Before you go, is there anything you'd like to say to us about this project and the survey? You can skip this question if you wish
Before you go, is there anything you'd like to say to us about this project and the survey? You can skip this question if you wish
Results
| 2022-12-06 | |
|---|---|
I wish you luck with whatever you are planning on using this data for :) | 0.14% |
There were parts where I thought it was tricky to answer questions accurately. For instance, the question about belief in the spiritual energy in crystals I may have put ‘yes’ because I believe that demonic spiritual presences may be active in the use of these things. However, I assumed you meant whether I believed in the use of them for spiritual benefit so I put no (note the belief questions you wrote had to do with beliefs and not practice). Additionally, when asked for whether I approve or disapprove of, for instance, same sex relationships I felt my view didn’t get reflected. As a member of the Catholic Church I do fully believe in what the Church teaches but my personal approval does not flavour my conduct towards persons who are in same sex relationships. I wondered whether my approval or disapproval choices in the survey would reflect belief in their innate human dignity. Understandably this survey is about moral beliefs but unfortunately the beauty of the Church’s mora beliefs are skewed when the fullness of the teaching is not made apparent. Also, should note that our one child has passed away. Unsure whether I should let you know, but it might be useful to acknowledge on your survey particularly when discussing life or death questions. | 0.14% |
None. | 0.14% |
I pray for traditional values and for yourselves. It was a pleasure to participate in this survey | 0.14% |
No | 2.13% |
I think this is good and hopefully will help to bring about much needed change in the Catholic Church and aid it in returning to the more Conservative and traditional values that are at its heart, so that it is not of the world, but of God. | 0.14% |
It is important to collect this data. However irrespective of the responses the Catholic Church must stay steadfast in her traditional orthodox beliefs otherwise we caving to the way of the world | 0.14% |
Thank you for this opportunity | 0.28% |
The question on moral issues does not allow for nuance. For example, a civil divorce may not be sinful in some circumstances. Should either party 'remarry' without an annulment, it would of course be sinful. | 0.14% |
I’d be concerned about non-Catholics participating in the survey and skewing results, giving a false impression the faithful believes things it really doesn’t | 0.14% |
No homeschool options, also dating/courting but not living with my girlfriend | 0.14% |
God bless! | 0.28% |
Some of the questions asked are a bit black and white. Like it’s not a sin to divorce (without annulment) as long as you don’t remarry. Also some questions the answers will never be able to be changed. Eg The Church’s teaching on Abortion or Euthanasia (Thou shall not kill) No matter how difficult the circumstance. Thank you and God Bless | 0.14% |
I attend both TLM and various parishes. Due to our Bishop’s implementation of Pope Francis Traditiones Custodies, I am now attending more and more non TLM Masses, with the aim to eventually no longer attend. For me, this is a matter of Obedience. Not that the subject matter or Latin or Ad orientem is Wrong. Or else the Roman Catholic Church ceases to be Roman, like a child who is ashamed of the photographs of their family, so they hide them away and deny the merits found from the family. So if â��˜Traditional’ (which is a terrible term, being Catholic is not a political decision but an agreement to be formed in a common way of life), if traditional Catholics are called to be obedient on liturgical matters, ‘liberal’ or â€��modern’ Catholics are called to be obedient on moral decisions. You can’t decide what part of the Catholic Church applies to you. Morals are even more important than liturgy, yet there seems to be more acceptance on diverse and acceptable moral decisions which endanger the soul, whereas liturgical conformity is mandated yet does not merit moral consequences in itself, where obedience is not called to line. It doesn’t matter what year it is or what social media platform or shiny logo promotes a certain ideal (both traditional and liberal Catholics are guilty of this). It is allowing people to have a sincere relationship with Jesus through the church he established. And as a young Catholic, any form of liturgy that calls people into this relationship is needed. Because it seems the people making this decisions will die and join Our Lord long before the consequences are reaped by this Generation of Catholics who face an increasingly hostile world to Jesus and the love he offers all people. A lot to read, but young Catholics are the ones going to pay for the Church for the next 60 years. It’s fair that they have a chance to hear their views and place them into action. Thanks again for this. There is no greater joy in being Catholic and | 0.14% |
The Catholic Church is the one true and only true Religion. One must follow ALL Catholic teachings to receive Heaven. | 0.14% |
Some of the ""traditional moral values"" etc about Pope Francis were kinda leading with a bias towards saying you think the traditional moral values are good and the pope is bad. | 0.14% |
Thank you for doing this. The Church has moved away from standing for what it believes in and has started satisfying what ‘the people want’, the push for women deacons being a perfect example. We don’t want to be given crappy attempts at winning votes but instead something to stand firm for and believe in. Return to the Catholic Church that defended its values and stood against evil. | 0.14% |
I think that this project should reflect more traditional Catholic values instead of liberal ideologies | 0.14% |
It is good | 0.14% |
The bishop of Brisbane is a great supporter of the traditional Latin mass. I appreciate his acceptance of the traditional rite and also understand his views on the new Rite. | 0.14% |
This survey is so woke for a CATHOLIC survey. | 0.14% |
Thank you | 0.43% |
Is this just so trad Catholics can prove their conservative perspective? | 0.14% |
Bring back Latin mass to bring people back to Catholicism. | 0.14% |
Restore Tradition and end the Modernist heresy destroying the Church. The faith cannot be changed no matter how the world around us changes. Anyone who marries the spirit of the age will be a widower in the next | 0.14% |
Some of the questions were very poorly worded. Contraception in the form of NFP is not a sin but hormonal contraceptives and the like are. Really don’t like the way you worded it. Did not think it appropriate at all being asked who I voted for. Also in the ‘how do you and your partner avoid pregnancy’ you failed to include abstinence which was a huge oversight on your behalf. Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this survey. Have a great day. | 0.14% |
The matters of abortion, euthanasia, same sex relations, contraceptives etc are non-negotiable and cannot or should not be changed | 0.14% |
Some of the questions presuppose and answer or presume that I think it’s relevant and important when I do not, for example climate change is not a moral issue but and environmental one, the churches purpose is to get the faithful to heaven | 0.14% |
There should be a “In a relationship but not married)â€_ option at the start rather than just “Singleâ€_ | 0.14% |
This was really good! I’d love to see some questions on the TLM, like if you attend the TLM why? | 0.14% |
Keep up the good work | 0.28% |
Catholic people need more opportunities to meet one another, e.g. conferences, talks, etc. not talking youth groups, talking about larger scale events. | 0.14% |
Hope you get a good amount of people completing the survey! | 0.14% |
The options for response on whether something is a sin/not or the scenarios need to be case by case, as per Catholic morality and natural law, and doesn't fit the general yes/no/maybe | 0.14% |
Thank you! :) | 0.14% |
The Church in Australia is unwell and needs to return to Tradition. | 0.14% |
It will be interesting to see the results of this survey, and I hope they are published. It would also be important to show these results, if possible, to (at least) priests with influence in a few dioceses. | 0.14% |
God bless you xx | 0.14% |
I would possibly rephrase some of the questions e.g. should the Church allow married priests. There are a number of Eastern Catholic Churches where this is an acceptable practice, perhaps it is better posed to the specific situation of the Roman Catholic Church | 0.14% |
Add an option for people abstaining in a relationship before marriage; I'm not single I just don't live with him. | 0.14% |
I am vastly interested in seeing the aggragated result | 0.14% |
I pray that the faith of our forebears continues unblemished and stronger into the future generations. May the authors know that most of the concerns I see among fellow young Catholics are caused by a lack of clarity in the Faith. The young seek authenticity and Truth, give them it and not a child’s version. God bless and guard us. | 0.14% |
The young want TLM | 0.14% |
God bless you :) | 0.14% |
The Latin Mass must be preserved. That's all. | 0.14% |
I just wish to say. As a wife and mother, that it is appalling that the questions within this survey are even being considered by the pope and his clergymen. The Roman Catholic faith is clear in its teachings regarding all these moral issues and to think that the faith needs reform is heretical. Jesus came to this earth to bring us salvation and he set down the laws of his church from the beginning. What was once holy will be forever holy, to shut down tradition in favour of moving with the times is a dangerous game for the soul. God is out side of time and so is the Roman Catholic Faith. Woe to he who should dabble in the next of satin for you shall see the wrath of our Lord Jesus Christ, repent and sin no more least you be cast to the depths of the fires of hell. God bless you and open your eyes, be careful what road you choose for God knows and sees all. | 0.14% |
The truth will set you free. | 0.14% |
I reckon people who do this survey would consider themselves more religious than those who wouldn't even bother so definitely analyse the data carefully. | 0.14% |
Thank you :) | 0.14% |
I think there are a few grey areas not addressed in this survey - for example, my status is not single, as I am engaged to my partner and am in a very long term long distance partnership. Secondly, there are some other grey areas, such as are circunstancial to each individual, their situation may be very unique, so I can't make a judgement on them for that. Only Jesus can. | 0.14% |
Option for being homeschooled | 0.14% |
Needs a ""very poor"" option for pope and bishops. Their poor leadership is pushing me to leaving the Catholic Church and joining one of the Orthodox Churches. | 0.14% |
Some of the questions need a ""dont care response"", as in ""I dont care what Pope Francis is doing about the nvitonment because its not his role."" | 0.14% |
In some cases the answers are very limited, and don’t allow for the proper description of myself or what I believe. | 0.14% |
It might have been a good idea to include a 'can't vote' option - as a non-Australian citizen this is what best applies to me. Thank you for doing this survey and God bless you both. | 0.14% |
I appreciate this opportunity to share about my faith. There are many who claim to be catholic who have no real connection to the church and who are in no way interested in following our Lord. Unfortunately these people give others a wrong impression of our faith. | 0.14% |
Thanks, this was fun. | 0.14% |
Bishops must be more politically involved. | 0.14% |
God bless you | 0.14% |
My faith has changed over the past twelve months. Hence some confusing answers. | 0.14% |
Why is there an option for the alphabets. There are only two genders. | 0.14% |
Noting the difference between our morals, those morals which should influence laws and those which shouldn’t. For example, I think adultery is a serious sin but I would never advocate making it illegal. | 0.14% |
I tend not to hear much from our local bishops. Not sure if they are being vocal and I'm missing what they say or if they are being quiet on subjects. But i do hear more about bishops from the u.s. probably because they are very vocal | 0.14% |
Interested to know the results! Can I get a copy of it? | 0.14% |
Stop the spread of Halloween, teach catholic kids morality. | 0.14% |
Am moving my family to Singapore so my children can have a real Catholic education while also making good friends of different backgrounds with sound conservative values. | 0.14% |
Bishops should never have let the government lock our churches up during covid | 0.14% |
I think this survey should be strongly encouraged and known to all parishes so more Catholics can participate. It will be interesting to know what kind of society we have among the Catholic community. | 0.14% |
Its good | 0.14% |
Needed an option for reading Aquinas’ Summa Theologica when facing moral problems. | 0.14% |
As a gay catholic, who accepts the Church's teachings in their totality, although doesn't claim to live in accordance with them all, thanks for this survey. Feel free to call if you want more qualitative information. 0414778167. | 0.14% |
Struggle with the church judging certain people that should be left to God himself. Especially on sexual orientation | 0.14% |
I’d love a section about children/ identity politics/ education:) | 0.14% |
Pope Benedict XVI is the true pope. This current “climate changeâ€_ is due to sin, therefore solution is conversion and acts of reparation. The people behind will be converted, chastisement reduced in severity. Abortion hurt women both physical and spiritual. | 0.14% |
I personally believe that the direction the Catholic Church is heading down will only lead souls to hell not save them | 0.14% |
We dont have much connection with church leadership...and it is so hard to meet young catholic working adults. Where is the church in this? It is one of the most important things to nurture faith is the support we have around us, sometimes i feel alone in my faith and its hard to find people like me. | 0.14% |
Great idea to bring this survey to help us to be aware about the reality in the church | 0.14% |
Being Catholic is who I am and it can be hard to be a good one. It comes with its challenges but I understand why I have to go through hurdles in life. There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. I grew up in a family where not all the other family members were practising Catholics. The Catholic Church seems to be disappearing for some people, and that is what the devil wants people to believe. I also know that there are more people converting and reverting g at my parish. | 0.14% |
If the Church was run like any secular organisation in the ""real world"", all the executives would of been fired years ago. By any metric, the Church is declining in Australia, and there is no accountability from the leadership. | 0.14% |
Thank you - will be interesting to see the data | 0.14% |
The plenary council was a dreadful mistake | 0.14% |
Great work. I would like more of these so we hear people’s voice and Church’s decisions could be informed by these results. | 0.14% |
Hard to answer some questions when I attend two Masses. Hope this survey will inform positive change, unlike the synods (ARDA removed upside down happy face emoji). | 0.14% |
I hope it's forwarded to the 'listening', highly paid bodies of the Catholic church. | 0.14% |
It seems amiss to discuss the Catholic church without discussing child sexual abuse in the church | 0.14% |
Sad after completing this survey. You're asking questions based on a strict moral code which the Plenary Council would have given you anyway. The 'rating' of Pope Francis shows that you are part of the church that is against his leadership. Avoid the word 'should' and 'should not' - these are strong words. You will know the answer to the morality section of your survey if you had access to modern data (Census etc). I found your survey rigid and will not come up with anything surprising. This is a stab by you to continue your research aka job for you to do. Two questions on bishop's performance is too simplistic; it is an attempt to achieve some statistics that will bring 'outrage porn' to your findings. Most people would not know what their bishop does anyway. The 'bishop's section' needs to be nuanced. I think you'll just continue on doing your job without contributing to the growth and health of the church. | 0.14% |
I hope this provides an accurate guage on where the Church is headed and that something positive can be made of it. | 0.14% |
More open church’s times during the week | 0.14% |
Very concerned about the direction of society, that the church is seen more as irrelevant and the lack of leadership shown on moral issues. | 0.14% |
Catholics make very bad friends. My kindest most loving friends are Bible Christians Anglicans etc. but Catholics were bullies and very bad at being loyal orkind or supportive friends. A pattern I have observed over up to 25-30 years experience in the church. | 0.14% |
Freedom of adults live as they wish is a key asspect of our faith, we should not be making comment on individuals personal lifestyle choices- only if they impact the moral good of our society in laws and expectations. Catechesis has been so poor for at least four generations in Australia that nobody actually knows what the church teaches let alone why. Our Australian Bishops are, for the most part, weak. Only a few are strong and most practicing Catholics I know do not feel secure in their Bishop fighting for our faith. | 0.14% |
I want the Church to Stay Catholic for Catholics and not try to please the protastents or the world âœ_ï¸_ | 0.14% |
At times, the generic questions didn't allow for an option of 'in special/certain circumstances I approve of....' | 0.14% |
Pro Deus Glorum :) | 0.14% |
Great initiative! Can't wait to see the resulting data! | 0.14% |
Well written! I look forward to seeing the results, and pray for a large sample size, to increase the quality of the study. My one critique is to do with the climate change questions; was expecting a 'do you feel the response by governments etc is appropriate?'- I feel many believe climate change is happening, but definitely not the doom and gloom that the media and governments have made it out to be. Thanks for all your hard work! | 0.14% |
Good luck, can't wait to see the Real Presence results!! | 0.14% |
The question about how Pope Francis is doing in areas was difficult. e.g. I would say his work on climate change is poor, not because he doesn't do enough, but because it is overemphasised. | 0.14% |
