A survey of church-going attitudes in this State, including the level of contact between laity and clergy and the public recognition profiles of the Catholic Church and Church of Ireland leaders, makes for interesting reading as we move forward into the new millennium. Several worrying trends, from the point of view of the Catholic Church, are identified in today's report. But there are still solid reasons for confidence on the part of the church that the current situation can be improved. The research was conducted in an Irish Times/MRBI attitudes survey last September and the detailed breakdown only became available in recent days.
It will hardly surprise the Catholic Church to learn it is losing the battle for the minds of young people. But the extent of the alienation is striking. While 40 per cent of all those questioned felt it was "very important" to go to Mass on Sundays, that figure fell to 14 per cent in the 18-24 age group. The percentage of committed, weekly Mass goers rose rapidly through the age cohorts until it reached 74 per cent for those over 65 years of age. Dubliners, at 30 per cent, were least committed to attending Sunday Mass as a "very important" obligation, but the figure increased to 45 per cent in Munster and in Connacht/Ulster. Taking a broader view of what was socially desirable or acceptable, some 86 per cent of the survey sample took the view that it was "very important" not to drive after drinking. The "very important" response exceeded 81 per cent across all age profiles.
In spite of the sharp fall-off in Mass-going practices, there is still an extremely close linkage between the public and members of the clergy. Almost three-quarters of those questioned could name a local priest or member of the clergy, which was the same public profile enjoyed by TDs. Unlike Dail members, however, contact between the public and members of the clergy was much more casual and frequent. Some 64 per cent of the survey had contact with the clergy at least once in the preceding year, but this figure fell to 27 per cent for TDs and to 40 per cent for members of the Garda Siochana.
In political terms, the poll provides worrying information for the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady. His public profile is extraordinarily low given the nature and the traditional importance of his position as the leader of Catholic opinion in the State. Only 17 per cent of those questioned were able to name him, compared to 28 per cent for the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames. This may be of little importance in the short term. But if the spiritual and moral leadership of the Catholic Church is to be re-invigorated, Dr Brady will have to raise his profile.