Catholics More Catholic In Their Thinking If Practicing Catholicism, Survey Shocker!

So says a Knights of Columbus/Marist poll.

Both practicing and non-practicing Catholics see the following issues as important, although practicing Catholics are more likely to see the value of these issues:

• Daily prayer (96 percent/practicing vs. 79 percent/non-practicing).
• Following the teachings of the Church (93 percent/practicing vs. 70 percent/non-practicing).
• Receiving the sacraments (93 percent/practicing vs. 61 percent/non-practicing).
• Attending Mass regularly (89 percent/practicing vs. 42 percent/non-practicing).

In addition, 83 percent of practicing Catholics think it is important to belong to a parish andabout half of non-practicing Catholics (48 percent) see this as important. About three quarters of practicing Catholics (72 percent) believe it is important to go to confession at least annually, and about four in 10 (39 percent) of non-practicing Catholics say the same.
A more notable contrast was in beliefs about the Eucharist. About two-thirds of practicing Catholics (65 percent) say the Eucharist is the true presence of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, a similar number of non-practicing Catholics (64 percent) say it is just “a symbol.”

I'll tell you, the only faintly surprising thing, at least if you follow his coverage by either saecualr or Catholic media, is about the Holy Father.

If you took newspapers and Catholic bloggers at their word, you would "know" that "conservative" Catholics hate Pope Francis.

But I think it is safe to say, that what are termed "conservative" Catholics, you know, the ones who were thought to be clutching their pearls at Laudato Si, are more faithful regular in their Mass atendance, reception of the sacraments, etc.
(No, I don't have a poll or survey to cite just now.)
But guess what? approval of Francis goes up among  the practicing.

Among all Americans, Pope Francis enjoys an approval rating of nearly six in 10 (58 percent). Among non-practicing Catholics the number grows to seven in 10 (70 percent), but among practicing Catholics, the number jumps to more than eight in 10 (83 percent).

That's right. Sorry to disappoint you neo-con Catholic newsmen and rabid anti-Francis bloggers on the one hand, and the never-saw-a-heresy-you-didn't-give-equal-time-to progressive presbyteral talking heads on the other, in other words, all you bemoaning "papal positivism," for one reason or another.