NH Catholics for Moral Leadership

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The Granite State Poll

February 12, 2003

University of New Hampshire Survey Center

Durham New Hampshire

Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D.

603-862-2226

These findings are for the exclusive use of WMUR, Channel 9 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Any unauthorized use is prohibited.

Granite State Poll Methodology

These findings are based on the most recent Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center from February 6 to February 11, 2003. A random sample of 483 New Hampshire adults was interviewed by telephone. In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 4.5 percent. Included in this sample were 195 self-identified Catholics for whom estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 7 percent. Results reported for other subgroups have potential for somewhat larger variation than those for the entire population.

The data have been weighted to adjust for numbers of adults and telephone lines within households, respondent sex, and region of the state. In addition to potential sampling error, all surveys have other potential sources of non-sampling error including question order effects, question wording effects, and non-response.

Respondents to the Granite State Poll were asked:

"On another subject, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Catholic Church in New Hampshire has recently handled the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, that is, in the past year or so?"

"Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?"

"Based on what you have seen or heard about his handling of the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, do you agree or disagree that Bishop John McCormack of Manchester should resign?"

"Because of what you have seen or heard of the sexual abuse issue, during the last three months have you ... Gone to church less frequently than you used to go … Decreased your regular contribution to the parish? … Gone to a different denomination for church services? … Talked in support of the Catholic Church with other Catholics? … Talked in support of the Catholic Church with non-Catholics?"

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"On another subject, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Catholic Church in New Hampshire has recently handled the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, that is, in the past year or so?" 

"Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?"

 

Strongly

Approve

Approve

Somewhat

Disapprove

Somewhat

Strongly Disapprove

Unsure

(N)

All NH Adults

    4%

    11%

    13%

    57%

    15%

466

Catholic

6

17

11

54

11

191

Protestant

4

8

15

56

18

179

Other

0

7

16

66

11

89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attend Church

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once a  week +

5

17

15

48

15

118

Once or twice a month

8

11

11

57

14

75

Few times a year

2

14

14

55

15

147

Never

2

3

13

67

14

120

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male

5

11

13

58

13

220

Female

3

12

13

56

16

245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Married

4

10

13

59

14

319

Divorced/Separated

4

11

19

51

15

88

Never married

1

20

7

54

18

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Democrat

4

12

14

55

15

178

Independent

3

10

11

60

15

76

Republican

4

12

14

57

13

204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liberal

6

12

10

64

8

91

Moderate

3

11

13

58

15

216

Conservative

5

11

15

52

17

134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 to 29

7

18

9

49

17

51

30 to 39

1

13

15

56

16

87

40 to 49

2

9

13

60

17

114

50 to 59

3

9

15

64

9

98

60 to 69

4

16

17

56

8

53

70 or older

12

10

8

45

24

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school or less

6

13

11

57

13

102

Some college

1

9

15

60

16

125

College graduate

4

13

12

55

17

152

Postgraduate work

6

10

17

55

11

84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than $29,999

4

14

14

54

15

62

$30,000 to $59,999

6

14

14

49

17

107

$60,000 to $74,999

2

15

10

57

16

45

$75,000 to $99,999

1

7

24

65

3

53

$100,000 or more

2

9

6

66

17

73

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern NH

5

12

20

45

18

57

Western NH

8

12

16

42

23

39

Central/Lakes

7

11

11

60

12

79

Hillsborough County

2

14

8

64

13

143

Seacoast

3

9

17

57

14

147

Add Me To the Declaration
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"Based on what you have seen or heard about his handling of the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, do you agree or disagree that Bishop John McCormack of Manchester should resign?"

 

Agree, Resign

Disagree, Not Resign

Unsure

(N)

All NH Adults

  73%

 11%

  16%

475

Protestant

70

7

23

187

Catholic

72

17

11

190

Other

84

5

11

92

 

 

 

 

 

Once a week or more often

60

19

21

121

Once or twice a month

75

17

8

79

Few times a year

77

6

18

148

Never

80

5

15

121

 

 

 

 

 

Male

77

12

12

226

Female

70

10

20

249

 

 

 

 

 

Married

76

9

15

322

Divorced/Separated

63

13

24

91

Never married