The question about a mother aborting her child in the case of risk to her life, while I answered allow abortion, what I mean is that she may receive medical treatment which may cause the death of her child, but the given options didn’t really allow me to express that. | 0.14% |
The divorce question is a bit vague for mine. Civil divorce is allowed for Catholics but that doesn’t mean “in the eyes of the churchâ€_ both “yes a sinâ€_ and “not a sinâ€_ work as an answer | 0.14% |
The moral questions are no good here. Sin is more complex than the survey allows… the questions ask about what constitutes grave matter, but grave matters in and of themselves do not constitute sin. | 0.14% |
From the beginning of the survey you mention ""non binary"". This is at odds with natural law, Catholic Teaching, Sacred Scripture & Tradition. It should not be an option as it is not Truth. The Truth as revealed by God is that there are only 2 genders, male & female, made in the likeness and image of God. The Catholic Church MUST NOT get more worldy, but rather be at odds with the world and stand firm in the Truth as she has done for 2000 years. | 0.14% |
I was raised Jehovahs Witness | 0.14% |
Would love to see the results. | 0.14% |
The Catholic church needs to stop trying to be Protestant and embrace its tradition, there are plenty of other denominations that have sold out to modern beliefs that people can join if they strongly believe in those. | 0.14% |
The first scale question wouldn’t allow me to leave a score of 0. This needs to be adressed | 0.14% |
Many Catholics who prefer to worship using the Traditional liturgy are feeling excluded and persecuted by their own Pope, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests. It would be great if the Church let us worship and evangelize using the resources of the declining church instead of restricting us and our communities. | 0.14% |
Many of the questions failed to contain a response category that represented my position. Free text fields that have the potential to provide coded response data would have provided a better representation of my responses. | 0.14% |
Decent survey butbmore questions about the ctux of our fauth instead of secular social priorities please | 0.14% |
It is a lonely experience being a catholic compared to my prior experience in Protestant churches. I am deeply concerned about the absence of community, most significantly for my children whom I hope grow up and continue on in the faith. My local parish life is dead or targets elderly Catholics (which also deserve community life), but as a family with young children it is very difficult to find catholic community support. While I. It’s entrust this to God, I grieve what the Catholic Church is not. While Catholicism possesses the truth, for this convert other Christian denominations possess family support and community. | 0.14% |
I am aware that I may not be anonymous as I know one of the investigators and the questions are quite comprehensive! | 0.14% |
Job question is poorly worded, also how do i say the Pope is trying and succeeding in addressing climate change but i think it's very bad to drag the church into something so political? | 0.14% |
Young people just want the restrictions on the Latin mass lifted | 0.14% |
Thank you for looking into such questions. This seems like an interesting project. | 0.14% |
Re: how often I discuss the faith on the phone, I don't have frequent phone conversations, which I think skews my answer a bit. Re family planning, I was pregnant for 9 of the last 12 months and postpartum ammenorea for the other 3. | 0.14% |
An option to add comments for each question could be illuminating. For example I don't believe it's a sin for a family to have a big house: this could be a gift they share with others. It could also be a near occasion of sin if it leads to disordered value of ""things"". | 0.14% |
I don't think results from non practicing Catholics should be included. Anyone can call themselves Catholic but at least attempting to live by the teachings is another matter. | 0.14% |
You mention in one of the question about abortion when a woman's life is in danger. Medically that is not termed an abortion. Ethics clearly states that if the treatment to save the woman's life will terminate the pregnancy, this is permitted and is not morally or ethically wrong. | 0.14% |
Good on you and God bless your efforts and bless you all. | 0.14% |
Please promote the Traditional Latin Mass. Our churches/parishes are dying and if the leadership in the Australian Bishop’s Conference doesn’t wake up and do something about it, we (parish priests like myself) will be out of a ‘job.â���™ Catholic Education also needs a major overhaul too as it inoculates students from the One True faith as given to us by Christ. Thank-you for the opportunity to comment and May God bless your work, prayerful regards, Rev. Fr. Ashley Caldow PP | 0.14% |
So many questions are heretical, you confuse every day Catholics. They will not be able to decide between opinions and church dogma | 0.14% |
Wishing you the best of luck with your research. | 0.14% |
I pray that their would be more support for families | 0.14% |
A lot of questions have underlying assumptions. I’ve answered as closely as I can. E.g we would never get an abortion but support free choice entirely. | 0.14% |
No. But I would like to note that the use of an IUD by my spouse is for medical reasons not related to contraception. | 0.14% |
I think the survey would benefit from differentiation between venial sins and mortal sins with respect to the “do you think it is a sinâ€_ questions. Also, in my opinion, it would have been easier to answer the questions if they were framed as ��€œbut for the teachings of the Church, is it your opinion that the following is a sin? This is because I know that many of the acts referred to are classed as sins by the Church and therefore found it difficult to answer these questions in the negative. | 0.14% |
Re Francis leadership questions re Women and inate Chnage, I selected average because choosing poor would indicate he should do more, but the fact that this is on his agenda is poor. | 0.14% |
God Bless You Philipa Martyr | 0.14% |
Open the doors of the church to Let Jesus out to the people | 0.14% |
bigger presence of the neocatechumemal way needed in Australia | 0.14% |
Some of the questions, my responses would have been more accurate if I could answer them in context. | 0.14% |
The question about status. Marriage is between man and woman, not opposite sex. That threw me out a little. Marriage is not a same sex thing that's the civil union | 0.14% |
This survey is needed to understand where the Church should focus on. Thank you. | 0.14% |
We’ll constructed survey, thank you | 0.14% |
I wish for the Catholic Church in Australia to grow in strength and uphold strongly her traditional values | 0.14% |
The questions in this survey are very black and white and life is always lived in the grey. What is also important in Catholicism is the teaching of Conscience. This survey doesn't seem to take this into consideration. While I myself would not engage in many of the questions asked here, through my love of neighbour, I do not think it is right to make decisions on their behalf, parituclarly when it comes to love and phsychology. I do believe that we need to be Church that is more Christ-like. A Church that is compassionate, forgiving and accepting. One that walks with people through the journey of their life. At the moment, the Church stands against the world, particularly with reference to the participation of women in decision making and governance within the Church. I find it interesting that the people who have taken a vow of chasity are the ones so quick to instruct others on matters of sex and sexuality. In relation to the contraception question, there was no place to be able to explain WHY contraception was needed. I think it is always important to ask the WHY. The WHY povides a fuller picture to the data collected. | 0.14% |
Please keep us posted with your reports. Thank you. | 0.14% |
Send this to as broad a population as you can to get the range of Catholic views out there, e.g. schools, parishes, put it in newsletters for both, etc. | 0.14% |
I do not agree with converting catholic assets such as former schools, halls etc into private assets such as apartments. Better leadership is required to utiliseghese assets for the common good rather than to make a quick buck. This is what is happening in the diocese of Broken Bay. | 0.14% |
This is the best survey ever! The questions really make sense and I can answer them and feel like someone's listening. | 0.14% |
I don’t currently have a bishop we have a vacant see . | 0.14% |
Great job, thanks! But I couldn't always answer as I would as there weren't enough options, especially about Pope Francis | 0.14% |
Our Current acting Bishop is excellent- the past answer was about the Bishop who is no longer a Bishop in our Diocese. | 0.14% |
Some questions felt vague when it referenced household… is that as a child or now? I applied it to now unless it stated otherwise. | 0.14% |
Not one of your questions addresses or links to God's word, the Bible. | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity to participate. There were some moral questions where I chose ‘unsure’ because there may be circumstances where a choice is moral and other circumstances where it isn’t. | 0.14% |
The Church in Australia is in crisis | 0.14% |
Whats happening to the data and how / when will it be published? | 0.14% |
My responses to questions relating to whether ‘the law’ should allow certain things are reflective of my understanding that not all people follow or are bound by the moral stances of the Catholic Church. There are several issues where I do not believe it is the place of civil law to restrict the rights of people who are not part of our church. Do I wish they held the same beliefs as the Catholic Church? Yes. But I understand that some people don’t and that has to be ok. | 0.14% |
Extremely disappointed that there are no questions regarding the Churchs poor handling of the pandemic. Closing churchs whilst bottleshops, brothels etc stayed open. etc | 0.14% |
Some of the questions were difficult to answer as none of the answers seemed to fit. The political question missed the Katters Australian Party.(not that I'm overly political). The term religious is not defined in those questions and so it was a bit ambiguous what was meant. Regarding mass attendance, perhaps an additional option could have been, I would like to attend Mass during the week as well as Sundays but can't due to circumstances. | 0.14% |
No point promoting the Catholic faith to the younger generation when the Catholic Church is stuck in the dark ages! Still choosing to turn its back when something happens and not face reality and admit it’s mistakes and I am speaking from experience! Appalling experience with the Catholic Church that has had me question my fath after 48 years as a Catholic! Rather than face the problem and fix it the Catholic Church chooses to just move the problem! I’m appalled by the behaviour of the church and that’s putting it nicely! | 0.14% |
An absolutely disappointing survey. Off the bat, you didn't have an option for those who have an annulment. Your questions about whether divorce is a sin is misleading. For an annulment you MUST be divorced. Yet if I were to get divorced as described by the Lord Himself, then it is a sin. Your question about married priests completely disregards the rites where priests ARE married. A very disappointing survey. Your question about renewable energy completely ignores the environmental damage that these lithium batteries are causing in being produced and disposed of. Really? You ask questions about performance about the Pope and the Bishops- what measure are we using?? who are WE to criticize our Shepherds. Incredibly disappointed. | 0.14% |
God bless (ARDA removed praying hands emoji) | 0.14% |
Thanks for the survey, I think the questions related to what is sin or not sin, are extremely reductive, as Catholics we know that for something be called a mortal sin there are criteria to meet: ""Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."" Here we do not have that, so I thik the answers you will get do not really reflect the way that I think about this. Cheers. | 0.14% |
I am happy to provide further information if you need. Glad to see someone (unlike plenary council) asking the questions that need to be asked | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity. Interested to see the outcomes! | 0.14% |
You should allow room for participants to clarify why they have indicated a particular response as some of the questions are open to interpretation (eg whether you agree with abortion if a woman’s health is “seriously endangeredâ€_ where those words are undefined and open to interpretation). Some medical professionals would consider gestational diabetes, whilst manageable as a “serious endangermentâ€_, whereas for others, only a tubal ectopic pregnancy, where both mother and child will die, are considered a serious endangerment. In the latter case, the Church allows the abortion to save the mother’s life because both are not simultaneously viable and we lack the technology to move the child to a viable position. | 0.14% |
I hope you have some influence on the bishops by reporting your results etc | 0.14% |
I hope catholic schools/teachers are getting to respond to this. Make sure your next survey asks questions about the effectiveness or non effectiveness of catholic schools. | 0.14% |
Great initiative. Good luck | 0.14% |
With regards to climate change, the climate has always changed. The current church leadership is spending far too much time and resources on this issue when it does absolutely nothing to get souls to Heaven. | 0.14% |
Please understand that the Catholic Church is not man made but God given by Jesus Christ, therefore we cannot change its teachings. | 0.14% |
I don't think it's appropriate to have a survey about satisfaction with the bishops. Also quite a few questions could have done with more nuance, so perhaps narrative responses (by respondent choice) would have been useful. | 0.14% |
Overall it was clear and easy to answer but on moral questions sometimes the answers could vary depending on the person's circumstances (eg. whether divorce was a sin). Also, I answered the questions on Pope Francis but I don't generally believe in criticising the Pope. Even though I think some things he says or writes are problematic for Church teaching, I firmly believe he is the successor of St Peter and is owed our filial love and respect. God bless you and best wishes for your research. | 0.14% |
The answer options didn’t allow for some obvious nuances | 0.14% |
Persevere in bringing glory to God. | 0.14% |
What kind of data do you actually want? | 0.14% |
Church has to be more careful who they choose to run her schools | 0.14% |
Some questions might be better with a “depends on the situationâ€_ option. Good survey, well done. | 0.14% |
Thanks | 0.43% |
Some of the questions didn't provide enough options | 0.14% |
I selected that we attend Novus Ordo. We live in a rural area. If we had access to Latin Mass we would go to that. | 0.14% |
Some of the questions were leading, particularly the climate change one. | 0.14% |
I believe man is probably making a very small but largely insignificant impact in climate change. There could be more room for nuance in this question, as I do not endorse current environmental policy despite believing human actions may have a small effect. | 0.14% |
There is some inherent bias in the questions about Pope Francis | 0.14% |
The use of contraception as a result of a health condition ie double effect | 0.14% |
I feel like current leadership is trying to change the church to suit the world instead of changing the world to suit what Jesus himself taught us. If you look at more traditional churches around the world, they are the ones who are growing in numbers and gaining more and more vocations and yet our leadership seems intent on turning our church into a watered down version of Catholicism. Turning us into protestants. Our leaders have also failed us in formation. Catholic schools (and I work in one) no longer teach the faith properly. Rather than being taught by actual practicing catholics, children are being taught by people who don't actually practice the faith and therefore answers questions wrong or without conviction, leading children up the wrong path. | 0.14% |
I think there should be an option on the women proest question if you think the Church CAN make women priests- not if it SHOULD, the theology says that the Church has no authority to make that change. | 0.14% |
Viva Christo Rey | 0.14% |
Interesting questions, quite loaded! The Church cannot teach error, so if the teachings on homosexuality change or the Blessed Sacrament is made available to those publicly proclaiming their sin, then clearly the Church of Francis is no longer the Holy Roman Catholic Church. | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this survey. Mostly, you have given lots of options of how to respond, rather than only offering false dichotomies. This is very helpful. For example, the sliding scale on why we attend Mass is a wonderful multi-dimensional measure; it really made me think about my motivations. Thank you! However, for some questions, I still couldn't choose the answer I wish to give e.g. indirect abortion in case of imminent death of the mother, the nuances of the science of climate change. God bless you work. I pray that it is fruitful. PS: If you’re really interested in more of my thoughts, read on… otherwise you can ignore. I think Pope Francis is a mostly good leader (while imperfect like the rest of us!). I wish he was more clear on some things, but it's hard to know if he is causing the confusion, or those reporting what he says, or poor language translation or some other factor(s). I really want to assume the best about his leadership and direction. Certainly all media (Catholic and secular) seem to emphasise elements of his addresses according to their own purposes. Other examples of confusion include some of the answers to moral questions which did not allow for nuance. For example, direct abortion is always taking a life, therefore evil; however, procedures that are undertaken to save a pregnant woman’s life may indirectly precipitate the death of the child in her womb (i.e. this is morally licit due to the principle of double effect, with which you are no doubt familiar). When I attempted to answer the abortion question “The woman’s health is seriously endangered by the pregnancyâ€_, I had to choose “unsureâ€_ as the wording of the question did not specify whether “woman’s healthâ€_ implies ‘immediate risk of death’ or ‘direct abortion for the sake of mental health’ or some other scenario. The first of these is licit, the second is not. Likewise, the question about alcohol requires some interpreta | 0.14% |
Bias, leading, unscientific survey | 0.14% |
