Posted May 21, 2003
Statistics from the Latest Study on Priests — May 13, 2003
From: Evolving Visions of the Priesthood
By: Dr. Dean R. Hoge and Jacqueline E. Wenger
For further information e-mail Dr. Hoge hoge@cua.edu
Seventeen Statements About the Priesthood and the Church Today
(In Percents)
1. Ordination confers on the priest a new status or a permanent character which makes him essentially different from the laity within the Church.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
48% |
53% |
37% |
| Agree Somewhat |
29% |
30% |
27% |
| Uncertain |
6% |
6% |
15% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
10% |
8% |
15% |
| Disagree Strongly |
7% |
5% |
12% |
2. There is no ontological difference
between the priest and laity,
since all share in the common
priesthood of Christ given at
baptism; the difference is mainly
one of assigned duties in the Church.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
11% |
8% |
15% |
| Agree Somewhat |
12% |
11% |
14% |
| Uncertain |
7% |
7% |
7% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
17% |
16% |
21% |
| Disagree Strongly |
53% |
58% |
43% |
3. The idea that the priest is a "man
set apart" is a barrier to the full
realization of true Christian
community.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
9% |
8% |
13% |
| Agree Somewhat |
17% |
17% |
16% |
| Uncertain |
10% |
8% |
14% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
27% |
28% |
26% |
| Disagree Strongly |
37% |
39% |
32% |
4. I feel that I am most a priest when
I am "saying Mass" (presiding at
Eucharist) and hearing confessions.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
41% |
45% |
32% |
| Agree Somewhat |
32% |
32% |
31% |
| Uncertain |
4% |
4% |
3% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
16% |
13% |
22% |
| Disagree Strongly |
8% |
6% |
12% |
5. What is lacking today is that closeness
among priests which used to be present.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
19% |
22% |
12% |
| Agree Somewhat |
36% |
38% |
33% |
| Uncertain |
24% |
18% |
36% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
16% |
16% |
15% |
| Disagree Strongly |
5% |
6% |
4% |
6. It is urgent that priests achieve
greater status as competent
professions in the eyes of
the Catholic community.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
24% |
23% |
25% |
| Agree Somewhat |
43% |
42% |
46% |
| Uncertain |
15% |
14% |
17% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
12% |
15% |
7% |
| Disagree Strongly |
6% |
6% |
5% |
7. Priests today need to be more involved
with broad social and moral issues
beyond the parish level.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
27% |
24% |
34% |
| Agree Somewhat |
47% |
47% |
46% |
| Uncertain |
16% |
18% |
11% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
8% |
9% |
7% |
| Disagree Strongly |
2% |
2% |
2% |
8. The Catholic Church in the U.S. should
continue to welcome Episcopalian priests
who want to become active Roman Catholic
priests, whether they are married or single.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
40% |
40% |
39% |
| Agree Somewhat |
32% |
30% |
37% |
| Uncertain |
14% |
14% |
14% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
7% |
8% |
7% |
| Disagree Strongly |
7% |
8% |
4% |
9. Priests who have resigned from the
priesthood should be invited to
re-apply for permission to function
as priests again, whether they are
married or single.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
31% |
32% |
28% |
| Agree Somewhat |
21% |
19% |
26% |
| Uncertain |
15% |
14% |
17% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
13% |
14% |
11% |
| Disagree Strongly |
21% |
21% |
19% |
10. Celibacy should be a matter of personal
choice for diocesan priests.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
35% |
35% |
33% |
| Agree Somewhat |
21% |
18% |
27% |
| Uncertain |
10% |
9% |
11% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
10% |
11% |
8% |
| Disagree Strongly |
24% |
27% |
20% |
11. The Catholic Church needs to move
faster in empowering lay persons
in ministry.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
38% |
34% |
47% |
| Agree Somewhat |
35% |
36% |
32% |
| Uncertain |
11% |
11% |
9% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
10% |
12% |
6% |
| Disagree Strongly |
6% |
6% |
6% |
12. Parish life would be aided by an
increase in full-time professional
ecclesial lay ministers.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
38% |
37% |
41% |
| Agree Somewhat |
34% |
34% |
34% |
| Uncertain |
15% |
15% |
16% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
7% |
9% |
4% |
| Disagree Strongly |
5% |
6% |
4% |
13. Priests' attitudes on church issues
can never have an effect in our
present institutional church
structures.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
10% |
00% |
7% |
| Agree Somewhat |
25% |
25% |
20% |
| Uncertain |
22% |
21% |
25% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
28% |
26% |
31% |
| Disagree Strongly |
17% |
17% |
17% |
14. Priest members of presbyteral councils
need more influence if the councils are
to be effective in enhancing priestly
ministry.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
26% |
29% |
19% |
| Agree Somewhat |
34% |
35% |
33% |
| Uncertain |
30% |
24% |
42% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
7% |
9% |
3% |
| Disagree Strongly |
3% |
3% |
3% |
15. More effective organizations of priests
are needed to serve the needs of the
priesthood today.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
16% |
16% |
14% |
| Agree Somewhat |
37% |
37% |
39% |
| Uncertain |
30% |
28% |
33% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
12% |
14% |
9% |
| Disagree Strongly |
5% |
5% |
4% |
16. I think it would be a good idea if
Christian communities such as parishes
were to choose their own priest from
among available ordained priests.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
7% |
7% |
8% |
| Agree Somewhat |
16% |
16% |
16% |
| Uncertain |
21% |
17% |
28% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
21% |
23% |
18% |
| Disagree Strongly |
35% |
37% |
30% |
17. I think it would be a good idea if
the priests in a diocese were to choose
their own bishop.
|
All Priests |
Diocesan Priests |
Religious Priests |
| Agree Strongly |
22% |
22% |
22% |
| Agree Somewhat |
25% |
23% |
29% |
| Uncertain |
15% |
15% |
16% |
| Disagree Somewhat |
15% |
16% |
14% |
| Disagree Strongly |
23% |
25% |
19% |
|
|
