Survey findings on sex and marriage to stay under wraps

More than 16,000 responses have been received by the Bishops’ Conference of England of Wales to a Vatican survey of Catholics’ views on same-sex marriage, contraception and Communion for divorced and remarried couples, writes James Macintyre.

But a spokesman said the bishops would not reveal the results of the consultation prior to next October’s extraordinary synod on the theme of marriage and the family.

Instead, the results will be sent confidentially to the Vatican “[in] accordance with the wishes of the Holy See,” the spokesman explained. The English and Welsh bishops led the way by being the first to make the questionnaire available online last November. It is understood, however, that Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops appointed last year by Pope Francis, later requested that the results of the survey were not made public. Summary reports have been submitted by all 22 dioceses in England and Wales to the bishops’ conference. However, the German bishops this week released the survey’s findings (see Church in the World, page 25). The spokesman added: “the statistical information shows a high level of engagement in the consultation process”.

The bishops’ conference received a total of 16,500 completed questionnaires. A majority of the 12,266 online responses were from laity of whom 69 per cent were married and 38 per cent were parents. 20 per cent of respondents were in “positions of responsibility within the Church” including teachers and pastoral assistants while 30 per cent of respondents were 65 and over.