Wow - Great Thread!!!
I voted #2.
I am from the Rep. of Ireland where more the 90% of he population are Catholic. Religion was never an option - It was a fact - the pubs used to open up early on Sundays just for the people who didn't really want to go but were afraid to ask! Just about everyone went to church on Sundays.
Setting the scene:
The Church and State were inseperable - Condoms have only become legal in Ireland within the last tweleve years - you could be prosecuted for possession
though I don't know of any successful prosecutions! PlayBoy magazine has only been allowed to sold in Ireland in t he last five years!
Catholic Church:
Name is now mud in Ireland - So many stories of abuse etc have surfaced in the past few years that I believe most of the population of Ireland who would have voted No# 1 in the poll might be lightly to vote differently. This isn't an exaggeration - The Principal of my school has been indicted and my cousin received the highest amount of money to date in Ireland in settlement of his case. In a population of less than 5 million, most people know someone who is affected.
My Parents:
Very religious people - became happy clappies for about 15 years but are now kinda disgusted with the catholic church and while they still go to church - they don't take the doctrine in the same way.
E.G.
The pope is always right - I argued at length on this point - What Church who teaches it people not to wear condoms in Africa and aids ridden nations can take the moral highground?
In previous encounters my parents were always on that pope's side - Now, they agree.
Sorry about the ramble.....
Brian