The questions about married priests should have distiguished between the Roman Rite and other rites. | 0.14% |
I wanted to select “Latin Massâ€_ but since TC we’ve seen the pope attack good families. | 0.14% |
Didn't really ask about beliefs about God, just about the Catholic Church and neuralgic issues. I was a diehard ""orthodox"". Am a universalist these days. God bless. Hope your work goes well. | 0.14% |
We want the TLM to be made more available | 0.14% |
I think there were important options in the questions left out like My parents were not role models for my faith but my grandmother was very Catholic, always praying the rosary every morning. And there were other questions as well that could have been better in order to gather more information. | 0.14% |
Good luck with your research. I though the questions about abortion and euthanasia and their relation to the law could only apply if we lived in a theocracy. | 0.14% |
Thank you for asking these important questions! Would love to see the outcome. | 0.14% |
There should have been a written feedback section of IPA or thematic content analysis. The questions weren't well designed and lacked clarity. | 0.14% |
Abortion questions were quite reductive. Neede$ to have questions about how much support pregnant women are given to seriously consider alternatives. | 0.14% |
I am pleased that you are wanting to hear from all Catholics. However, you didn't ask me what I believe to be the most important issues within the Church. I think your questions and answers were too limited. God bless you and your work. | 0.14% |
Share the results | 0.14% |
The religious question was very interesting. There wasnot a question about personal relationship with God. Not sure if this is relevant to what you're looking for but it would be a very i suggtful piece of information. | 0.14% |
This survey is a great idea! I'd love to see the results and hope they are widely shared. Thank you! | 0.14% |
I am suspicious of how you will use this data. You did not ask about the things that mattered to me. Your questions on abortion and some other matters seemed to rest on misogynistic premises. Please look into also the WATAC survey as part of your literature review. | 0.14% |
The resukts will reflect the culture but the culture is lost | 0.14% |
Thanks for the opportunity to participate,and God bless ! (ARDA removed happy face emoji) | 0.14% |
Really made you think about things that you know conservative Catholics would disagree with. would like more questions about Catholic education in our schools | 0.14% |
Try to reach out many Catholics and please extend the time limit of the survey, publish it more in social media | 0.14% |
I believe we are all made in the image and likened of God. So how can I make comment about others. It’s between them and his. but. The sacred scripture gives directions. The instituteion of the church needs reform the place of women needs reform | 0.14% |
I remain unconvinced that either my local ArchBishop or the Pope follow Catholic Dogma. IT was directly opposed to Church teaching to support vaccine mandates while this was an experimental drug. | 0.14% |
Hope you will share the results. | 0.14% |
How will this survey be affective for deepening the Catholics in their faith in Australia? What is the vision for this survey? | 0.14% |
The survey was a blunt instrument that didn’t really get to the heart of my views. On abortionfor example I do believe in the life and the promise of the child yet to be born but I’m not about to tell someone who is a vastly different position to me regards age, support, income, health that I have the right to ban them from making a choice that feels right to them. I just want to live in a world where they do have a real choice. | 0.14% |
Happy to answer further questions | 0.14% |
I really hope this is not an scam. There is urgent need for moral guidance in the world. | 0.14% |
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this survey! | 0.14% |
You obviously tried to be as diverse as possible, however a couple of questions still came across as presumptuous | 0.14% |
Thank you. I am slightly disappointed at the lack of questions relating to a deep and abiding relationship with GOD, questions that ask about spending time in the Bible, questions that ask about the role of The Father, Jesus and our Paraclete in daily life, questions that look for answers about the role of people's faith in GOD in their daily lives and how great faith in God impacts parishes, questions that tap into how prayer and worship and praise allow God to transform individuals, parishes, cities and nations. Following rules is a very limited understanding of Catholicism, which in reality is all about being an active, alive, Holy Spirit filled part of the Body of JESUS CHRIST!!! | 0.14% |
Good luck | 0.28% |
I hope this survey is used to build a stronger, more faithful Church here in Australia. Remember, we will all give an account to God when we leave this earth. How you use the data you gather here is very important for your (the survey team) spiritual life. So be careful and be faithful. | 0.14% |
Please publish the results | 0.14% |
keep doing this kind of survey... | 0.14% |
I hope that the survey shows that Catholics support the reforms of Pope Francis. | 0.14% |
It would have been helpful to gather information regarding domestic violence and poverty. | 0.14% |
I wish you the best. And may your data truly reflect where we are collectively with our Catholic faith in Australia. | 0.14% |
It might have been interesting to also get some answers on educational choices for children that parents make, as well as catechesis of parents and children. | 0.14% |
We go to Mass more than once a week but our bishop in Lismore refuses people in the diocese to receive Holy Communion on the tongue. Hence we chose not to receive at all. There is no holy water permitted. The Church needs to bring back the Traditional Latin Mass and clergy need to preach traditional church teachings and dogmas. The sheep have been starved for far too long by poor shepherds. Ecumenism, modernism etc are destroying the faith of many. | 0.14% |
I would love to see the results of the survey | 0.14% |
There are only two genders, but if i say this out loud I'll get arrested. | 0.14% |
Nothing is ever black and white. Every persons circumstance dictate their response in a particular situation | 0.14% |
It | 0.14% |
Questions about law vs morality - in a pural society Catholic should campaign for laws that defend life but could accept loss. Ie they need to adobt a personal commitment to Church teachings not rely on secular laws. | 0.14% |
As an orthodox Catholic, which until recently just meant Catholic, I feel marginalised, demonised and discriminated against by many in the hierarchy of the church. There seems to be a major push to dumb down the liturgy and water down the truths of the faith. I believe the creed. | 0.14% |
Liturgical standards in Australia are appalling | 0.14% |
The church needs to stand up to the government's socialist amd oppresive policies. Promote values and morals amd the benifits of living a christian life in pur society. | 0.14% |
I would like to receive the aggregate data n findingdls/analyses from your project. Thank you. | 0.14% |
Thank you and good luck | 0.14% |
I hope this project will a tool for a eucharistic revival here in australia. | 0.14% |
. | 0.14% |
Some questions are a bit binary eg questions about Pope Francis -and my opinion about whether he is upholdong traditional Catholic teaching -Its not a job I want him to be doing and so if I answer no, its actually not the response I want to make because no could imply I am unhappy he is not when actually Its the opposite so I answered don't know. | 0.14% |
Some these questions are loaded and clearly do not refl ct.our Catholic teaching | 0.14% |
Catholic bishops in Australia are weak. In Sydney, they are still greatly influenced by Cardinal pell, who shiould retire. Pell keeps undermining the Pope - the more Pell does this the less support Pell has in RC community. My local bishop is hopeless; listens to the sillyest right wing nutter. I am fairly conseravtive but cannoty support the bishops | 0.14% |
The church’s should have never closed during the pandemic. It is the most important essential of all things The people of God should not have the sacrament withheld from them. | 0.14% |
Thank you for compiling this. | 0.14% |
It is regrettable that the Bishop of the Wollongong diocese is not the strong Catholic leader needed in our Godless society today. His example of traditional Catholicism is appalling. | 0.14% |
I don’t like making judgements on the popes performance when I really have no knowledge or limited knowledge of what he does. I follow media commentary about it but it is very difficult to assess what is true and what is false. | 0.14% |
You failed to ask about the leadership at the parish level | 0.14% |
I think there is so much disinformation about Pope Francis that much is said and done which probably does not reflect his true position. Likewise with our Bishops. They seem to be missing in action very often on moral issues. Probably personally they are very committed, but they seem disinclined to lead and support the people on issues that matter such as objecting to mandatory vaccination and rejoicing about the overturning of Roe versus Wade in US. Their silence is often deafening. In my area we have a bishop who seems mainly concerned with business interests, increasing bureaucracy and amassing property, supporting ineffective school system etc. rather than encouraging vocations or evangelisation and never speaks on moral issues. After over twenty years of weak bishops our diocese is dying....even though close to Sydney which is alive... | 0.14% |
God doesnt change, so why is this synod trying so hard to change something thats traditional and all true popes have followed.Cant fix something that isn't broken.Its only been infiltrated by the wolves in sheep's clothing | 0.14% |
The occupation question didn't have an option for highly skilled non managerial people eg information technology; some Qs needed a Do you want to add or explain your answers box; there wasn't an option for parent attending Sunday Mass and devotions eg Holy Hours, Stations of the Cross | 0.14% |
Interesting. The abortion questions were confronting. I answered don't know simply because I believe it's a sin but have had someone close in that position and it's not an easy choice. Life long consequences | 0.14% |
Why so much focus on sexual morality - not a significant part of Jesus' teaching - and not on sexism and clericalism, which are the major reason why my children despite their faith in Jesus are not interested in remaining part of the Church? | 0.14% |
I hope the Bishops take note of their lack of leadership and weakness and no support for clergy | 0.14% |
The Church hierarchy really needs to acknowledge the contribution of women to the Church through actions not words. | 0.14% |
Thankyou for the opportunity to participate. | 0.14% |
Good (ARDA removed happy face emoji) to see you raising awareness of NFP and Catholic teaching on divorce, abortion and sexual immorality! | 0.14% |
Please make results of study available | 0.14% |
I find it hard to believe and even confusing that there are some issues that have been raised in the church for which in the past people were martyred | 0.14% |
this should be done more often | 0.14% |
This survey is more proof that all people will be known by your fruits / repent and save your soul as this survey proves the bad fruits of the modern faith as you are asking basic questions that all Catholics / real Catholics should know but you know the shepherds have done a really bad job because you are asking demonic questions, to see how well the bad shepherds have destroyed the faith . This will prove fir you that you have achieved what you want to , in other words a faithless generation because our shepherds have no faith .But remember everyone has free will to chose . I chose God because he will win , save your soul and tell the truth about this survey and the truth about the catholic faith and what real Catholics should believe as truth can never change otherwise it is not truth . I have warned you so you have no excuse and neither have I . You can’t say you weren’t told . I have done my duty and informed you of your sin , it is up to you what you do with it , to choose God and truth or the father of lies Satin. Your choice I pray that you choose wisely . | 0.14% |
I am wondering how you are promoting this survey in order to reach as many Catholics as possible..in particular the ones who may not read this in the 'usual' Catholic media and platforms (parish bulletins/diocesan publications). Are you contacting Catholic Schools in order to capture the parents? Universities? Other social (secular) platforms? Just a thought. | 0.14% |
Your questions were worded in a funny way. Do I thi k married men should be able to become priests regularly? No, but if a Protestant minister converts and is called to the priesthood, then yes. I don’t think that climate change should have anything to do with the church but apparently the Pope does. | 0.14% |
I answered “poorâ€_ re the pope and climate change because he has swallowed the fraud hook, line and sinker and surely the Vicar of Christ should have more sense. | 0.14% |
Thank you, this is very comprehensive! However, it would also be interesting to have some questions about a second income earner in a family context, i.e., if the wife is working and how much/inside or outside of the home etc. | 0.14% |
I think the Catechism needs to be taught more effectively in the Catholic school system - you cannot believe in what you do not know and many children aren’t getting it taught in their homes because their parents don’t know their fundamental catechism either (a major failing of the Catholic school system from the 1980’s onwards) | 0.14% |
Does not capture my view of the church. I am doing a PhD in theology, so very involved, but my affilition is with Christ, not catholicism. | 0.14% |
Need the Catholic Church to speak up in Australia - they are too silent and I feel are letting us down | 0.14% |
It maybe my English or lack of understanding on some aspects of the faith... a couple of questions could be worded better. ""Spiritual energy located in physical things...."" this depends if you meant there would be evil entities such as Infestations, Pachamama, cursed objects like food n drinks to put a spell, versus Guitar (blessing done by a priest, my rolled eyes!!) | 0.14% |
I pray that our Holy Mother Church stands against the evil unfolding more and more each day without fear or shame. I pray that the Catholic schools become Catholic again and are cleansed of all teachings that go against the Faith and and Church. I am blessed to be Catholic | 0.14% |
I am very concerned about the state of faith formation in Catholic schools. This is our primary responsibility. If the youth aren’t evangelised what future the Church? There is NO place in the Church for wokeism. We need to rescue our children from this diabolical agenda and teach them the truth about Christ. | 0.14% |
Pre-Covid, I was active as an Acolyte. | 0.14% |
The last questions were difficult to answer as one can’t generalise about the bishops of Australia. Some are holy, courageous, articulate and faithful men, whilst others are not. Archbishop Porteous is a legend and such a bold, inspiring and faithful leader, yet others are beyond disappointing. Thanks for the chance to give feedback and for the fair questions. It is so rare these days to have surveys which are not loaded and distorted . | 0.14% |
I want TLM back, and other parishes must have them, too. Too much novo ordo that sound Protestant. Even the choirs sound like karaoke. I find the bishops too meek (also the priests)...not like - Strickland, Schneider, Mueller, Vigano | 0.14% |
Thank you for doing this research. | 0.14% |
Can you see the aggregated results? | 0.14% |
Why are the questions focused on women's reproductive health. You have failed to address clericalism and clergy misconduct. | 0.14% |
I wish the Church was more relevant to the young | 0.14% |
the choices you give not always relavent to me. Dad was agnostic. Pope Francis fantastic, | 0.14% |
It diesnt matter too much what the outcomes of your survey are. The Catholic church is not a democratic institution. We have been handed down the faith and it is the role of the pope and the bishops to pass it on intact. Not to change with the whims of each new generation. | 0.14% |
The questions could include the ludicrous amounts of money spent on meetings which could be an email | 0.14% |
I'm shocked that you'd recognise diverse genders and same-sex marriage. The wording of the survey seems to legitimise them, | 0.14% |
I hope it provides some clear information | 0.14% |
In talking about ""traditional values"" the survey didn't ask to what extent this is important. These days when I hear someone talk of this they obviously mean excluding or continuing to oppress gay and trans people (even racism). As a Catholic, I believe love and empathy should outrank ancient dogma. | 0.14% |
Thank you for this survey, I hope the results of the survey will be given to the decision makers in the Catholic Church | 0.14% |
Glad to give my 2 cents worth. I love the Church, it’s painful to see the decline in attendance and worse to see people leaving for the “Traditional Massâ€_. | 0.14% |
I think it unfortunate that you don’t ask about conversion to faith from nominal to alive, or allow open comment segments like this one, elsewhere | 0.14% |
I’m grateful for the survey but I feel absolutely disillusioned and have no confidence in the bishops and leadership of the church I could very easily leave the church | 0.14% |
It’s a good thing to express my thoughts and views without being judged | 0.14% |
I believe in man made climate change but I also believe that many are rushing the transition faster than physically practible. Closing down existing facilities faster than effective replacement capacity is contributing to increases in electricity prices above that caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mindful that solar and wind being intermittent it's been estimated that 6kW of capacity needs to be installed to replace 1kW of baseload capacity. | 0.14% |
I just wonder how this information will be used. The plenary meetings in my parish were conducted the report was never shown those who attend. If they were really wanting peoples opinions the report should have been given to parishioners as part of the bullenting and giving parihioners the opportuntity to add to the parish report. Many people came to our parish with alternative ideas. I don't trust the melb archdiocese. | 0.14% |
Thanks for the opportunity. I hope it achieves a useful outcome | 0.14% |
I would like to see women Deacons in Australia. I think we are ready to see women take their calling further. | 0.14% |
