Report: Majority of Catholics Don't See Gay Sex as Sin

New research on Catholic attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues shows that a majority do not see same-gender sexual relations as sinful and support either marriage rights or civil unions for gay couples.

According to a report released Tuesday by the Public Religion Research Institute, 56% of Catholics say same-gender sexual relations are not sinful. Forty-three percent of Catholics support marriage rights for gays and lesbians, with another 31% supporting civil unions. And when specifically asked whether civil marriage should be legal for gay couples, 71% of Catholics said they supported such rights.

Only 27% of those who regularly attend church services report that their clergy speak about homosexuality. But Of those who reported that clergy do address the issue, 63% say the message is negative.

Read the report here.