Catholics in Favour of Women Priests

TV3
April 12, 2012

http://www.tv3.ie/article.php?article_id=70208&locID=1.2&pagename=news

rish Catholics are in favour of allowing women become priests according to a new survey.

It also found that Catholics in Ireland are in favour of priests being allowed to marry.

People surveyed said they would also like to see a return to the old liturgy during mass.

The survey found that 35% attend Mass once a week and that 51% attend once or more each month. Only 5% never attend Mass.

"This is very a significant number of people attending Mass, higher than in most European countries," said Fr. Sean McDonagh, representing the ACP at the launch. "Recent remarks by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on CBS ‘60 Minutes' that only 2% attend Mass in some parishes, if taken out of context, might lead people to believe that Mass attendance in Ireland has completely collapsed. The survey shows that this is not the case."

Fr Bobby Gilmore added: "On the basis of this survey, what Irish Catholics want is compassion and tolerance rather than the defence of absolute positions, local input rather than central control, a people's Church rather than a clerical Church."

"For the first time in many years, we now have reliable, credible and up-to-date statistics on the practice of Catholics, their attitudes and their opinions. Finding out where we are is always a first step in finding where we want to go," he added.

The research was carried out by Amarach for the Association of Catholic Priests. It reveals that there is a significant disconnect between the official Catholic Church teachings and what Catholics actually believe.

The findings of the report on Contemporary Catholic Perspectives found:

- A relatively even split on the Catholic Church's understanding of the challenges faced by Catholics, although uncertainly surrounding Bishop's listening to Irish priests and laypeople.

- Only 1 in 10 believe that the Catholic Church has some independence from Rome, with almost 3 in 5 (57%) believing them to be subservient.

- The majority of people favour Catholic Bishops serving a fixed term (55%), while relatively even split for as long as they like or until 75.

- A strong push for lay people being involved in choosing their Bishop at 2 in 3 wanting a greater input than at present.

- The Church should speak out on issues facing the Irish nation, especially on social and economic issues.

- Support for priests being allowed to marry and married men becoming priests. Over 7 in 10 (72%) favour women being ordained into the Catholic Church as priests.

- Just over 1 in 2 Irish Catholics are aware of the changes made to the wording of the Missal in 2011. Regular Mass attendees and the older age cohorts showing the highest levels of awareness.

- Catholics are unsure about the change to the Missal wording, with just under 1 in 4 favorable towards it and finding it easier to understand. That said only 1 in 10 find it more user friendly than the older version. Overwhelming support for old response to greeting "The Lord be with you" with almost 4 in 5 preferring it to the new response. Similar level of support for the Creed "...for us and for our salvation" as opposed to "...for us men and for our salvation".

- Although 2 in 5 support Liturgies being developed at a national level, 1 in 4 are opposed to the idea.

- 3 in 4 find the Church's teaching on sexuality irrelevant to them and/ or their family. The older age cohorts and regular church goers find them most relevant. The younger age cohorts are the least likely to find the teachings pertinent to them.

- High levels of disagreement among Catholics surrounding the teaching that a sexual expression of love between homosexual couples is immoral with 3 in 5 believing that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. The older age cohorts are more likely to agree with the immorality of homosexuality.

- Overwhelming majority believe that Catholics who are divorced or separated and in a second relationship should be allowed receive communion at Mass, with just under 9 in 10 believing they should. Only 5% agree with the current practice of not giving communion to divorcees/ those who are separated and in a second relationship.

- Almost 3 in 5 believe that there is value in the Eucharistic Congress being held in Ireland in 2012, with the opportunity for people to renew their faith the primary benefit, followed by show casing Ireland to the rest of the Catholic world.

- Slightly fewer believe that the timing is right for the Eucharistic Congress to be held in Ireland, with the expense of the Congress and the negativity surrounding the scandals which the Church are facing being cited as the primary reasons.

- Little awareness of parish lay people being involved in the Eucharistic Congress with only 1 in 10 (13%) of Catholics being aware of their involvement. Just over 1 in 2 (54%) are not sure if local lay people are involved in preparing for the celebration.