It was hard to answer some questions as they were very general and really should not be answered with a mere yes or no answer. | 0.14% |
A necessary and excellent undertaking. I'd be very interested in the results. Thank you for doing this. | 0.14% |
Thanks for trying. We are beset by activists from within our schools and church. I have more respect for our heathen secular opposition than for our turncoat leaders and brethren | 0.14% |
Some my answers did not entirely reflect what I think. I took the best option. l think the Church has lost its way especially during the so called pandemic. They stood gif nothing and adopted the mantra of main stream media and locked us out. | 0.14% |
I would have liked a question where I could respond that I am proud to be of the Catholic Faith, but not always proud to be part of the Catholic Church in Australia because of its conservative leadership of the Sydney and Melbourne Archbishops.. | 0.14% |
I hope results are not used to beat up on the church TV | 0.14% |
I believe there are too many disillusioned faithful the return to a traditional church will strengthen the faithful. We have to stop being politically correct and go go on the offensive with our law makers when they start to interfere with our beliefs. | 0.14% |
Comprehensive, personally in-depth | 0.14% |
Bergoglio is the modern antipope. If you are a non Catholic Christian he will love you. If you are a pagan he will love you. If you attend the Holy Tridentine Mass he hates you. He will fall down in adoration of Pachamama and put a statue of Luther in the Vatican and issue a stamp with his picture but if you want the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacriments, oh no, you can’t do that. Bergoglio is a agan apostate. Pray for a true shepherd in Rome. | 0.14% |
I believe there is over promotion of Aboriginal inclusion ,we have enough of it within the political sphere ,the church should butt out . | 0.14% |
Make sure all priests have better levels of English language. Local one cannot be understood. Most change parishes. A question needed on spoken words. Thanks for the survey. | 0.14% |
You need to ask the question are you a Catholic because you want to go to heaven, or are your Catholic values (love of others, love of God) being followed just because it is the right thing to do. | 0.14% |
good timing to do this project | 0.14% |
I hope this survey will be completed by all those who are concerned with the gospel of jesus | 0.14% |
Yes, it was challenging | 0.14% |
I wish you had mentioned people with disabilities and the Church. They are the forgotten people. | 0.14% |
Please avoid questions that would require a respondent to speculate and also avoid questions that would require a respondent to make a moral judgement; this would defeat the purpose of the exercise. For example, how religious is my spouse on a scale of 0 to 100? | 0.14% |
Some of the questions were a bit leading and other places i would have liked to put a comment. | 0.14% |
I go to Mass for My spiritual well being ,NOT to pay homage to the pervious people who lived on this land ,,I am sick of being told who were here Before Europeans . bEFORE | 0.14% |
I would like there to have been a section about the practise of the Mass. I think, at least in my diocese, there needs to be a complete review of how the Mass is conducted and an investigation into how to improve the dismal Music Ministry. | 0.14% |
(a) I will interested in hearing the outcomes of your report (b) There are many areas that are simply regarded (quite rightly in my opinion) as 'not negotiable' by church teaching. I will be keenly interested to the responses in these areas. | 0.14% |
I look forward to seeing the results of the survey | 0.14% |
I found some of the questions very stilted and leading and far too black and white. Sometimes there was no real choice to be made. Being Catholic today is complex and rich. I have been a practicing Catholic all of my life, but I have always had deep questions about issues and have not always agreed with the Churches black and white stance. I have a deep belief in God and great love for God, Jesus the Holy Spirit as the feminine creative dimension of God. I am certainly not a conservative Black and White Catholic and have very little time for the far right Opus Dei wing of the Church. I truly believe that Women deserve to have a greater voice in Church matters and pray that one day we will see women leaders in the Church! | 0.14% |
All good! | 0.14% |
All these decisions should be guided by compassion love and respect for others | 0.14% |
The questions regarding ""climate change"" were very narrow. The topic of the climate change hoax is very complex and is a WEF construct to tax countries so rgat they can enter into the New World Order. I have strong opinions on this whole topic which I have researched extensively and believe to be true. I am a well informec person and hold rgese views with millions of people and hundreds of thousands of scientists. r | 0.14% |
bit os a 'yes minister' choices of answers. eg Real Presence. I am not a cannibal but perhaps in sharing the Bread n wine (as say Mythris mystries, Jewish Sacrifice, Hari Krishner eating food offered to God, we participate in the very life of Christ who we try to emulate. The more difficult question is do I beleive the Communion wafer IS BREAD, do I actually receive the sacriment with out the blood? That is partly why I go to my local Anglican Church (soon open after lock down) so as to receive communion rather than watching on TV My Catholic faith is what I live rather than intellectual debates and definitions. My parents returned to the practice of the religion when I started school, both became over time Dominican Tertiaries and Dad even joined me as a Server. Finaly our Bishops gave up being Bishops when they aided people raping each other | 0.14% |
some of this was hard to answer due to the pandemic situation | 0.14% |
An interesting outlook on religion. Made me think a bit! | 0.14% |
Thanks - this survey is necessary in this rebelling era of old gold morals and values, totally misled by the devil. | 0.14% |
I want to say that I feel the Church is losing its way. The church is here to help the flock follow in the steps of Christ to get to eternal life, not to follow what man thinks the church should do by lowering morals and allowing people to believe there is no consequences for sin. The church is here to reject satan and he’s evil not to help promote it. My heart breaks for the way the Catholic Church is heading and if it keeps going this way there will be none of the 80% resuming mass, why would they when you are telling them every sinful thing they are doing is ok, they have no reason to come then do they!! | 0.14% |
Many of these questions don’t allow for true responses eg Pope Francis is doing a lot on Climate change however I do t think a lot of it reflects my attitude to climate change So yes he’s doing much but not what I’d like to see! | 0.14% |
Governance is the key unaddressed issue in the church, our priests should be nuturing our souls not leading large bureacracies. | 0.14% |
Some questions ask us to make a judgement on others which is not appropriate. Only God can judge | 0.14% |
You do not seem to realise that the religion of man made climate change is based on fake science. If you, in your wisdom, stated that we need to care for our environment; I would be 100% behind you. The religion of man made climate change will, logically speaking, will stop the production of CO2, so that all transport and food and goods production will stop. That will lead to world wide famine and the real destruction of our environment, along with world wide revolution. Think about it. | 0.14% |
The retreat of the church to the traditional pre-Vatican II Church and the traditional devotional practices without engaging in the world | 0.14% |
I mainly attend Mass online as I am away from my preferred parish. | 0.14% |
I applaud the attention but some of the questions ask about traditional views of a literal faith. A bit restricting. Interviews might give more insight. | 0.14% |
The survey is a wonderful tool for the growth and development of the Church. I hope that it helps the leadership to look to actual spiritual and moral questions, and in doing so, aid the leadership to get involved in the ""culture wars"" boldly proclaiming the message of Christ, on all things, while avoiding the trivial causes that are not in their domain. | 0.14% |
You forgot a MAJOR group of income earners - business owners!!! Not everyone is an employee | 0.14% |
It is vital that all Catholics are engaged in the conversation concerning their Church. We need this kind of survey right down to the parish level. Thank you. | 0.14% |
As a retired person I could only complete my answers based on last employment, which is over 5 years ago. Some answers required responses that were less than accurate but unable to modify based on options given. Eg those around opinions of sin, given it’s not my role to judge but I’d not be happy saying I agree with relationships between same sex persons for example! | 0.14% |
I hope the responses you get will lead the hierarchy of the Church to grow a more inclusive Church | 0.14% |
there should be another option except for disapprove approve etc - what about tried that and learned it was not good or even though I have sinned inthis way I have learned that there is good value behind the church's teachings | 0.14% |
This is an excellent opportunity to discuss our current Church situation. | 0.14% |
The questions about climate change appear misguided. It is a factor of human sin and apostasy. The Pope's climate change position doesn't appear to be directed at the real cause. | 0.14% |
Some of the questions were not finely divided enough, e.g. I think the legality of abortion should depend on the age of the fetus, and that same-sex-couples' adoption of newborns is bad but it's OK when a woman leaves a violent husband, takes the children and gets a lesbian partner. | 0.14% |
Yes, I enjoyed particpating i n it. | 0.14% |
A couple of questions lacked nuance. Eg. the one about 'belief & doubt'. One option should've been 'Some doubt but generally believe'. | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity. | 0.14% |
This doesn't address the poor performance of parishes, they are just so poorly run, Masses are boring and homilies awful, overseas priests can't lead, young people think its meaningless,other churches do things so much better. | 0.14% |
When will persons in public life especially our politicians who profess that they are Catholic and support abortion, euthanasia and same sex marriage be properly reprimanded and dealt with by their bishop so as not to create scandal. | 0.14% |
Please publish the results. | 0.14% |
I would hope that this survey will show Catholic Church leaders that change is needed and they need to listen to the people, who are ‘the Church’ | 0.14% |
The Church needs to address remarriage. When paedophile Priest can be forgiven and receive, and remarried faithful can't, something is VERY wrong. | 0.14% |
Would have liked to see more questions about fundamental beliefs in controversial doctrines, e.g., perpetual virginity of Mary; papal infallibility | 0.14% |
The priests in my parish are out of touch with Australians. They are Indian and are fifty years behind us in terms of implementing Vatican II. | 0.14% |
Question regarding head of house should have an ‘other' option or a n/a. Head of my community is an abbess. Also many answers are much more nuanced than can be expressed in this kind of survey. | 0.14% |
Thanks for asking. | 0.14% |
I am grateful for the opportunity to voice my concerns. The plenary council is an absolute scam and resulted in my cancellation of any funding towards Church. I only give in ways I believe will be fruitful and very directed. Thanks | 0.14% |
Q wording cd be improved eg ""contraception"" for health | 0.14% |
I found some of the questions difficult as my honest answer would really depend on the particular circumstances. | 0.14% |
Sometimes answer was not listed -greater range of responses denied- | 0.14% |
Please keep me informed of the progress of your project at [email protected] | 0.14% |
I Very needed. I feel our Church is in a dark spot at the moment | 0.14% |
Q re hoe Pope addressing aclimate change assumes this good. He spents too much time on it. | 0.14% |
I am a lay Carmelite. | 0.14% |
Sadly, without a change in leadership, the Church in which Christ resides will not be Catholic. | 0.14% |
Good luck. | 0.14% |
My parish priest behaves like a sociopath and treats the parish like his own personal fiefdom. I would like to see a place where priests who are not suited to parish roles can be identified . | 0.14% |
I think you should have asked about participation in online Mass, which I do every day in addition to some Masses in person. | 0.14% |
I attend Latin Mass weekly – just not on Sundays – that was not one of your questions but I would like noted that I prefer the Latin Mass even when the Novus Ordo is done extremely well which it is in my church. I also do not believe in bishops conferences having the power to change liturgy or to differ how we do things as a church – I do not believe bishops, should be a law unto themselves, varying in different countries. When I say about climate change, I believe there is a natural climate change, but nothing that is extreme or an emergency, and I do not believe humans are responsible for this. | 0.14% |
Just that my attitudes to Catholicism have changed over the years. I am very disenchanted with the hierarchy and patriarchy of the church particularly the Sydney Church. The recent Plenary Council is a prime example of not listening to the people and a determination to drag us back to the 50's. .Clericalism is rife, our bishops are mainly ultra conservative and do not understand the issues of today. | 0.14% |
If there’s an addendum to your survey or focused groups why not explore spirituality as well as religious belief; and also whether the participants believe in other other religions beliefs as well as Catholic dogmas e.g. Buddhist concepts and practices of compassion | 0.14% |
I think will be a very valuable tool | 0.14% |
Would be enlightening to know how many Catholics really feel that each repetitive Eucharistic Celebration/Mass is truly representative of the actual Passion of Christ as many pastors seem to promote. | 0.14% |
Every best wish. But please consider the bias in your sampling as it seems based on ""opt ins"". | 0.14% |
Raised Church of England/Anglican, married Catholic in Catholic Church. Children raised & educated in Catholic Schools. To become Catholic within The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross means a great deal & answer to my prayers. | 0.14% |
Good idea | 0.14% |
I hope my input helps you | 0.14% |
I've belonged to Catalyst for Renewal almost since it's beginning and was so grateful when Pope John the 23rd started Vatican II and I've prayed earnestly for another pope to help the church get back to its beginnings as we read in the Gospels and Acts and get rid of the humanly invented ""barnacles"" that are no longer of any importance in the 21st century so that the Roman Catholic Church can regain its relevance. I hope this survey will be a small step towards that end. s""""barnacles"" | 0.14% |
There is a lot I have to say. Our church does not allow enough time for confession. Needs to let people have the Eucharist on the tongue. Be more available to the people. During Covid the church was closed so I asked if I could go to the parish and receive communion and I was told yes but I asked if it could be regular and was told no | 0.14% |
Some questions were too broad | 0.14% |
The church would not be in the awful state it is in if Bishops and Priests had not swept so much under the carpet. Many priests come out of the seminary ""in mature"". This is because they never live in the real world for the very important years of 18-25. This is when children become adults because they are living and working in reality. They are learning to communicate with male and female, young and old. They are learning that not all households may not be like theirs, and also opens them to the wider realities of life. Bishops and Priests can sometimes be very embarrassing and seem often to be really lonely people. | 0.14% |
That parishes ensure confession is offered (Maybe weekly/fortnightly) | 0.14% |
Happy to be involved. Was a member of the Plenary Council - saw all sides and responses to some of the questions in this questionnaire. We are in a very challenging time. | 0.14% |
Yes, I struggle to understand priests whose English is not their first language. I'm sometimes tempted to attend the local Uniting Church service just so I can fully participate by hearing and understanding the Wod of God and the himily. | 0.14% |
Your questions don't really acknowledge Jesus as the reason we follow the Catholic tradition. You seem to lean to the church as an institution when really the whole reason is Jesus and his teachings and we are now being bogged down by what we feel or need instead of being totally focused on Jesus Christ and not supersicilious self gratification. | 0.14% |
Thanks for the opportunity | 0.14% |
Many of the question did not provide sufficient scope for really accurate response | 0.14% |
Bishops and priests must have been aware of Clerical sexual abuse | 0.14% |
Very timely!! | 0.14% |
Hopefully the information gleaned from this survey can be used in some way for the healing and rejuvenation of the Church in Australia so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be preached in its fullness to the mostly faithless and spiritually bereft citizens of The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. | 0.14% |
Interesting and thought provoking. Good luck with it | 0.14% |
I would like to have elaborated on some of the answers I was required to make. | 0.14% |
I ticked ‘Roman Catholic’ but prefer ‘Catholic’ as it means universal. | 0.14% |
Thanks for providing this opportunity | 0.14% |
Yes. [1] Some questions are - most appropriately - quite challenging. [2] The use of the word ""recognise"", in the 'same sex marriage' section, is a common usage, but is ill-advised. A better word there would be ""accept"". This point is more than semantic: 'ssm' cannot be literally ""recognised"" because it is not 'marriage' - ref Girgis, Anderson & George. ie you can 'recognise' only what is known. Other things are discovered, or in the case of 'ssm', are invented or fabricated. Your mis-use of the word ""recognise"" here implies that 'ssm' has legitimacy as more than a facsimile of marriage, an implication which is strategically out of place in a Catholic document.[3] One or two questions offered inadequate options, eg ""While I have doubt, I feel I believe in God"", followed by 'I'm certain ...(about God) : In between these two, may I suggest, ""While I feel doubt, my mind/intellect assures me of God and His teachings."" [BTW, Is there an interesting omission of the word, ""faith""?, but I do not know it would be fitted in.) [4] Congratulations on, and thank you for, this important project! | 0.14% |
