Newstalk’s Moncrieff Show National Priest Survey 2012
Sean Moncrieff
Last week I got a hurried phone call from a friend to switch on Newstalk, because Sean Moncrieff was doing a show on priests in Ireland. My first reaction was not again! Sometimes you can script these programmes, from the questions they raise to the issues they discuss, without ever having to listen to them. When I finally drummed up the energy to listen in, and download the full programme later, I found one of the most thoughtful reflections on the state of the Church in Ireland today.
Firstly the material for the show came from a questionnaire Newstalk submitted to 320 priests nationwide. 114 priests responded. For surveys this response rate is pretty good. Interestingly 96% of the priests surveyed had been serving for 10 years or more. Secondly the discussion between Sean Moncrieff and Bishop Willie Walsh was excellent. What came across was a Church honestly searching for its way in the world. It was less concerned with the headline catching topics and more about taking care of the needs of people and being able to offer Irish people something valuable in their lives today.
You can listen to the show on the Newstalk site here for Part 1 and here for Part 2. The key findings are below.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
The vast majority of Irish priests feel Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s criticism of the Vatican last July was unfair.
In a survey conducted by the Moncrieff Show on Newstalk 106-108fm, seventy-five per cent of priests said they felt the Taoiseach’s criticisms were undeserved. “Outrageous and totally uncalled for” said one respondent, while another called it “inappropriate and adolescent. He behaved like an angry, ill-informed teenager…”
The survey also found that most priests feel their reputations have been damaged, that they have been victimised by the media, particularly in light of the RTE Fr. Reynolds libel case and that the hierarchy is out of touch with the challenge they face.
Speaking about the survey, presenter Sean Moncrieff said: “This is the first time we’ve heard directly from the priests of Ireland and I think the findings show their frustrations; how they feel let down and misrepresented by the hierarchy, the media and the public.”
Key findings include:
*65 per cent think all priests reputations have been damaged by abuse scandals in the church.
*61 per cent feel the hierarchy does not understand the challenges priests face in the modern world.
*63 per cent think the Vatican poorly handled sex abuse cases.
*64 per cent of priests feel they and the Catholic Church are portrayed unfairly in the media.
*79 percent said their confidence in RTE has been damaged by the Fr. Kevin Reynolds libel case.
The survey covered the following areas:
• The Media
• The Murphy Report
• Attitudes to priests
• Church Structure
• Faith
• Religion in education
• Eucharistic Congress
The Media
RTE's Prime Time Investigates
• 79% of priests surveyed state their confidence in RTE has been damaged following the Fr. Kevin Reynolds affair.
• 64% of priests feel they and the Catholic Church are unfairly portrayed in the media.
“What RTE did was despicable and totally unjust – RTE would be the first to demand that heads should role in the Church. I do not want to be triumphalist but what RTE did was a grave violation of justice.”
The Murphy Report
• 75% of priests surveyed believe the Taoiseach’s criticism of the Vatican in the Dail last July was unfair.
“Inappropriate and adolescent. He behaved like an angry, ill informed teenager eager to please a section of society. His failure to be equally harsh on the mistakes and management perpetuated by governments, past and present, is appalling and hypocritical.”
Attitudes to priests
• 65% think ALL priests’ reputations have been damaged by abuse scandals in the church.
“People at a local level know their priests / us / me better and understand us more than some commentators believe.”
Church Structure
• 61% do not feel the hierarchy understand the challenges priests face in the modern world.
“They don’t seem to know the questions never mind suggesting answers.”
• 63% think the Vatican poorly handled church sex abuses in Ireland
“Appalling treatment of victims. Church institutions were seen as more important.”
Faith:
• Has the handling of abuse cases in the church over the years altered your faith?
23% Yes
75% No
83% of priests think that the Church has a valuable role to play in schools in Ireland
Schools:
• Do you think the Catholic Church should be involved in state education?
83% Yes
11% No
6% Unsure
Eucharistic Congress:
• Do you think that this is an appropriate time for such a Congress in Ireland?
51% Yes
45% No
4% Unsure