While the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church mandates that divorce, homosexuality, abortion and birth control are unacceptable, according to the World Values Survey conducted by the University’s Institute for Social Research, not every Catholic agrees.

According to political science Prof. Ronald Inglehart, director of the World Values Survey, most practicing Catholics did not accept divorce 50 years ago. By 2000, however, only 6 percent of the Catholic respondents in the United States said that divorce was never justifiable.

Attitudes toward abortion and homosexuality have followed the same pattern. Inglehart found that the percentage of U.S. Catholics who believe that abortion is never justifiable fell from 50 percent in 1981 to 37 percent in 2000. The percentage of U.S. Catholics saying that homosexuality is never justifiable dropped from 60 percent in 1981 to 19 percent in 2000.

This increasing approval of the “forbidden practices” is not a pattern unique to the United States or to Catholics.

Inglehart said Protestants have witnessed a similar pattern. “Overall,” he said, “although there has been only a slight decline in church attendance, there’s been a major decline in the importance of religion in rich nations.”

Inglehart referred to secularization as an occurrence in developed nations, where the majority of people take survival for granted. In the developing world, on the other hand, he said that people who are economically insecure “seek a sense of security — that somehow (their survival) is in the hands of some benevolent being.”

Nevertheless, “people are not becoming more amoral,” Inglehart pointed out. He said that the environmental movement, for example, although secular, has a moral tone to it. “We have different moral values now — it’s a more individualistic version of religion.”

The initial purpose of the World Values Survey was to trace social and cultural change. “It’s clear it’s taking place and it has important implications,” said Inglehart.

As predicted by the survey, Catholic students at the University had contrary views on the many different issues.

LSA senior Kenneth Buck pointed out that Jesus had strong words on divorce — that it should not be allowed unless adultery was committed.

LSA junior Jen D’Souza agreed but added, “In certain situations, divorce should be allowed, especially when there’s physical abuse.”

Buck professed that homosexuality in itself is not a sin.

“The Church doesn’t say you’ll go to hell if you’re homosexual — the lifestyle is what is sinful, not simply being homosexual.”

LSA senior Elizabeth Bovair disagreed. “Jesus’s message is to love one another and not to judge. There’s such a lack of love in this world, how could you tell somebody not to love?”

On abortion, LSA senior Karlee Boike said, “I am pro-life and I agree with the Church’s teachings on this matter, but I do not think it is my place to make the decision for someone else. It’s a moral issue, not a political one.”

Some students said they felt that abortion, as well as the spread of disease, can be partially avoided by better knowledge of birth control.

“People are going to have sex regardless, and they need to be educated so that abortion rates don’t rise and STD rates don’t rise, especially AIDS,” said Nursing junior Melissa Housefield.

Many Catholics feel that the influence of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy in their lives, values and attitudes has weakened. Elizabeth Benki said her local priest and the Pope filled significant roles in her faith, but officials in between didn’t really make an impact.

“I feel that the hierarchy fails to realize the changing nature of human beings and their cultures,” Bovair said.

Others said they trust the Church’s hierarchy. University alum Robert Shereda said, “The Church’s hierarchy (is) a thoughtful and diverse group that cares deeply about their Church and the people they serve.”

Buck said that his faith in the hierarchy hasn’t diminished.

“I still trust the Holy Spirit is guiding the bishops and the Church in general,” Buck said.