With set responses, sometimes it is difficult to reply exactly as I wanted. Sometimes my responses are as I know I should reply, but sadly even within my own family, I know they are not living as good catholics. | 0.14% |
Too many closed questions | 0.14% |
It will be interesting to see how the bishops repond and what, if any, changes they are prepared to make especialkly regarding the place of women and other marginalised groups in our community, especially Aboriginal peoples | 0.14% |
This is a good survey! The questions are clear and pertinent to our present lives. Well done to the team! | 0.14% |
Hierarchy appears captive to woke politics | 0.14% |
I feel the Church is going through the worst crisis of Her history | 0.14% |
The Catholic Church will become increasingly irrelevant unless women are admitted to ordination | 0.14% |
A person may belong to a number of church communities besides parish - school, hospital, university, social service provider, PJP etc. I am not sure that the survey reflects such an understanding. | 0.14% |
I pray the Catholic Church will become Catholic again before I die. I pray the bishops will repent publicly for denying Catholics the Mass and sacraments during the Covid19 so-called pandemic. The lies we were told by governments and health authorities, AND SUPPORTED BY BISHOPS, are now being unveiled. If they repent publicly, it should remind them NEVER to do this again. | 0.14% |
Appears to me to be slanted in a particular direction and not neutral | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity | 0.14% |
The Church should look at our 21st century issues with the mind of Jesus and not a Medieval outlook. Church leadership should ask how would Jesus respond to issues like homosexuality, women, marriage (including Clergy) given that if we believe God created all of them and he does not create rubbish. We need to lead everyone to feel/experience the love and acceptance of God’s love and not a list of who is restricted from the love of God - let us leave that judgement to God not bishops. | 0.14% |
I’ve felt for a long time “the Churchâ€_ is not following Jesus way. This has been confirmed while attending bible studies | 0.14% |
no | 0.14% |
A number of the questions, eg about abortion, required an answer that abstracted from circumstances. This made them difficult to answer. | 0.14% |
Some questions a bit unnuanced e.g. the heaven, hell and purgatory question Belief in existence of these does not necessarily imply a belief in a ‘geographical’ location. Likewise, apart from the category ‘unsure’ some of the responses to moral questions did not allow for much more than a right or wrong response or a pastoral response. Love and kindness and good conscience trump absolutes but there wasn’t much room to express such in how questions were framed. | 0.14% |
A couple of questions such as the one on climate change had poor choices. | 0.14% |
Some questions were difficult to answer because they are not black and white. They need to be answered within the context of life. | 0.14% |
The major problem with most of these surveys. Words are metaphors which have a wide variation of interpretation based on peoples experiences and how they are interpreted at time of reading. It may be I am easily misinterpreting your questions. Example you may say dog and my mind sees a chijuhja, or a poodle,or a doberman or even wolf. How do you really distinguish between those who just respond from general public sentiment and thosewho spend hours attempting to understand the issues and see all the shades of grey. I know I see a big difference between hating the sin yet loving the individual. Not sure how these questions separate that. At present leadership seems to be encouraginging seperation rather than Jesus final discourse that pushes unity of church by being one with Christ as Jesus is one with the Father. In some respect this whole survey should come down to this question. How much energy do you put into knowing Christ in your life, through prayer, through reading scripture, through learning from the lives of the saints, in reflective prayer attempting to be guided by the one saying "" I am the way, the truth and the life."" | 0.14% |
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS OF YOUR SURVEY | 0.14% |
No questions in relation to the major change in ethnic diversity of parishioners | 0.14% |
I hope that the recent Plenary Council shows some positive results, especially in relation to the roles of lay people and women. I am concerned at the number of new priests who appear to be far more traditional in their views than some older priests. This indicates to me that progressively thinking people are not attracted to the priesthood as being somewhere they can make a difference and that they believe that they can make a bigger difference as a thinking lay person. Some way well wish to be married priests and fulfil two desired vocations. A number of my friends left the priesthood for marriage and the church is poorer for their leaving. The sexual abuse crisis has affected many of my generation. I was lucky enough to escape all but minor patting in my eight years with the Christian Brothers but know of a number who were abused. The junior school chaplain at my secondary college was notorious for grooming boys. He was fortunate to die before being revealed or he would be in gaol now. The church's selection of candidates for the priesthood should be most rigorous. Married deacons could be a worthwhile answer. | 0.14% |
I believe this survey is necessary to see how the Catholic Church is performing in Australian society | 0.14% |
Good luck! I think the Plenary has been a huge waste of time with too much clerical influence determined not to lose power. | 0.14% |
A number of the questions were too blunt and needed more precision. This was especially true in two main areas. Doctrinal questions (eg the questions on the afterlife seemed to presume that ""hell,"" ""purgatory,"" etc are actual places. Anyone familiar with the work of the best contemporary theologians in eschatolgy would find it impossible to answer such bluntly phrased questions. The second area is that of moral questions. None of these can be usefully answered without a distinction being made between objective and subjective 'sinfulness'. So I fear the aggregate results of answers to these questions will not be very useful. | 0.14% |
Survey is a good idea and should provide a valuable resource. | 0.14% |
This is a valuable and equitable survey, and I wish to see the results when available. Thanks | 0.14% |
I always find it annoying that you ask a question such as ""Do you believe in the real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?"" when the answer is ""I do"" but my understanding of that Presence (not physical, not as in a place etc) would be totally different from that of another Catholic who also says ""I do"" but actually thinks the man Jesus is somehow physically present (which is not Church teaching, as such). | 0.14% |
I don't believe the Pope should be involved in political issues such as climate change as it is divisive. | 0.14% |
Thank you, stimulating and challenging questions | 0.14% |
Thank you for the opportunity. I think many of the questions were difficult to answer definitively because I believe there were some things were some subjects needed a bit more definition, however, overall a good attempt was made to cover the questions in a clear fashion. I acknowledge that it is a difficult task. | 0.14% |
I feel the church has put aside the meaning of Gods love mercy and forgiveness in favor of political correctness and the requirement of a WWCC confirms this as its justification as put to me was as the have nots may be seen as a good person by a child. which implies they are bad Catholics. | 0.14% |
CLIMATE CHANGE IS a hoax and shouldn't be supported publicly | 0.14% |
I look forward to seeing the results. | 0.14% |
I don't believe in same sex marriage because that redefines the meaning of marriage, BUT I am quite happy for same sex couples to have a wedding or a legal celebration of some sort, BUT PLEASE don't redefine marriage. | 0.14% |
some answers may need qualification - my answers here were ""text book"" | 0.14% |
Disapointed in catholic leadership since vatican 2 | 0.14% |
I believe abortion and euthenasia are very personal areas for decision making, and no-one should make judgements about another person's moral decisions in these personal areas. One's informed conscience is the key. | 0.14% |
Many of the questions and options are presented as extremes of the possible spectrum. They're simplistic and i answered them only to progress to the next page. The questions reveal a bias that I've come to expect from Notre Dame - a shame. Questionnaires will always produce the results touted for. | 0.14% |
A great opportunity to collect this data. | 0.14% |
Useful and worthwhile | 0.14% |
Yes we should stay the Church that Jesus Christ started as it is HIS and stop following the mistakes the Protestant’s have made and are still doing. The Latin Mass should be practiced as well. I can’t get to one as you have to go to the city. Loads of Catholic parishioners would like to have the option of being able to attend. There should be one at least every 30 minutes drive. The Latin mass is much more spiritual. We the parishioners can follow it with an English and Latin missal. The way we did befor Vatican 2.you don’t fix anything that works very well. The masses today are a third of yesteryear so why do we have to have extraordinary ministers. Is it so the Priest Gods representative can get home t15 minutes earlier to watch football. Mass used to last at least 60 minutes now you are lucky if it lasts 50 minutes | 0.14% |
Some of the questions I found hard to answer, as I had mixed feelings. Perhaps more alternatives would have helped, or comments underneath. | 0.14% |
Some questions required a numerical answers but that was not possible for me ... Circumstances alter cases in human life and exercise of one's faith. | 0.14% |
I found it interesting that questions about why I attend Mass DID NOT ask whether I felt challenged by the readings.Since the Liturgy of the Word is so important a section of the Mass I’m astonished at this omission. | 0.14% |
This project is a good initiative in itself but I think the questions are prescriptive. Also, it would help to have some definitions. For example, thinking about the richness of Eucharistic theology, what really is meant by ‘real presence’ | 0.14% |
I do hope it gives some insight into where the church is going down hill what I see . | 0.14% |
Best wishes for a great result! | 0.14% |
I don’t read Vatican papers So I’m unsure if he is quoted out of context. Can surprise with some statements. | 0.14% |
I feel the church has lost its way in so many issues. Lay Catholics still have so little say in local and wider church. I have such little confidence in Bishops and believe that despite the lip service clericalism is alive and well. | 0.14% |
Good survey; well done | 0.14% |
Some questions had rather binary answers, and for me needed a more complex answers, particularly about beliefs. For example, belief in life after death for me is complex, possibly not an individual life/conscience, but I do believe that love live on after death. Beliefs like 'heaven' and 'hell' for me are not places. or even states of individual consciousness. Complexities that are beyond our rational thinking! | 0.14% |
On questions of employment there is no mention of agriculture and a category for skilled farmers. | 0.14% |
If this is your initiative-CONGRATULATIONS! The Plenary Council (as controlled by the Bishops of Aust) will not be any source of change. Perhaps your results will open their hearts and minds!! | 0.14% |
A question asking about the quality of training in Seminaries and the support for and competency of Priests from overseas. A challenging question about how to build a Catholic community capable of relevant integrated and informed communication. A question about how to re-engage 30-50 year olds into the Catholic Church in a way that reveals a community capable of living an authentic Gospel life.A question about how to strip back the inane behaviors and practices that accompany daily Catholic life in most churches, parishes and Diocese. A question about how to create a Church that presents as humble and simple and who genuinely welcomes the poor and marginalized. A question about how to foster a love of God and Jesus Christ in Catholic schools. A question about how the Church should universally announce it is SORRY for historical wrongs . | 0.14% |
I don't believe I will ever lose my faith in God, but my faith in the Catholic church is waning, particularly after the sex abuse scandals. | 0.14% |
The issue with abortion is not legalisation, but formation. There should be better information available to the public, especially women, about what abortion actually means and the available alternatives | 0.14% |
Prior to Covid, I spent 3 months every year in Bologna...it is my spiritual home. I belong there. I will return next March The place is full of joy and cares about the old, the poor and those who have suffered. It is a breath of fresh air compared with the Australian church. | 0.14% |
I wish the Australian Bishops and local Bishops would step up and speak out within their Diocese in support of our First Nation people. It was evident at the Plenary that First Nation people were the opening of each session, but I see no example in word or action within my own diocese or in the community where I live. Even Acknowledging Country before Mass. or at any event that is held within the Catholic community. | 0.14% |
I see the Catholic Church as the origin and companion to my faith but not absolutely essential to it. Will we get to see the survey results? | 0.14% |
Pls use the data for the good of the Church | 0.14% |
Several of the questions really don’t support cut and dried answers as required by the survey. Many moral decisions would depend upon close knowledge of circumstances rather than the cut and dried responses required. | 0.14% |
So many of the questions should not even be asked of a person who calls themselves Catholic because if they are truly Catholic they should know what the Church has taught for 2000 years as handed down by Jesus Christ and His apostles. Full stop. Otherwise they have the itching ears St Paul warns of in his epistles | 0.14% |
The Plenary Council is farce and supports secular ideologies, modernisation, and destruction of Catholic orthodoxy. | 0.14% |
Too much emphasis on sexual questions | 0.14% |
You have addressed the many current issues troubling convinced Catholics: congratulations | 0.14% |
I think the Church is in dire straits. I survive by adhering to the teachings of the Church fcrom Christ, Scripture, previous Popes and Doctors of the Church. If something does not line up with that I treat it with caution. I am extremely distressed by the recent decree of the Perth Archbishop to severely restrict the Traditional Mass as it is bringing lapsed Catholics back to the Faith and bringing in many converts to the Faith which they are embracing fully and earnestly | 0.14% |
REligion is religion. Having a relationship with God is the aim. You do not include this anywhere | 0.14% |
I have doubts tat the method of selection of participants will generate adequately representative results, but should nonetheless provide some indication of the profile of modern Catholics | 0.14% |
My involvement with IANDS and readings in NDE/STEs complements and enriches (and challenges) my Catholic/Christian beliefs. | 0.14% |
I found the lack of choices in some questions skewed my answers toward the negative rather th as n reflecting what my opionion really was eg Bishops like Long and McKinley doing an excellent job like late biship on Newcastle - Maitland wheras Pell faction have been negative and reactionary in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart . I am national president of Catholic Group seeking to re- connect the lost 90% as wellas outsiders genuine skeptics in the 19th centhry tradition ( not the Dawkins sneerers ) who listen because of Francis , Long and Frank Brennan | 0.14% |
In my mind God and Church are two separate things. God is my all Church is a Club that I use to support my belief in God. I do not agree with a lot of Church teaching so choose to ignore what doesnt sit well with me. When I die I, me alone, will be responsible for the choices I made while here on earth. I dont like how the church has made hoops we have had to jump through for a period of time then suddenly that is no longer a sin. The Church per se is about power, contol and has been very self serving through the ages. All that being said God is bigger than the Church and I will remain a Catholic but noo longer jump through hoops that I dont agree with. | 0.14% |
No mention of Homilies or the possibility of qualified Baptised non clerical people of God preaching. Also included Liturgy of the Word Celebrations in the Absence of a priest. Thanks and blessings on this undertaking | 0.14% |
I would have wished to answer some questions with qualifications. | 0.14% |
While acknowledging that this is a survey about religion, I feel it does not make enough provision for spiritual growth from outside the church. | 0.14% |
I had difficulty answering some questions as the did not differentiate between Religion and Spirituality. Spirituality being a belief, Religion being the practice of that belief. | 0.14% |
A good survey covering many topics | 0.14% |
I think it is a very important survey | 0.14% |
Very interesting and glad to contribute | 0.14% |
Project good but some questions do not have 'black and white' ansers | 0.14% |
I hope a lot of people know about it and have the opportunity to take it - I believe that it was very comprehensive and is very necessary. I believe very strongly in necessary reform | 0.14% |
Where I have answered ""not sure"" is where there are other issues involved in answering, one way or the other | 0.14% |
Notre dame. Traditional | 0.14% |
I am glad theses questions are being asked, and pray that the answers will be heard openly and honestly. And that they will lead to very necessary reform.. | 0.14% |
The Catholic Church in Australia is dying. Our Bishops have never OWNED THE SEX ABUSE CRISIS and humbly apologised for it.E CRISIS and treated it with the contrition it deserves. This survey is very important and I look forward to the findings. The Catholic Church will never function properly without equal participation of women.n | 0.14% |
We should not follow what the world wants but proclaim the gospel | 0.14% |
Some of the survey questions are not applicable for long time married but now widowed and elderly and deaf people. | 0.14% |
Useful exercise, I hope you get good data. | 0.14% |
