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Australian Survey Defines "Homophobia" as Belief that Homosexuality is Immoral

CANBERRA, July 27, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The terms "homophobia" and "intolerance" are used in the media a great deal but few have dared to define them with any certainty since they carry a weight of political baggage. Many Christian and other religious objectors to the homosexual political movement have assumed that they are defined by homosexual activists simply as, "anything or anyone that differs with us," with traditional religious morality topping the list.

A report by an Australian research group has confirmed that this view is accurate. The report by The Australia Institute, a leftist public policy think tank, was titled "Mapping Homophobia in Australia, and adheres openly to the homosexual lobby's broad definition. "In this study homophobia is identified with those who believe that homosexuality is immoral.," the report says succinctly in its preamble.

The report admits that the term is technically inaccurate, saying that few experience an actual 'phobia' about homosexuals, but that "the term 'homophobia,' is a useful term of social description for everyday emotional tension about sexual identity that is widespread among heterosexuals."

The report by the Australia Institute examined the results of a previous survey by Roy Morgan Research that asked approximately 25,000 Australians to say whether they agree or disagree with the following statements: "I believe that homosexuality is immoral," and "Homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children." A 'yes' to the first, and a 'no' to the second equals "homophobia."

Significantly, the study notes that "Catholics are the most tolerant in Australia, with only 34 per cent believing that homosexuality is immoral." (see important statistical note at bottom of article)

Other studies have shown a strong connection between traditional sexual morality and other indicators of religious adherence such as regular church attendance. This study of "homophobia" has confirmed, perhaps unintentionally, what others have shown: that religious belief and practice by many Catholics in Australia has been seriously eroded by the new libertine sexual mores and widespread moral and religious relativism both in and out of the Catholic community.

With Catholics placed just above "no religion" in their "tolerance" of homosexuality, the study may alert Church leadership that average Catholics are, literally, one small step away from outright non-belief.   Baptists, Other Christians, Methodists, Presbyterians, respondents who 'Wouldn't Say' their religion, those of 'Other Religion'(s), those identifying as "Uniting" and Anglicans all faired better according to the survey in adherence to basic Christian morality which considers homosexuality immoral.

"While Roman Catholic doctrine is seen to be clear in its condemnation of homosexuality, Catholics are the least homophobic of those Australians with a religious affiliation. This suggests that there is a gap between the official teachings of the church and the everyday beliefs and values of those people who share its faith," the report concludes.

While the study did not point it out, it should be noted that the numbers presented are based on averages and due to the fact that Catholics represent about 27 percent of the population whereas other Christian denominations are vastly smaller the actual number of Catholics considering homosexuality immoral are in many cases greater than numbers of  persons of other denominations presented considering homosexuality immoral.  For example even though 70% of Baptists in Australia consider homosexuality immoral compared to 35% of Catholics, due to the difference in population size among the two denominations, Catholics who consider homosexuality immoral outnumber Baptists of the same belief by a factor of eight to one.

Read the Australia Institute report (pdf format - Acrobat required)
http://www.tai.org.au/Publications_Files/Papers&Sub_Files/Homophobia%20webpa...

See demographics on Religions in Australia:
http://www.adherents.com/loc/loc_australia.html

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