Roman Catholics in Quebec still believe in their religion, but put little faith in the church's doctrine -- significantly concerning sexuality.That's the conclusion of new study of Catholicism in Quebec by Alberta sociologist Reginald W. Bibby.
The report says that while regular church attendance in Quebec is the lowest on the continent, "religion has not gone away."
Only one out of five Catholics in Quebec goes to church at least once a month, compared with two out of five in the rest of the country.
Even if Quebecers aren't churchgoers, Mr. Bibby's sampling revealed that 85 per cent - or 5.9 million Quebecers - still claim to be Roman Catholics, even if they aren't fully aware of church teaching.
They continue to pray, profess the Creed, and expect the church to marry them, bury them and baptize their children.
"Catholicism in Quebec remains highly pervasive," Mr. Bibby writes. "Large numbers of Catholics who have limited involvement in the church indicate they would be receptive to greater participation if the church can touch their lives in a significant way."
The paradox is that the majority of those who say they are Catholics no longer subscribe to many of the church's doctrines.
"Catholics in Quebec are far more inclined than Canadians as a whole to approve of the use of artificial birth control, premarital sex, divorce, homosexuality, and the availability of legal abortion when the mother's health is endangered," Mr. Bibby writes.
The report's findings aren't sitting well with some members of Quebec's Catholic Church.
Bishop Lionel Gendron, rector the Grand Seminary in Montreal, where about 50 men are studying for the priesthood, says Mr. Bibby's report is superficial.
"I think it's an oversimplification," Bishop Gendron said. "There is a doctrinal core to Roman Catholicism that is very important, and often the secularized world does not accept the doctrine. You can't reject the doctrine and still claim to believe. The problem is why don't people who say they are Catholics come to church?"
Asked about the contradictions in a telephone interview this week, Mr. Bibby said "it is a stunning thing to see the large numbers of those who still look to the Catholic church, and who have their own ideas about religion, who are not about to turn elsewhere.
"It is hard to figure out how much of their identification with Catholicism is cultural and how much of it is religious ... trying to separate one from the other is extremely difficult."
Mr. Bibby says the church in Quebec is missing the opportunity to rebuild its congregations by neglecting its faithful.
"You can't expect Roman Catholics to show up in church every Sunday just because they call themselves Catholics," he said. "They have to feel something is happening there."
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