Good luck. I hope the aggregated results have a positive outcome particularly for church leaders | 0.14% |
This survey feels like you think you know what you my responses are. You don't. You give me no opportunity to say I have not been able to go to mass for weeks when ill, and my husband cannot go at all and NO ONE CARES but me | 0.14% |
Further to the question re. my wife attending Mass , she always attended weekly until it became too much for her ( OLD AGE ) Divorce is sometimes necessary for legal purposes OK if not re married m for herame ie. OLD AGE | 0.14% |
I hope the purpose of this survey will lead to a strengthening of the Catholic Church ie. The Church as given us to us by Christ Himself is not to be decided by popular vote, by a vote for democracy. We have the Catechism of the Church to guide us. So, I��€™m hoping that your work will show how much we are in need of true evangelisation to become more like Christ Himself. | 0.14% |
I found the questions challenging and confronttional. Sometimes i was not sure i was agiving a complete answer but was unsure about my own beliefs and how much they are now ompromised by society pressures t | 0.14% |
As it is voluntary how will it accurately reflect the views of the lical Australuan church? Also number of questions on sexual mrality are themselves indictive of a limited understanding of the full reality of the Chrisyian life. | 0.14% |
The anonymity of the survey opens it to being invaded with sectional bias. 2. the problem with surveys being- how the question is phrased. The old chestnut: is it OK to smoke whilst reading the Bible? or, is it OK to read the bible whilst smoking? Nevertheless, good luck! | 0.14% |
in general, a good idea. uneasy about 'definitely should/should not' on abortion | 0.14% |
It is very welcome | 0.14% |
Some questions needed a more nuanced response than was available. | 0.14% |
Thank you for this......some of the questions were difficult to answer with a yes or a no eg when to allow an abortion......I believe that homosexuals are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, and have every right to receive the Sacraments , and to be part of the Church community, however I believe that Marriage is between a man and a woman........sorry......and if course the Church can ALWAYS do more for the poor and the homeless..... | 0.14% |
The project is valuable and the survey is thorough | 0.14% |
I am disappointed at the way bishops have manipulated Plenary Council agenda to suit traditionalists rather than from the replies and suggestions given by the Australian Catholics/ | 0.14% |
Much more needs to be done towards justice for women in the church and anti-clericalism | 0.14% |
read between the lines | 0.14% |
I cannot see much point in constant surveys because my experience prior to retirement as an academic made me somewhat cynical.. | 0.14% |
The Catholoic Chuhrch is being too slow in adddressing and atoning for past abuses of all kinds. We need more leaders of the calibre of Pope Francie. If another Pope of the kind of Benedict is elected, I am off to the Lutherans with my husband. | 0.14% |
I was baptised Catholic as a baby but my mother was talked out of going to church as I grew up and I only came back to the faith much later.Mums family was all Catholic and my fathers family w as Jehovahs W itness so it was a very divided situation | 0.14% |
I found that some questions needed more than a yes/no reply | 0.14% |
I believe that questions about Pope Francis’ role/performance dishonour the constant teaching of the Church re the deep respect and love we owe every Pope. It encourages criticism instead of an attitude of seeking to understand. “Climate changeâ€_happens continually regardless of what any human person does or says so this is rather an unintelligible question. Pope Francis has jogged our consciences on our care for the environment which is something our actions can affect. 2. The question about couples not married re communion is imprecise and confusing.....are they living “as brother and sisterâ€_ due to care of children etc?i | 0.14% |
Good job, I hope the Church may use the results to be able to revive in Australia | 0.14% |
Many of the questions do not allow for spiritual or other religious activities. My spirituality is now based on an evolutionary perspective that finds no place in this survey. Moreover, I would think that those who are disaffected with the institution would not be able to express their understandings here with any subtlety. | 0.14% |
I want church leaders to uphold the faith, not water it down or cave in to the zeitgeist. | 0.14% |
The Catholic Church has so much to learn from other Christian religions,we go to the same mass for decades don’t know the others who do the same,priests lack emphatic with their parishioners,the bible reading should not be compulsively just from the bible reading there is so much more to relate to ,priests need to MIX with their people the idea of a remote holier than thou priest is still with us today ,parishioner name tags provided by the church to identify each other as other churches do that is a move toward being a parish family,it’s time to totally reeevulatr our church,I was brought up with a very kosher beautiful granny that brainwashed us re dietary etc but she recognised that Jesus or whom we call Yeshua was the messiah so we went yo catholic schools,but I have always recognised that Christianity is simply a continuation of juzdish,think on it the readings are from the Torah or Old Testament ,wishing you very well in this attempt to modernise our church. | 0.14% |
Question needed: ""What God do I believe in?"" Cosmic, Biblical, Fundamentalist etc. | 0.14% |
Hope to see the results | 0.14% |
I am happy to have participated in this Survey. But many of the issues are not black & white & can’t be answered satisfactorily with the choice of 4 multiple choice answers. Our lives are much more complicated than these options indicate. We are all in a state of becoming holy & understanding God’s plan for individuals & more deeply understanding & practising Jesus’ message as detailed in the 4 Gospels & the whole New Testament.Individual conscience, discernment & prayer are all factors in making moral decisions.Overall we need to be convinced of God’s unconditional love for each of us. He has said he prefers the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law. He wants Mercy as opposed to judgement. | 0.14% |
I hope you advertise the survey widely in order to capture the views and habits of the swathes of baptised but non-practicing Catholics aged 15-40. | 0.14% |
The Catholic Church after Vatican II has been a catastrophe. The Church becoming more contemporary/progressive has been disastrous. | 0.14% |
This survey was well made | 0.14% |
I am Catholic but have isolated myself from the faith due to my increasing discomfort with 'traditional young Catholic' peers who often use racial, sexiet and homophobic slurs away from the public eye- very disappointing and I'd rather associate with my secular friends and live a secular life | 0.14% |
Please share the findings if possible | 0.14% |
The pope is a Marxist, he is not a Catholic, he is my main reason for losing confidence in the church. Wokeness & feminism are a cancer in society & the church. | 0.14% |
Good luck. I am of the firm belief that you will never effect change from outside. So, despite my sexuality and living arrangements, I continue to work in the tradition I was raised to spread the Good News of the Gospel. I hope that surveys like yours will open those with decision making power to the reality of the faithful in Australia. I love God and have for a long time served the Church; however, the gap is getting bigger, and I fear one day it will be too big a void to cross so regularly. | 0.14% |
I'm very unhappy with Catholic Education, I often feel like the only Catholic in the school and our morals and teachings are laughed at. We promote non-catholics over Catholics constantly. Our Bishops are uncontactable. Our priests are terrible and are damaging our communities. We need to reform the priesthood to allow people who are better communicators with real lived experience to preach to save the Church. | 0.14% |
Many of the catholic church rules need to change and move with the times | 0.14% |
I am fascinated to see the results of your study. Please send to [email protected] such important work. Thank you. | 0.14% |
A few questions didn't allow me to answer as I would have preferred to. | 0.14% |
I personally think the church needs to reevaluate its actions in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ - in many ways the Catholic Church has become an institution that represents many of the ills Jesus and his disciples rallied against. | 0.14% |
Maybe His Holiness is the real trial of faith for the modern Catholic | 0.14% |
Very interested to read your study when published. Best wishes. | 0.14% |
Nothing...just a Filipinas having an Oz Partner that is not really godly affects me so much and my kids | 0.14% |
The church is in big trouble and Catholic schools need direction | 0.14% |
I think one of the main changes that must occur is to change the rules regarding priests being allowed to marry. Originally the Catholic Church allowed this and there is a strong case to give priests this option to address a few issues we have at the moment. The main issues I speak of are 1) we are in desperate need of more priests in Australia and 2) we should be endeavouring to have more AUSTRALIAN priests and should not need to rely so much on foreign priests coming over to fill gaps. I really hope this change/reversion is considered as a high priority item. | 0.14% |
Pope Francis woeful on the Chinese relationship. Mark Coleridge in Brisbane is pretty bolshie too. | 0.14% |
Catholic church needs more engagement with the people to promote closer relationships. We should do more to encourage participation from young people particularly in worship but also other activities supporting local church. I worry that Catholic church is losing it's young to others due to their more free and open atmosphere. | 0.14% |
I responded to the final question about our bishop with regards to Bishop Saunders who I know isn't our bishop but formally was | 0.14% |
From my experience working with different churches - temptation to ""go woke"" never brings younger audience in, look at Anglican church. Put money nd effort into Catholic schools and services as priority. Grow a Catholic culture in opposition to modern madness. | 0.14% |
I believe the that power and control over people and people following directives of the church because they say so as authoritarian has largely ended. God is love, Jesus walked with the poor and marginalised. He was counter cultural which is what we are being asked to be as leaders in Catholic education today. We are the church. It is by our actions, example and nurturing of the seeds of faith in our students and families that will flourish with our students as they grow to adulthood. | 0.14% |
As a Catholic convert, I feel we are treated differently by some in the parish. As in not born into the faith. Also, I have Coeliac disease and cannot consume wheat products. This makes it difficult to fully participate in Mass, which has reduced my attendance. | 0.14% |
Very good | 0.14% |
Bring Catholic is important to me, but it’s starting to not align with my values as a Christian person | 0.14% |
I am a lapsed catholic who still has an minor interest and a current increase in attendance due to my children going to a catholic school. I enjoy the experience/ritual of mass but find that if the homily is done well it is the most useful part of the mass. The ones I find most engaging are when the essence of the stories are extracted out and given some practical relevance to my daily life. I think the church teachings of the church have something to offer but in this increasingly atheist/rational world I believe that the church could reach more people if they focused less on the supernatural side (miracles etc) and more the practical, psychological utility of the teachings. Thanks. | 0.14% |
There are some nuances, especially with the abortion questions, that were not addressed here. For example, I would be pro-choice in the case of a baby who had a health issue that was incompatible with life outside the womb, but not for something such as Down Syndrome. Also, regarding abortion these are posed as yes or no questions, when the issue is much broader. For example, I would not condemn someone who had an abortion because they did not have the financial means to raise a child, but the bigger issue here is why there is not sufficient financial and other support so that a person is not placed in that position in the first place. | 0.14% |
I would be curious to know how this research will include Catholics who do not attend mass and are not connected to a parish in order to be representative. I also wonder if it might have been useful to clarify what is meant by “church.â€_ I assumed throughout that you meant the institutional church, though I would like to think “churchâ€_ is much broader and more inclusive than that. | 0.14% |
Perhaps include more questions about Mass attendance and sacramental participation. | 0.14% |
The Church is being taken too far to the left and is trying to appease evil elements of society and this is being lead by most bishops in Australia. | 0.14% |
I support your work but I wish there was more interest in important issues (clergy abuse, women in position of power) than in policing women's bodies and reproductive choices. We're more than just vessels you know. | 0.14% |
The way that the views of Catholics and Christians are sometimes portrayed concerns me as unrepresentative, as do the views of many of those who purport to speak on our behalf. I’m pleased to see this research taking place. | 0.14% |
Church should stop pushing politically conservative candidates. If the church wants Christ-like reps, rather than weird old testament devotees, they should be encouraging voters to preference Socialists, Greens, and Teals. | 0.14% |
I always struggle understanding the Holy trinity. I don't find value in attendance to church as life so busy and doesn't deal with problems of your life. My wife is atheist. I struggle to talk about God to my children but I tell them they can believe in God and we read the Bible sometimes. I believe woman should become priests and priests should marry. The paedophiles have caused enormous damage to the church | 0.14% |
The Australian Bishops need to excommunicate political ‘Catholics’ like Dan Andrew’s who made outrageous totally anti life comments. They need to be more courageous and lead and support - with Israel Folau they should have publicly and privately called on Australian rugby to back down. They also need to review the annulments process where in Brisbane they make you civilly divorce before they start the process- surely they are separate and there is no follow up for people and witness who lie through the whole process- it was an appalling process that should be made easier when the person leave because one stands up for their religion and the other denounces their religion. | 0.14% |
Your stupid religion has caused more problems than it has solved. | 0.14% |
Bring back short low mass and market it to busy professionals for weekdays before work. Sunday masses more reverant masses | 0.14% |
Have more questions about the mass and eucharist on a Sunday | 0.14% |
In future, there needs to be more detailed questions about the mass and Sunday eucharist. | 0.14% |
Church needs to return to its conservative roots. Just watered down general-Christianity now. | 0.14% |
I think there should be differentiation in the questions between faith and religion - as they have different meanings. My religion is Catholicism, but my faith is Christianity. I will always be a Christian, but there are often times where there is no pride in my actual religion. Prime example at this point in time is with the issues surrounding Fr Gerald Tan, Fr Tony Chiera and Bishop Holohan. The Bishop is an institution man, not a man of the people. Especially in these times where mental health no longer has the dark cloud of shame hanging over it - Bishop Holohan is not the right person for this time. He seems more interested in wielding his power to water down dissent than actually doing his job. As 'flock' we need to not have fear about speaking our mind about the 'shepherd' and fearing the undoubtedly negative ramifications of speaking up about injustice and poor pastoral practice within the institution of the church. I am a qualified Minister of the Eucharist, my children were altar servers and my husband was an altar server as a child. I have 'religiously' attended Mass for most of my life. The current troubles of the church do not inspire the desire to attend Mass for any other reasons than Easter and Christmas - and more likely where there is a priest of the people | 0.14% |
Up until Covid I was a regular mass attendee. The response of many conservative Catholics to the governments handling of the pandemic was very disturbing to me. I have become very opposed to right ring conservatism and if at all now consider myself a very progressive Catholic or someone who is no longer a Catholic believes in Jesus and social justice. | 0.14% |
It’s time for the Catholic Church to reform. Women are carrying this dying institution, so let them have a seat at the table. | 0.14% |
This raises the question of spirituality versus religiosity for me! Also, of these questions, although necessary for the survey, remind me of why the Catholic Church has such low attendance. The focus on ‘morality’ (birth control, who people love, women’s agency over their bodies) is so completely out of step with the times - a time when environmental issues threaten the lives of so many (who are already suffering), when maniacs are threatening nuclear war and women are being raped by ‘soldiers’, when women are being murdered each week in Australia by partners, when child abuse rings operate on the dark web, when countries are so poor they cannot feed their children…. I know Jesus today would not be concerned one iota about people in living same sex relationships. It is triggering to read this traditional Catholic obsession with women and relationships, and I pray it turns its focus towards the real sin in the world, the real systemic and personal broken relationships and harm. The questions about beliefs were also very literal - no scope to unpack our thoughts on what we mean when we say there may be a heaven, life after death, hell etc…these are interpreted by many now from a post critical belief stance. The church is the only place I have that gives expression to my deep faith and trust in God, and from where (through study) I can draw on its deep and ancient wisdom recontextualised for today. It saddens me that those not studying or working in Catholic schools do not get these opportunities, and as such get the shallow homilies or have just disconnected from the religious, meaning making space altogether. I am very frustrated and angry with the ego of the church, but stay for want of an alternative, and also for the essence of Jesus’ ministry and message, so desperately needed today. Thanks for the opportunity to share this. | 0.14% |
