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| UK Catholics 'think Pope visit will help Church' | UK Catholics 'think Pope visit will help Church' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost 70% of British Catholics expect the Pope's visit to help the Catholic Church in the UK, a BBC poll suggests. | Almost 70% of British Catholics expect the Pope's visit to help the Catholic Church in the UK, a BBC poll suggests. |
| But the survey suggests they are less keen about some of his teaching. | But the survey suggests they are less keen about some of his teaching. |
| Half of those questioned felt priests should no longer have to be celibate, and almost two-thirds thought women should have more authority and status. | Half of those questioned felt priests should no longer have to be celibate, and almost two-thirds thought women should have more authority and status. |
| And 52% of the 500 Catholics surveyed ahead of the Pope's visit on Thursday said the sex abuse scandal had shaken their faith in the Church's leadership. | And 52% of the 500 Catholics surveyed ahead of the Pope's visit on Thursday said the sex abuse scandal had shaken their faith in the Church's leadership. |
| 'Not valued' | 'Not valued' |
| The poll conducted by ComRes - a member of the British Polling Council - surveyed a random sample of 500 Roman Catholics across the UK between 6 and 9 September 2010. | The poll conducted by ComRes - a member of the British Polling Council - surveyed a random sample of 500 Roman Catholics across the UK between 6 and 9 September 2010. |
| Commenting on the results, Andrew Hawkins, ComRes chairman, said: "Overall there is a sense of strong support for the Pope's visit but disquiet both about some aspects of Papal teaching and the perception of the Catholic Church in wider society having been harmed." | Commenting on the results, Andrew Hawkins, ComRes chairman, said: "Overall there is a sense of strong support for the Pope's visit but disquiet both about some aspects of Papal teaching and the perception of the Catholic Church in wider society having been harmed." |
| In response to the question, "Do you feel your Catholic faith is generally valued by British society today, or not?" 57% answered that it was "not valued" compared with 30% who said it was, and 13% who said they did not know. | In response to the question, "Do you feel your Catholic faith is generally valued by British society today, or not?" 57% answered that it was "not valued" compared with 30% who said it was, and 13% who said they did not know. |
| The poll results also suggest that a large number of Catholics think that the Pope should drop his insistence on clerical celibacy. Just under a half of those polled, 49%, said the celibacy rule should be relaxed, compared to 35%. A further 17% were uncommitted. | The poll results also suggest that a large number of Catholics think that the Pope should drop his insistence on clerical celibacy. Just under a half of those polled, 49%, said the celibacy rule should be relaxed, compared to 35%. A further 17% were uncommitted. |
| And 62% of those questioned say women should have more authority and status in the Catholic Church. | And 62% of those questioned say women should have more authority and status in the Catholic Church. |
| "Interestingly, the scores for men and women are exactly identical although older generations are least inclined to agree," Mr Hawkins said. | "Interestingly, the scores for men and women are exactly identical although older generations are least inclined to agree," Mr Hawkins said. |
| The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the findings seemed to reveal some of the tensions between a Church anxious to preserve ancient traditions, and a secular society that finds them increasingly hard to understand. | The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott said the findings seemed to reveal some of the tensions between a Church anxious to preserve ancient traditions, and a secular society that finds them increasingly hard to understand. |
| Dr William Oddie, former editor of the Catholic Herald, said he was not surprised by the survey, but felt that celibacy should remain "the norm" amongst Catholic priests. | Dr William Oddie, former editor of the Catholic Herald, said he was not surprised by the survey, but felt that celibacy should remain "the norm" amongst Catholic priests. |
| "I do think that our clergy have this particular quality because of their celibacy," he said. | "I do think that our clergy have this particular quality because of their celibacy," he said. |
| "That doesn't mean to say that I don't know several married priests who are very effective, and so on. It isn't an impossibility - but I think it will be kept as the normal rule." | "That doesn't mean to say that I don't know several married priests who are very effective, and so on. It isn't an impossibility - but I think it will be kept as the normal rule." |
| The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith, told the Sunday programme on BBC Radio 4 that the scandal had "rocked the whole Catholic community." | |
| "We all felt shamed and humiliated by what has been done by priests," he said. | |
| "It's been an utter breech of trust." | |
| But Archbishop Smith said Pope Benedict had strengthened the laws of the Catholic Church to help combat abuse by priests and made it clear that he wanted to tackle the problem. | |
| "He thinks it's dreadful, an evil thing to do and he wants it rooted out of the Church," he said. | |
| Secrecy | Secrecy |
| Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive on 16 September for a four-day visit, which has already sparked controversy over its cost and relevance. | Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive on 16 September for a four-day visit, which has already sparked controversy over its cost and relevance. |
| On this first visit by a pope to the UK since John Paul II in 1982, the pontiff will go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. | On this first visit by a pope to the UK since John Paul II in 1982, the pontiff will go to Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. |
| A series of sex abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic Church around the world in recent years, with the Church further accused of maintaining a culture of secrecy. | A series of sex abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic Church around the world in recent years, with the Church further accused of maintaining a culture of secrecy. |
| Pope Benedict's supporters say he has been the most proactive Pope yet in confronting abuse. | Pope Benedict's supporters say he has been the most proactive Pope yet in confronting abuse. |
| Earlier this year he apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland, and later went on to promise "action" over child abuse by priests. | Earlier this year he apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland, and later went on to promise "action" over child abuse by priests. |
| But some survivors say they still carry the psychological scars and that the Church should do more to fulfil its duty to them. | But some survivors say they still carry the psychological scars and that the Church should do more to fulfil its duty to them. |