
  Chicago ex-Catholics
  American Catholics

Inside the Numbers

Most of the data on these pages come from an exclusive poll commissioned by Chicago and conducted by Fako Research & Strategies of Lemont, Illinois. From November 6 to 11, professional interviewers spoke to a random sampling of adult residents of Cook and Lake Counties by telephone (both mobile and landline). After 1,475 people answered a screening question to determine religious affiliation, the interviews continued with current or former Catholics only. Interviews were conducted in the respondent’s choice of English or Spanish. In total, 601 people completed the poll; the overall margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. (Read the complete list of questions and answers.)

NOTES: National opinion data from the most recent reputable poll that asked each question. 1. Includes all answers given by 5% or more of respondents. Respondents gave answers without prompting. SOURCES: Most of the data on these pages come from an exclusive poll commissioned by Chicago and conducted by Fako Research & Strategies of Lemont, Illinois. From November 6 to 11, professional interviewers spoke to a random sampling of adult residents of Cook and Lake Counties by telephone (both mobile and landline). After 1,475 people answered a screening question to determine religious affiliation, the interviews continued with current or former Catholics only. Interviews were conducted in the respondent’s choice of English or Spanish. In total, 601 people completed the poll; the overall margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. (Read the complete list of questions and answers.)