As a suggestion, this survey should cover the quality of the liturgy (not just sermons) as well as how priests and bishops live the Catholic beliefs and teach others in community and society more broadly. Those are the main reasons I don’t attend church. Modern church has become so lukewarm and watered down. | 0.14% |
Based on the description of the research i would have expected more interesting questions. I wish there was a church for 21st century people | 0.14% |
Good luck - interested to see the results | 0.14% |
Keep me in your prayers. ☘ï¸_☘ï¸_☘ï¸_ | 0.14% |
I am overwhelmingly appalled at the lack of action our church leadership on a global, national and local level in regards to making mass more appealing to young people! Our church is dying a rapid death, and is it any wonder. Why would any kids become regular mass goers? The old ways don't work anymore! We need our priests and bishops to address this urgently, although I fear it is already too late. I am in total dismay over the state of our church in Australia in 2022. | 0.14% |
The church hierarachy needs a revolution.. too many men running the world | 0.14% |
I hope that this research prompts leadership of the Catholic Church in Australia to realise how pre-Vatican II thinking is backward looking and if they continue will reduce the Catholic Church to a minor religion more akin to an archaic sect. | 0.14% |
Would have like to b e able to comment. Scope too black and white | 0.14% |
From my work in Catholic schools it appears to me that people are turning away from the Church largely because of the new right wing conservative movement that is occurring. I am sick of the men who run the Church and do not espouse the values of love, but are more focused with power and piety. | 0.14% |
It lacks nuance | 0.14% |
I am a cradle catholic who is more committed to Christ than the RC church today. I am disillusioned with the RC church and do not identify it with ""the Church Eternal"" any longer. | 0.14% |
I am a woman who has worked for the church my whole working life. I have never felt more disenfranchised. | 0.14% |
Given the involvement of Dr Martyr I expect a conservative bias. | 0.14% |
I believe you should create a longer and more nuanced (therefore truthful) understanding of Catholics and their believe in God, Church, pope bishops and priests, liturgy and why people aren't going (hint the English Liturgy is both ugly and preachy), what people may or may not believe as a result of the 'Catholic' education, etc, etc. | 0.14% |
Just because I personally may consider teachings that are in contrast with the teachings of the Church does not mean I do not connect with over arching value of human life. I thought it interesting that the question of contraception only related to the past 12 months (I would have liked to have responded from past experience). I look forward to reading about the results. | 0.14% |
I am strong in Catholic Faith, but believe in the teachings of Jesus, not the Church. I believe the Church is all about it's own rules. Jesus accepted everyone and women were important but seem to have no place in the church except as cleaners etc | 0.14% |
It would have been good to have the option to put your own answer in and also to choose 0 as a score. | 0.14% |
Lack of nuance in some questions, for instance between legal marriage and sacramental marriage. | 0.14% |
The question asking about making a major decision listed options like talking to a priest or bishop but didn’t include reading scripture. Here is the problem with Catholicism, it’s focused on doctrine, ritual, hierarchy and ultimately external control. It’s not focused on spirituality and education through engagement with the scriptures. Questions about the Pope are not relevant in the absence of a relationship with God through scripture. This is why I do not go to Catholic services anymore. They focus on dead rituals and arcane doctrines as instruments of faith instead of the living word of God. | 0.14% |
Should have asked when or why the respondent left the church | 0.14% |
I am very concerned at the Pope's lean in toward Marxist ideology. The Pope must remain a political. | 0.14% |
The questions did not provide any definitions, such as what does religious mean? what is prayer? Many questions did not provide sufficiently nuanced response. Overall, a poorly constructed survey instrument with too many assumptions built into questions. | 0.14% |
I am concerned that any survey about the Catholic Church ultimately falls on deaf ears. | 0.14% |
The survey Ask about the issue of sexual abuse a critical issue in the diocese of Ballarat and across the church. That initial women and the churches overall approach to sexuality is one of the key issues I think in the decline of Participation and engagement. In our case, having Teenage son and expecting him to participate in a church community where the average age will be 65 and no young children or teenagers Is unrealistic… Feel that parish and Dawson churches have given up and have no plan to address the all the communities they serve. My diocese feels like it has given up and is focused on mass supply of a Sunday and building communities of life and faitht | 0.14% |
Should have more questions about the impact of the sexual abuse scandals in the church and how people feel | 0.14% |
Your survey was significantly limited/limiting in capturing the experience of educated professional catholics in Australia. .... a missed opportunity with no free text space in this survey. It appears you are just seeking to understand how I follow Church doctrine. What a shame !...This survey attempted to box my beliefs, never asking how I actively life my faith and contribute to our world, inspired by the writings of great Catholic theologians. Unfortunately it appears this survey is as limited as the Church itself... | 0.14% |
I love that you are doing this survey and will be so interested in the results. I hope they are published somewhere easily accessible. | 0.14% |
I send my child to a catholic school and would expect traditional church and family values to be observed but to my horror critical race theory, LGBTQ, gay rights and disgraceful books such ‘ Only the Animals’ is being pushed and taught at the school. I was also very disappointed with the Catholic Churches response to mandatory vaccination and the discrimination that some people went through for choosing not to take an experimental vaccine. I believe the church needs to take a bigger stance in what is happening in society today. | 0.14% |
I call myself a pick n choose Catholic. I dont believe in Reconciliation, a fatold man listening to my wrong doings is not going to get me into heaven. I hated that me family is referred to as 'blended' because my husband is Anglican. Its all labels, we believe in God - we try to be good people. The focus on sin and the buildings of the church disappoints me. I can be with god in my garden, I dont need to go to a building filled with statues to have my faith | 0.14% |
Would be great to see the results - graphs etc. Also, what are you contrasting/comparing the results to? | 0.14% |
I have gay friends - a nun once told me they’d go to hell. They’re lovely kind people and this led me away from the Catholic Church. Contraception is much better than abortion -but abortion should still be available to those who require it, I would never have though. The church is outdated in the modern world, particularly in developed countries. All people are worthy of love and respect, regardless of gender, sexuality, race and religion. Most of the 10 commandments are covered by law in Australia. | 0.14% |
The questions were quite difficult to answer because they lacked nuance. I almost gave up on this several times. You cannot expect ‘tick a box’ answers to many of these questions without providing an opportunity for comment. | 0.14% |
This survey was fantastic. Questions were extremely relevant to why Catholics have abandoned the Church (sadly) in droves. I only hope that this information is passed on to those who need to hear it. | 0.14% |
Good luck, the Catholic Church is in desperate need of reformation. All 3 of my children were raised Catholic and regularly attended mass until the end of primary school. Only one has anything resembling faith. 1 thinks the Catholic Church is abhorrent and evil in the way it treats the marginalised and the 3rd is indifferent. Our local parish priest has turned a vibrant parish that was welcoming and community minded into a homeschooling enclave that makes long time parishioners feel second class. He questions those who are not regular attendees on their state of grace at communion, my mother who is 80 was humiliated and no longer attends mass or contributes financially. It is so sad that the luck of a priest can alter peoples relationship with the parish. Many friends of mine have turned away from the church and say if it was a small business it would go bankrupt in 12 months. It is not welcoming, does not appear to listen to those who no longer feel welcome, it has lost touch and not adapted to the modern way of living. I am at a loss and feel deeply sad about the state of the church in Australia. | 0.14% |
I think the Catholic church has to change to stay relevant. Pope Francis is leading the way. | 0.14% |
Why not a question on how the Church innAustralia has handled and is handling the historical sexual abuse issue? | 0.14% |
This is a very important survey. I struggled to find the right option to describe why I don't go to mass more often and I do miss being at mass. My reflection is that I remain distressed and concerned about the ongoing inadequate addressing of child sexual abuse. An issue I deal with in my professional life and I cannot sit in prayer with the disconnect. The other reason is that my teenaged son is one of only 2 children who were regular attendees. It breaks my heart that I can find no authentic way to pass my faith on to him. | 0.14% |
I am really disappointed in our Australian Bishops. I thought the 'glacial' movement in the recent Plenary process was a betrayal of what we were promised at the outset. Issues appeared to be blocked from full discussion. Appalling that there were Bishops who originally voted not to treat women and men equally - who were they?? Despite the rhetoric, we seem to be hankering for a Church that is long past. That Church won't return. We are not encouraging young people to 'buy in' to the Church. Liturgies are generally poor and most priests, sadly, are poor preachers. Why can't we have other educated parishoners preach? It is obviously not a skill instilled at Ordination! I love Pope Francis but he has not gone far enough in reforming the bureacracy of the Vatican. Given our awful treatment of the sexual abuse issue, the Church should not say anything about sexual morality for about another 50 years or until we have regained some credibilty on the subject. | 0.14% |
Many survey questions ignore the question of individual moral agency which underpins Catholic Moral Authority | 0.14% |
I think this a critically needed survey and it is my it will attract a vast range of views to make it valid. My fear is it will be skewed by the ""right"" ((Opus Dei et Al) who will make it their mission to get people to advocate for their view of religion. As a secondary teacher of over 40 years experience, I am acutely conscious of the reality of faith perspectives, not only in students but their parents and of course our teachers. The sad reality is that most kids have given it away as irrelevant to their lives. Yes there are those that the Archbishop and the bishops meet at well-crafted student gatherings or where the ""true"" (in the opinions our leaders) believers gather for faith sharing etc. This does not represent the reality of parishes that have nothing to offer the young. Most older Catholics have given it away. They saw the Plenary Council as a preordained decision making process that rejected the majority plea for a more inclusive, open Church that truly represents the message of Jesus defined in Matthew 25. Our leaders need to take of thei rose coloured glasses and if they hope to save the Church in Australia from becoming completely irrelevant to ALL who still bother to tick Catholic on the Census, then there needs to be a Copernican revolution - and it better happen quickly. I love the Church. I cherish the message if Jesus and his presence in Eucharist. I do my darnedest to get kids in Years 11/12 across a range of schools that I work in to value that same message. To not shut the door in the potential of faith to guide and support them. It is b..... Hard work. And it gets harder every year. I did a stint at ACU - exactly the same with the majority of students there. Of course there are some who are faith-filled and ""practicing"". That itself has new meanings these days. Thanks for this opportunity. | 0.14% |
I was a much more traditional Catholic some years ago so my stance on many of the questions has changed over the years. I would have been much more black and white in my younger years. I worked for the Catholic Church for a long time and I am both disappointment and disillusioned by it due to the sex abuse scandal, the treatment of women and the fact that many of our seminarians are still very much into clericalisation and consider themselves a cut above everyone else. I have personal experience of this and know it to be true. I am hanging on in the faith by my fingertips!!! | 0.14% |
Sadly I think the leadership of the Church is without credibility due to its handling of sexual abuse in the clergy. The only course it could take is for those in positions of leadership to stand down or retire. | 0.14% |
I would attend mass more frequently if I could understand what the priest was saying. | 0.14% |
I take my faith seriously but am a very imperfect Catholic. If abortion were still illegal, I’d oppose change; but given the practical realities, I’m with Clinton in thinking that it should be “safe, legal and RAREâ€_ | 0.14% |
Good luck. The institutional Catholic Church is a disgrace.Jesus would be appalled by their stance on so many issues. | 0.14% |
Catholics who feel pushed out by the treatment and perfoof ghd vlergy | 0.14% |
Good questions generally but too few options; also some further doctrinal questions and about the quality of liturgical experience would have been helpful. For example, the quality of preaching is too often far too poor; as is the quality of liturgical music | 0.14% |
Re the question on abortion - I think it could be more nuanced on references to ‘the law’. My view is that the criminal law should have a minimal if any role in regulating abortion and I answered ‘unsure’ on that basis rather than based on my moral perspective (which is generally opposed to abortion at least after the first few months) | 0.14% |
Looks interesting. Would love to see the results. | 0.14% |
First question on contraception needed 'not applicable'! I identified my age as 60-69. Some questions needed more theological nuance e.g. 'sin' | 0.14% |
Interesting - thanks and good luck with it : ) | 0.14% |
As an institution the church is imploding, primarily I think because it is lead by 'stale pale males' out of touch with the reality of life and who have an inability to communicate. | 0.14% |
Some questions require nuanced answers. I absolutely think abortion is wrong and I am not comfortable with the idea of euthanasia, but I absolutely don’t think that my views (or anyone else’s views) should be imposed upon a person who has to make such a decision for themselves. I am ashamed of the loud and aggressive and hateful right wing extremists in the Catholic Church. A person who has such tendencies sent me a link to this survey. How can you be sure that your survey will accurately reflect the Catholic community rather than motivated conservative extremists in the Church? | 0.14% |
Difficult to answer some questions as not sufficient context. | 0.14% |
You should have included a question re the effect of having a loved one being LGBTQI+ on my belief in the Catholic Church. | 0.14% |
The survey could provide an opportunity to indicate strong Catholic beliefs but total dissatisfaction with the organisation Catholic Church | 0.14% |
Perhaps you should make Catholic schools and Independent Catholic schools aware of this survey for their staff, also local parrishes. | 0.14% |
Some of these questions were from the 1950’s… | 0.14% |
More needs to be done about sexual abuse in church | 0.14% |
Is there a way to ask us why we feel dissatisfied with the Church? I was a child of Vatican 2 and I haven’t liked the move to old conservative practices. The Catholic Church of the 1970s and 1980s was more inclusive and progressive. I worked in Catholic education for many years and our young people whilst being incredibly spiritual shunned much of the showy religious traditions. They and I like a simple view of Church. | 0.14% |
Excellent survey. There are a lot of conflicted Catholic women out there! | 0.14% |
Eventhough I’m Catholic I respect & study all religions | 0.14% |
Most Catholics at church are hypocritical | 0.14% |
I am still a Catholic in my head and heart but I wish there was more inclusivity with other religions as I don't believe that as a Catholic, I have an exclusive right to Heaven. I want to be part of my Church but feel excluded because of these beliefs and by being part of the modern world which places most of us outside of traditional Catholic teachings. Thank you for giving a voice to those who feel unheard. | 0.14% |
I feel extremely conflicted about the Catholic Church. Overtime I feel more and more disconnected. It has been extremely painful for me. | 0.14% |
at 78 sometimes I do not feel like attending mass but the Catholic Guilt can get to me due to strict catholic upbringing I was notot as strict with my own children, who went to catholic schools all their lives and attended mass with parents each week but when they were at university it was up to them. They occassionally attend mass, married in the church, had a child baptised in the church but have a far more relaxed attitude about Mass. They do consider themselves Catholicl | 0.14% |
Francis is the salvation of the Church.God love him. | 0.14% |
Congratulations -well done. I hope this survey is well responded to. Don0t forget the lost young people | 0.14% |
Answers are very prescriptive | 0.14% |
