Action urged on abuse, reform and role of women

Developing the role of women, reforming the Vatican bureaucracy and improving the Church’s record on abuse are the three areas Pope Francis must most urgently address, according to a Tablet survey, writes Abigail Frymann.

Of the 1,400 respondents who completed an online poll on The Tablet’s website between 19 February and 4 March, 73 per cent said Pope Francis must prioritise developing the role of women, 72 per cent highlighted the need to press ahead with curial reform and 68 per cent said they wanted him to focus on child protection.

Of the 1,208 of the respondents who said they were Massgoing Catholics, almost two- thirds also wanted Pope Francis to prioritise making the Church more transparent. These priorities were closely followed by communicating Christ and the Gospel, involving the laity in decision-making and discussing Communion for remarried divorcees. The 299 clergy who took part in the poll listed curial reform as top priority (78 per cent). While 63 per cent highlighted improving the Church’s response to abuse, this priority emerged as seventh, behind developing the role of women, communicating Christ and the Gospel, and involving the laity in decision-making.

Meanwhile 85 per cent of Catholics reported favourable views of Pope Francis, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life in the US. Sixty per cent of non-Catholics also held a favourable view of the Pope. Seventy-one per cent of Catholics believed Pope Francis has begun major changes, and among them, 68 per cent believed the changes were for the better.