There is evidence of a "broad backlash against 'institutionalised' religion (Catholicism)" in the Republic of Ireland, according to a new survey.
The survey, which has been seen by The Irish Times, also found that "acceptance and tolerance" were "very important concepts". This has been interpreted by the researchers as a clear "backlash against perceived Catholic 'rules'/rigidity".
The Millward Brown IMS survey, conducted on behalf of the "Power to Change" campaign, which is being launched next Monday with national advertising alerting people to Jesus, also found that weekly Mass attendance in the Republic had fallen to 48 per cent, a drop of 12 percentage points since an MRBI/Prime Time survey in January, 1998.
The campaign is also taking RTÉ to the High Court on Monday for refusing to carry its advertisements, as originally agreed. RTE has received legal advice that carrying the advertisements would be in breach of the Broadcasting Act.
The "Irish Social/Lifestyle Research" project was undertaken in two parts. Last month, 1,000 people over 15 years of age were interviewed by telephone, while in July seven selected groups, spread across the age, gender and social class categories - in Dublin, Cork and Tullamore, Co Offaly - were interviewed in detail about their attitudes to matters of faith.
Among other key findings was the "need for some sort of faith" among those taking part. However, having a "named faith" was not important. Respondents also felt that it was "more important to live a good life and do unto others as you would have them do to you than to follow strict/rigid religious teaching".
Those surveyed tended to have an "I make it happen through my own choices rather than destiny in \ hands of \ external power" belief as the driving force in their lives. They saw family and friends as the "primary source of comfort and emotional support" and believed that society and morality were "far more complex nowadays", with crime a greater worry.
They also felt that, while all religions were not the same, they all led to the "same spiritual fulfilment". Evil, to those surveyed, was more rooted in "human actions, choices, nature, circumstances and experiences" than in some external source.
Of those who "strongly" endorsed the statement that they "attend Church/Mass weekly", most were over 65 and rural, while those who endorsed the statement "less strongly" were young, urban, in higher-income brackets and single males.The survey also found that 32 per cent did not "conform to any particular set of teachings", while 18 per cent did not "feel the need for a spiritual life".