A public opinion survey shows Catholics are more supportive of gay marriage than Protestants, leading one pollster to predict the Liberals could actually benefit from the Vatican's recent intervention by appealing to Canadians' widely held support for a separation between church and state.
Fifty-seven per cent of Catholics support same-sex marriages, while 40 per cent are opposed. Among Protestants, only 38 per cent support the concept and 58 per cent are opposed. Among all Canadians, the poll found a slim majority, 53 per cent, support same-sex marriage, while 43 per cent are opposed and three per cent are undecided.
Environics pollster Derek Leebosh pointed out that unlike Protestants, Catholics will continue to state their religion even if they are no longer actively involved, especially in Quebec. But even among Catholics in English Canada, support for gay marriage is in the majority and...