Poll shows the faith of Scotland

by John Carey
The first major survey of the attitudes and opinions of Catholics in England has been carried out by Gallup polls.
This was revealed this week by Fr Gerry Burke, chairman of the National Conference of Priests. Fr Burke was commenting on the publication on Tuesday of Gallup's survey in Scotland, which Gallup claim is "the most sophisticated study of its kind published so far in the world."
Fr Burke said: "When the NCP heard that the Scottish bishops had commissioned a survey, we thought they had done the right thing. Later we heard that Gallup was doing a survey privately in England. The news came as a surprise both to the NCP and to the bishops' conference."
"I believe that the bishops made some contact with Gallup and offered them their expert advice. In any case Gallup did conduct a survey," he said,
Fr Burke said that the NCP had believed for sometime that no effective planning on, pastoral strategy could take place without proper factual information.
Mr Gordon H cald , joint managing director of Gallup, confirmed on -I uesday that a survey had been done in England hut said that it had not yet been decided when. or even whether, hi publish the results. However a reliable church source said that it was likely to appear in the autumn.
Meanwhile the Scottish hierarch) has welcomed the results of the survey. Archbishop Thomas Winning of Glasgow said: "The truth is sometimes daunting but always worth know irig. Overall 1 consider the results of this survey heartening — although. of course there are areas of concern."
The survey was carried out among almost 1000 Catholics aged 15 and over from all social groupings. It showed that more than 90 per cent thought that baptism and an active concern for others were the most important characteristics of being a Catholic today.
These were closely followed in importance by confirmation, getting married in a Catholic church and regular prayer There was also very strong support for Christian unity.
One aspect that will be particularly heartening to the bishops is the backing shown for Catholic schools. which seems to destroy arguments that most Catholics would not be particularly worried by the disappearance of such schools. Three out of four of those questioned agreed that Catholic schools were an important element in Catholic life.
The most disturbing figures were probably those on divorce. Three in five people considered that Catholics should be allowed to divorce — twice the number of those against it.
The most important factor affecting a person's religious faith was found to be whether or not they were married to a Catholic. This could lead to efforts to tighten up on the number of mixed marriages, which are currently on the increase in Scotland.
A full analysis of the survey will appear in next week's Catholic Herald.