Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Majority of Catholics want radical change in Church teachings and law

The overwhelming majority of Irish practising Catholics want to see radical change in their Church, including the ordination of women, an end to compulsory celibacy for clerics, with permission for priests to marry, and a greater role for the laity. 

Three in four of those surveyed find the Church’s teaching on sexuality irrelevant to them or their family, according to an all-Ireland study conducted on behalf of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP).

Most people surveyed object to the Church’s stance against sexual relations between gay couples and see nothing wrong with homosexuality. The majority are also anxious for the Vatican to permit divorced people to receive Communion, according to the study carried out by the market research company, Amárach.

Eighty-seven per cent of more than 1,000 people questioned believe priests should be allowed marry; while 72% would like to see mature married men become eligible for ordination to the priesthood; 72% are in favour of women priests.

The study also shows that just over one in three Catholics (35%) attend Mass weekly or more often. One in five attend only for either celebratory and/or religious occasions.

The study also reveals an overriding belief lay people are not heard on religious issues, with just over half being aware of the recent changes to the English translation of the Catholic Missal.

ACP member Fr PJ Madden said the survey showed there was "a major disparity" between the Church’s teaching and how ordinary Catholics live their lives.

The findings include:

* Overwhelming support (87%) for priests being allowed to marry and married men becoming priests.

* Over seven in 10 (72%) favour women being ordained as priests.

* Only one in 10 believe the Church in Ireland has some measure of independence from Rome.

* Only one in four believe the teachings of the Church are relevant to them.

* Three in five disagree with the Church’s teachings on homosexuality.