Scottish Catholic Observer

The Holy Father arrives in Scotland today to begin his UK visit and a total of 70 per cent of Catholics who responded to a BBC commissioned poll said they expect the visit to benefit the Church. Almost six in ten Catholics, however, also said that their Faith is not ‘generally valued’ in British society.

The poll, conducted by ComRes—a member of the British Polling Council—surveyed a random sample of 500 Catholics across the UK between September 6 and 9 this year and nearly half of those who responded thought that the Pope should drop his insistence on clerical celibacy.

Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes, said the results showed that the majority of Catholics are enthusiastic about the arrival of the Pope but that there is still disquiet among many regarding some of the Church’s teachings.

“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,” Mr Hawkins said.

A total of 52 per cent of the 500 Catholics surveyed said the sex abuse scandal had shaken their faith in the Church’s leadership while two-thirds also thought women should have more authority and status within the Church.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster believes it is unlikely that the Church’s policy on clerical celibacy is set to change.