Catholic Poll Stresses Aid to Those in Need

Nearly 320,000 Roman Catholics, responding to an unprecedented survey of parishioners in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, indicated that helping troubled families and others in need should be at the top of the church’s priorities, according to results announced Thursday.

Offered a list of possible priorities--ranging from traditional religious concerns to social justice--68% of respondents picked “providing help when families are in trouble from marital problems, drugs, alcohol, detention, violence, etc.” The next two highest choices (64% each) were similar in content, one referring to the suffering in the world and the other to youth problems with drugs, gangs and pregnancies.

A “parish (spiritual) renewal program” was deemed the least important item on the questionnaire (16%). Also low on the list was preparation of youth for confirmation and the planning of special Masses for certain age, language and ethnic groups.

The questionnaire listed the possible priorities in nine categories, with five specific items in each. Respondents were asked to select two items in each category.

The responses to the questionnaires, filled out last May in all 285 parishes, “now become the ‘agenda’ ” for regional convocations leading up to a final, goal-setting convocation Nov. 1-2, Archbishop Roger M. Mahony said. Mahony, who succeeded Cardinal Timothy Manning a year ago as Los Angeles archbishop, said he was “delighted” with the nearly 30% response rate among Catholic adults in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

“The participation of the laity in setting the direction and pastoral priorities for the archdiocese is a new experience for many of our Catholics,” he said.

Sister Sheila Walsh, associate director of the archdiocesan convocation office, said, “I think people are extremely excited that Archbishop Mahony has offered them participation in the decision-making process.”

The survey may have been the largest ever by a U.S. diocese, said a spokesman, noting that a recent survey in the New York archdiocese drew only 50,000 responses.

Minority group members outnumbered the “white/Anglo” respondents in the survey. Mahony and other Catholic officials said the racial-ethnic breakdown reflected the makeup of the total population of the archdiocese, estimated between 2.6 and 3 million adults and children. Mahony said only that he thought the black Catholic participation was low, about 11,000, or 3%, of the respondents.

Though 41% said they were “white/Anglo” and were the largest single group, the racial-ethnic “minorities” totaled 52%: 38% Latino, 11% Asian and 3% black. (Among the 3% who put “other” were some Irish and European Catholics who objected to the “Anglo” term; 4% checked no category).

All racial-ethnic groups put the same three compassionate concerns for the troubled and needy atop their questionnaires. Some differences emerged in a sampling of responses: “Treating all persons with dignity and equality, regardless of race or language” was of higher concern to Asians (67%) than it was to Latinos and blacks (61% each) or white/Anglos (53%). “Speaking out on moral issues--nuclear arms, abortion, homeless, abused children” was checked by 49% of Latino parishioners and by 32% of white/Anglo Catholics, with Asians and blacks closest to the overall 40% choice.

Nearly 60% of the respondents were women, a ratio believed to correspond to the generally higher female participation in church life.

When respondents were asked to select the two most important general categories, family life (35%) and communication (33%) headed the list, followed by “the Mass” (31%) and education (26%). Justice (9%) and “shared responsibility” (8%) were the lowest.

Asked whether that meant that Los Angeles Catholics believed that he should cut back on his social action pronouncements, Mahony said no. He said “justice” questions actually were scattered under different categories and tended to get the highest response as specific priorities.

Figures provided later by Sister Walsh bore him out. Forty-three percent believed that the church should “train and encourage Catholics to act on justice issues,” for instance. Under the category of spiritual growth, 45% checked “sharing my faith with persons in need,” including the handicapped and those in jail. Fewer respondents checked that category’s more comfortable choices of joining a Bible study group, taking a course on Catholic teaching, participating in retreats or going to confession more often.

TOP PRIORITIES IN CATHOLIC SURVEYNearly 320,000 Roman Catholics responding to a questionnaire on priorities fro the Los Angeles archdiocese said the church should put its greatest effort toward helping troubled and suffering people. Here, by percentage, are the most frequently checked recommendations among 45 choices in the survey: 68%--Providing help when families are in trouble from martial problems, drugs, alcohol, detention, violence, etc. 64%--Reaching out to those suffering, abused and in need both spiritually and physically. 64%--Counseling and help for troubled youth and their parents--i.e., drugs, pregnancy, school drop-outs, gangs. 58%--Treating all persons with dignity and equality, regardless of race or language. 54%-- Providing more service to those in need--poor, physically or mentally ill, immigrants, alienated, etc. 53%--The sermon...connect(ing) the Bible readings to my everyday life. 52%--A full religious education program for all children, youth and young adults. RESPONDENTS BY RACIAL / ETHNIC GROUPSWhite / Anglo--41% Latino--38% Asian--11% Black--3% Other / no response--7% Source: Archdiocese of Los Angeles