2016-06-30
Should the Catholic Church ordain women? Decentralize the power of the Vatican? What country do you hope the new pope is from? Beliefnet recently asked what you envisioned for the future of the church and papacy. The results from our survey are below.

John Paul II's most important legacy is:
Catholics Non-Catholics
Reaching out through travel 10.1% 9.5%
Improving interfaith relations 18.8% 23.9%
Opposing abortion & stem cell research 3.7% 5.7%
Inspiring young people 16.4% 8.2%
Opposing the death penalty 0.2% 1%
Rejecting euthanasia 0.4% 0.6%
Speaking out for the poor 3.5% 5.3%
Promoting peace 23% 22.8%
Exemplifying dignity in suffering 2.6% 2.4%
Spurring communism's downfall 9.2% 9.7%
Other 12% 11%


What did you like least about John Paul II's papacy?
Catholics Non-Catholics
Authoritarian leadership style 7.7% 8.1%
The handling of the sexual abuse scandal 30.2% 30.5%
Continued opposition to abortion 1.5% 2.7%
Condemnation of homosexuality 5.1% 7.1%
Controversial candidates for sainthood 1.7% 2.5%
Opposition to the Iraq war 6.2% 6.9%
Banning dialogue about the ordination of women 13.5% 11.6%
The continued ban on contraceptives 16.4% 18.1%
Other 17.6% 12.6%


I think the Catholic Church:
Catholics Non-Catholics
Should be more progressive 50.7% 64.5%
Should be more traditional 21.2% 16.4%
Is fine as it is 28% 19.2%


Do you believe the Catholic Church should: (Catholic responses)
Yes No Not sure
Ordain women 41% 44% 15%
Allow for abortion in some cases 40% 45% 15%
Reach out more to other faiths 84% 8% 8%
Allow euthansia 16% 64% 20%
Allow birth control 63% 26% 10%
Allow priests to marry 56% 32% 12%
Do more for social justice/human rights 81% 9% 10%
Return to more traditional Catholicism 32% 52% 16%
Increase its efforts to fight poverty 87% 7% 6%
Allow more lay participation 67% 18% 16%
Accept homosexuality 30% 54% 17%
Offer Communion to remarried Catholics (without requiring an annulment) 63% 25% 12%
Decentralize the power of the Vatican 20% 63% 18%
Reconsider its opposition to the Iraq war 19% 64% 17%
I hope the church stays pretty much as it is 38% 45% 17%


Do you believe the Catholic Church should: (Non-Catholic responses)
Yes No Not sure
Ordain women 58% 27% 15%
Allow for abortion in some cases 58% 29% 13%
Reach out more to other faiths 86% 6% 7%
Allow euthansia 27% 45% 27%
Allow birth control 81% 11% 8%
Allow priests to marry 80% 10% 10%
Do more for social justice/human rights 83% 7% 10%
Return to more traditional Catholicism 17% 61% 22%
Increase its efforts to fight poverty 89% 4% 7%
Allow more lay participation 72% 8% 20%
Accept homosexuality 36% 51% 12%
Offer Communion to remarried Catholics (without requiring an annulment) 73% 10% 17%
Decentralize the power of the Vatican 36% 35% 29%
Reconsider its opposition to the Iraq war 29% 52% 19%
I hope the church stays pretty much as it is 17% 61% 22%


I hope the next pope is from:
Catholics Non-Catholics
United States 21.6% 27.8%
Canada 2.6% 3.6%
Mexico 3.7% 1.9%
Central/South America 20.5% 15.2%
The Caribbean 1.6% 1.4%
Europe 27.2% 22.1%
Australia 1.3% 2.4%
Asia 3.5% 3.2%
Africa 17.9% 22.4%


What I like most about my faith is:
Catholics Non-Catholics
Being connected to a spiritual community 8.6% 8.8%
It makes me a better person 8.2% 8.8%
The rituals, music, and liturgy 5.5% 2.7%
Receiving Communion 10.7% 1.4%
Spiritual practice makes me feel grounded 9.9% 9.9%
Having a moral structure to guide my life 19.9% 16.6%
It gives me a meaningful sense of my role in the world 11.5% 13.8%
It is my source for truth and wisdom 12.6% 21.6%
Religious figures in my tradition inspire me 2.5% 1.1%
I'm not so sure I like it! 4.7% 2.8%
Other 5.9% 12.5%


How often do you attend religious services?
Catholics Non-Catholics
More than once a week 20.7% 22.9%
Once a week 40.3% 27.2%
A few times a month 13.5% 13%
A few times a year 20.3% 24.3%
Never 5.2% 12.6%


What would inspire you to attend Mass more often (Catholics only):
Catholics
Having more of a voice in church activities & decisions 6.5%
More innovative liturgies 11.8%
More dynamic pastoral leadership 20.3%
A return to traditional mass practices 12.4%
More acceptance and tolerance 15.1%
Practical amenities like day care 2.1%
I already go to church enough! 11.5%
Nothing--I am Catholic, but not practicing 5%
N/A--I'm not Catholic 1.3%
Other 14%
more from beliefnet and our partners