The institutional church in Australia -sex abuse scandals and the scandal caused by Cardinal Pell - and the refusal to ordain women are stumbling blocks for my four adult children. The church for them is exemplified in their parents commitment to life within the Teams movement for married couples and our small eucharistic community. They call themselves spiritual rather than religious. My own commitment to the church has waned over the years for similar reasons but I hang on. I'm intensely depressed by the ghetto Catholicism of traditionalists - whom Pope Francis aptly calls backwardists. The church is becoming a sect, focused on narrow notions of tradition. People quoting the Council of Trent rather than the Second Vatican Council!! And horrible artiles attacking ;woke' Catholics - likeme- by people such as Prof Martyr. I actually don't mind what pelple believe as long as they are respectgul of otherviews. And as long as they accept that the call to serve the poor and mother earth is more important than hanging on to Latin in the Mass and firmly refusing the kindness of the'world' about gay people etc. | 0.14% |
I'm finding it very hard holding onto the Church and feel I'm at risk of falling away. I don't feel at home in it. The parishes in my area are laboring. The lack of good/effective parish priests is a serious and debilitating issue. Liturgies are lifeless. Homilies are poor. the community is starving for want of good leadership. | 0.14% |
Some of your categorical questions didn't leave me enough room to move | 0.14% |
I would like to see the Catholic Church be very proactive in attracting young people back to the church..take positive, practical steps to do so. | 0.14% |
A tad surprised in the design of the survey that the questions re Pope Francis are deemed optional. Does this reflect the bias of Ms Martyr whose articles in the Catholic Weekly have been criticised and discredited for its trad/QAnon bias??? | 0.14% |
A survey like this is good and should be done more often, say every two years. | 0.14% |
I believe being asked questions that drew out the difference between personal belief and Australia Law would have helped. | 0.14% |
I was director in a marriage tribunal in a diocese so I am aware of much. I go to mass when my children take me. They all went to catholic schools as have their children but rarely go to mass. I am a convert as stated. I don’t drive far so mainly go to Anglican Church around the corner. I believe there is 1 GOD. | 0.14% |
Feel as if it is a bit hard to give a proper view about some issues | 0.14% |
An assumption is made that physical attendance at Mass is possible for everyone In my case I watch mass online every Sunday but due to ill health am unable to attend The local church is not forthcoming with lifts for anyone in my position So in view of this I think your set of questions needs reassessing that is if you are genuine in your attempt to answer all aspects of the issue | 0.14% |
Church needs to look at women in leadership roles - male clerical roles need to be examined | 0.14% |
Blessings | 0.14% |
The idea of the Pope giving permission to the top bloke in China to name bishops for the Catholic Church is unbelievable. | 0.14% |
Many of the questions did not give sufficient choices. In many of the moral questions, I would have said that they depended on individual conscience and or choice between evilso | 0.14% |
While I appear to approve abortion that is not the case but I also believe that the church has no right to dictate to others via the law. My criticism of the church stems from Santamaria days and the ongoing conservative public and underground movements. We had to shut down a ""catholic"" library because of the poison spread by the AD2000 type of literatureThe clerical church lost it's moral compass mainly because of abuse of innocent children over decades | 0.14% |
Not convinced that it gives the results you can expect | 0.14% |
When I refer to the Catholic Church being important to my life, I mean the Body of Christ of all God's daughters and sons of God. When I say that aughters and sons. When I say that I have left the Catholic Church, I mean the institutional Chrch aughters and sons. When I say I have left the Catholic Church, I mean the Intitutuinal | 0.14% |
The foundations of the church needs sweeping reform if it will maintain any legitimacy or relevancy. The good works of the Church are stained by its moral failings on women’s rights, sexual abuse, stance on homosexuality, and patriarchal structures. Catholicism is in crisis with little hope of thriving past the Baby Boomer generation. | 0.14% |
The Catholic church has become cuckolded by false worship and destructive modernization that has been an absolute disaster for the Church and the West. | 0.14% |
I find a lot of other Christians tend to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to enforce on others | 0.14% |
There is so much I love about the Catholic faith. But what is a faith without followers? Of course, the church will never die because Jesus is it’s cornerstone. But the more the church lends its ear and leadership to elderly who will die in the next 5-10 years. There will be no changes. Their views truly do not align with Christ. We the people are a living church. We are the body. And like all bodies, we change. The elderly need to accept this. Stop denying the love and decisions of others because Jesus teaches the exact opposite. Stop the logical fallacies of quoting the bible out of context! I don’t care about a sentence from the Old Testament based on a civilisation thousands of years ago. I care that NO MATTER WHAT, Jesus loves. So why be the old stubborn people and stop others from loving in whatever way they know how? It’s what stops me from truly committing myself to the Catholic Church. I almost left 3 weeks after joining it. | 0.14% |
The Catholic Chuirch needs to stop dumbing down the deposit of faith and instead it needs to hold fast to and keep safe the deposit of faith as handed down to us by the apostles. Prostant church after protestant church has fallen over to being with the times. If the Catholic Church is to remain it needs to practice the faith and not allow secularism and the opinion of the voval minority and heritcal group/person , e.g. the Bishops of Germany and Fr James Martin of the USA hold sway. The Bishops of Australia need to stand up for the Gospel not just for the easy teachings but also for the hard treaching which the secular world do not want to hear. The4 current Pope has made a big mistake in condeming those who want to attend the pre vatican two Mass, placing the Church in danger of another split. | 0.14% |
No mention of the world wide decades long pandemic of kids being molested as a reason for leaving the church (the main reason imo) except an optional question regarding how some guy in another hemisphere is handling it? Tsk tsk | 0.14% |
The right-wing and church leadership in Australia is so worried abour trying to hold people by the throat if you don't follow their outdated preachings, that you're neglecting the real people of the church. You could have so many more people involved in the church if you stopped trying to crucify every modern issue as being anti church. I've lost count how many times the church ""leaders"" here have not followed the teachings of Jesus Christ. The hypocrisy is absolutely astounding. Stop trying to control women, people of the lgtbq+ family and immigrants and actually follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Signed, a secondary teacher in the Sydney Catholic Schools system. | 0.14% |
Stop paying George Pell. | 0.14% |
I think some of the options on the survey overemphasize the question of belief. I am Catholic because I want to cultivate a relationship with God and serve the poor, and belief is a pretty minor part of that life. Protestantism has made the question of belief THE religious question, and I think when we conceed to that framing of religion we lose something important in our life with God, which doesn't require some kind of clenched, constant belief in anything in particular, just a willingness to pray. | 0.14% |
The core reason I no longer participate in church is because of the poor handling of child sexual abuse cases by the church. The plenary council showed this was still a big problem for many Catholics and you should have included a question on why people no longer participate instead of trying to infer things from your other questions. | 0.14% |
You should also look at the church's attitudes towards reproductive medicine such as ivf, not just abortion. My local diocese is against such measures | 0.14% |
Fuck the church | 0.14% |
Until the Church gives women equal roles in the church and allows all clergy to marry, I will never return to the Church. | 0.14% |
The TLM should not be restricted, it should be expanded. | 0.14% |
I cannot step foot in the Church after all the pecoplilua stuff … I’m that disillusioned. The Catholic Church has lost itself … let the priest marry … let birth control happen - like hypocrites when married couples are scrutinised yet your priests are raping children. | 0.14% |
I go to the Anglican mass with my partner | 0.14% |
I am not a practising Catholic in any sense. I do, however, totally support each individual's choice and decision to practise their Christianity - whether it be Roman Catholic, Church of England (High Church), or any other Christian group that actively protects and defends those in need. I was a specialst in Counter Terrorism, and Special Warfare. My choice to become areligious and apolitical was to remain neutral and objective. My situation is one that is tainted by war and conflict that had the aim of preserving life. I accept almost everybody as equal people, except those whose beliefs and actions are focussed on harming others. My ansers may appear contradictory, but I was brought up in my childhood years as Roman Catholic, during my teen years as Church of England, and lived as an areligios adult. | 0.14% |
Good on you for doing it. | 0.14% |
The church has lost its relevance biggest issue is you are born gay it’s not a choice and priests should be allowed to be married and you hid the abuse | 0.14% |
Badly designed survey. A number of questions required answers and gave no answer that matched my opinion. A number also insufficiently defined or described the issues, especially in theology. For example, according to Hans Urs con Balthasar, it is possible to believe in hell as a possibility and yet hope that all be saved. | 0.14% |
The Church needs to adapt to the needs of the C21st; Vatican II did some of this but the Church is essentially the people: the body of the Church. The conservative nature of the organisation needs to address modern concerns and look at being relevant for those in developed countries as well as the less developed world (Africa, Asia, South America). | 0.14% |
Made me realise that I have a lot of questions about my faith. Having become Catholic at age 10 and loving the church to then drifting away, then after having a family coming back and being involved in a community in the church, for 14 years, which caused a lot of damage to us as a family I would say I miss my church greatly but my husband refuses to aknowledge his faith and our daughters have nothing to do with the church. I have done these type of surveys before but so much hurt is in my family now that I think I do it because its a small connection. | 0.14% |
please add a question about surrogacy. I am very against it. It is the next slavery for women. Please discuss the GENDER IDEOLOGY DESTROYING KIDS!!! CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOULD BE CLEARLY STANDING AGAINST THIS DANGEROUS CULT AND SHARING INFO WITH PARENTS ABOUT HOW BAD IT IS. MUTILATION OF KIDS n AUTISTI PEOPLE. COMPLETELY ERASING WOMEN's RIGHRS AND SAFE SPACES. I answered this survey to help strengthen my tribal ties in fighting GENDER IDEOLOGY | 0.14% |
Being a cradle catholic born in 60s is complicated. Like many my generation, we don't believe the institution of Church, is necessarily true to the teachings of the Gospel, or in-line with wishes of Jesus Chris. Pope Francis, at least, gets this and is having a real go at doing something to channel us back to what we really are about - as a community of people endeavouring to create Kingdom here on earth. there is a reason people are flocking to other Christian denominatinos. Catholic Church, and many older catholics, are not welcoming, inclusive, warm or caring. In some country towns, it is on parr with an elitist golf club. | 0.14% |
It would have been good to include questions about spirituality rather than just religion to this survey. | 0.14% |
More Australian priests - married / real world experience as well as faith and theology . | 0.14% |
On returning to the church after many years I was disgusted that the priest used the homily to talk about fundraising rather than anything spiritual. I walked out and have never returned. | 0.14% |
Great survey. I am utterly disgusted with the formal Catholic church, starting with Francis and going down to Comensoli who is a great example of a misogynistic, homophobic, out of date church. a myso | 0.14% |
I was a daily mass going catholic. My ex wife initiated a divorce as a result of mental illness. I was rejected by the priest, the catholic community and the school community. I have not repartnered, I do not feel welcome at church. I was devastated to be divorced. I still love my wife. | 0.14% |
I hope the church puts people before material and money gains. | 0.14% |
Nothing | 0.14% |
I feel completely forgotten by the church. I used to be involved in everything in the church and parish, but now due to I’ll health cannot attend Mass, so I don’t count as part of any parish. | 0.14% |
I am a full-time carer for my disabled husband for the past year and my answers are greatly effected by this. | 0.14% |
The reason I have left the church is to do with sexual abuse by the clergy and the inadequate way this has been dealt with. This has directly destroyed the life of someone in my family | 0.14% |
In the question about makng moral decsions you did not include partner as an option | 0.14% |
Not going to church doesn’t make me less catholic, I have very strong religious beliefs | 0.14% |
depending on how the question is posed it doesn't allow for a disagree with the question - how does pope francis stand up for orthodox catholic standards, its not excellent and its not poor, i disagree with the question so have to choose dont know. I dont agree with pre vatican two teaching, backwardist or latin masses. The abortion questions are really so poorly done, where is the empathy and love for the person in the situation, how the situation is handled how the catholic church expresses its life choices, is not standing across the road from an abortion clinic yelling abuse at people, where is the christian message in that, Jesus rarely did that, he met people where they are at. The survey is generally out of whack there is no subtlety or nuance allowed. This survey does not actually allow for the truth of catholic spirituality, it is controlling and a blaming edge to it | 0.14% |
Waste of time | 0.14% |
I am that I am. | 0.14% |
I was employed by the church for 25 years and was involved heavily at parish level too. I am retired and believe the church is too institutional in its governance and behaviour. Hence I have been scarcely involved in the last three years. I wish it promoted love, healing, prophetic thinking and the spirit of loving kindness which I think is not a bad definition of ‘ God’ . I still have a strong belief in God and a hope that our church communities can be a source of life rather than concentrating on a sin/ redemption narrative. The idea of an original blessing in the Creed would be a change which represents more what Jesus was about than hiw the church has framed its teaching over very many years. We are too tied to wealth and power to be able to see the call of the gospel. All the best with the work and I hope it can precipitate change. Blessings | 0.14% |
Several questions are loaded esp. those realting to sin. The assumption is that sin exists in God's eyes. No questions allow fir explanatory answers and are slanted towards traditional beliefs. | 0.14% |
Glad you're asking | 0.14% |
Mostly disaffected cathics won't take time to respond to this survey. I replied because I really care about the church and feel it could still regain its christian priorities. | 0.14% |
Great work! | 0.14% |
I no longer attend Mass because my daughter was abused by a priest I trusted. I can no longer enter a Catholic Church.However I can never be anything other than a cradle Catholic. | 0.14% |
I feel we don't hear enough from Australian Bishops on issues such as euthanasia, abortions & same sex rela tionships and abortion | 0.14% |
I applaud the survey and hope ordinary peoples's thoughts and feelings could be heard and acted on. | 0.14% |
I came from S Africa 12 years ago I was part of an active church The church in Sw Australia is dreadful (ARDA removed angry face emoji) it’s all about catholic schools and nothing else | 0.14% |
I will interested in the results and hope they will be available. | 0.14% |
Prior to Covid some of my answers would have been different. | 0.14% |
I used to be 100% Catholic,teaching,involved , friends with nuns and priests .The recent paedophelia of priests , it more so the cover up, and Cardinal Pell sent me “awayâ€_ | 0.14% |
I,m 86yrs old. Until I was 81 yrs old the church was the mainstay of my life.worked 35yrs in a Catholic school and was heavily involved with my priests and parish. A new.younger Principal couldn,t cope with y age and arranged for me to be dismissed. My PP did support me and did encourage me to stay within the church family. However I could not believe how my church hierarchy (I was well known and I thought regarded) at Parish and Archdiocesan level) treated me and supported the new principal. (age discrimination) so I have abandoned my faith,…suffering a nervous breakdown and stroke. My church was my life I would’ve gladly been a martyr. I cannot believe the way i was treated. nor could my PP…I wasn’t deemed worthy enough for my church to leave the flock @nd search for the lost soul. It is a very lonely place in which I live waiting to die..the church of today is not the wonderful caring place that brought me up. | 0.14% |
The Bishops will not take any notice of it but it’s good information if you’re interested in the current and declining state of the Church | 0.14% |
It is a bit restrictive in parts. For instance I do not believe in abortion under any circumstance but I believe it is a health/moral issue, not a legal one. Prohibition in any field has never worked and I don’t want to see a return to the backyard abortionist or the self righteous institutions that abuse ‘fallen women’ | 0.14% |
Sample size | 2,305 |
Sample size calculated by VoxDash | 704 |
Probability sampling | |
Margin of error | ±3% |
Comparable margin of error | |
Calculated by VoxDash | |
Data provider | |
General population | |
Respondent qualification age | 18 |
Data sampling | Nonprobability sampling |
Coverages | National |
Open-ended responses
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Information of Catholics in Australia 2022 Dataset