Justice, Peace and Development Commission Listening Exercise - Pilot

Contents Background & Methodology Questions and Answers Interpretation of findings Moving Forward

1.Background and Methodology The pilot programme was initiated, developed and conducted by the Justice and Peace Commission. The purpose is to engage those who feel marginalised for whatever reason A questionnaire was developed by the Justice and Peace Commission – 5 questions, 4 boxes for comments. Two areas were agreed: Armagh (urban) and Louth (rural)

Background and Methodology- Pilot Programme Volunteers recruited from each area, briefed and trained. Participated in exercise over 3/6 nights in September ‘13 Target was 150 responses from each area

Background - Response to the process 450 questionnaires were distributed, 322 were completed 72 % return rate - why so high? Desire to be listened to – people felt valued Questionnaires were distributed, completed or collected within 24 hours

Profile of Respondents 322 completed questionnaires 131 were regular Mass goers(40%); 126 were irregular Mass goers (39%) and 39 (12%) never attend. 200 females (62%) and 122 males (38%) took part. 3 Age groups, 18-35 (90 ); 35-65 (187); 65+(45)

2. Questions and Answers 50% felt at home in the church 40% felt excluded, indifferent or irrelevant 10% felt valued by the Church 1. Which best describes your relationship with the Church? Reference made to the single mother whose baby’s baptism was not included in the parish bulletin – she assumed it was because she is not married and is a reflection that the church disapproves of her – it may have been administrative error but because she feels excluded, that is unlikely to be made clear to her. 70% of women gave a positive responses in this question while less than 50% of men felt positive about their relationship with the church

Relationship with the Church-comments 24 people felt the priest had an impact on their relationship with the Church – difficult to approach; Mass “boring”; priest “out of touch” 18 people felt the issue of clerical sexual abuse had affected their relationship with the Church 10 people felt Mass attendance was unnecessary or unhelpful in their faith life/relationship with God. 8 people felt there was nothing for young people.

Relationship with the Church

Questions and Answers 2 – Are there things you find difficult about the church or with which you disagree? If so, what are they? 57% had some difficulty or disagreed with the Church. 64 people raised clerical sexual abuse and how it was handled as a difficulty for them 34 people felt the Church had judged harshly/excluded those who didn’t “fit in”

Difficulties with the Church

Questions and Answers Question 3 –Are there ways you could be helped or supported better by the church? If so, what are they? Only 30% felt they could be helped or supported by the Church; this means 70% had little or no expectation of help/support from the Church Issue is whether this is positive or negative Story of the 72 year old woman who didn’t feel anything could be done to help her; she is too old and unwell to go to Mass; she never sees a priest but she doesn’t feel bitter or angry; she has just given up, she doesn’t feel part of the Church in any way.

Better support by the Church?

Questions and Answers Q4 – Are there things you could do together with the Church to help you/your family/ your community? If so, what are they? Almost 40% felt there were things that could be done. Age profiles had reverse results for males and females. Make reference to the people who would like to do things in their parishes but do not feel able to put themselves forward. The remarks made that people would willingly become involved if asked – reflection of the culture of the passive church community, not active or engageed. One of Lorraine’s tables appropriate here?

Working together with the Church

Questions and Answers Consistently the greatest number of “no comments” compared to any other question – indicative of the sense of detachment? Q5 Has the election of Pope Francis made a difference to you. If so, in what way? Surprised that this question evoked the number of highest number of “no comments” – is this an indication of the high level of detachment felt by many of the people we spoke to? Possibly difficult for them to ascertain from the mainstream press coverage, the significance that his approach is having at a deeper level. Sense that his approach is unlikely to make any difference to the way the Church in genreal engages with the people on the margins because he is only one man.

Pope Francis

Interpretation of responses Positive response to volunteers not automatically reflected in the findings – why? EVERYONE visited felt it important that their opinion was sought; that even if they had excluded themselves, they were still regarded as belonging with a contribution to make – the consultation was what mattered to them. People were generally open and forthcoming because the information was not going back to the Parish Priest and they were assured of confidentiality – this gave them more confidence to be honest.

Interpretation of responses Importance of Faith and relationship with God Desire to feel more connected Desire to have more input and to be valued Frustration that the Church is removed from reality of their lives – want to be shepherded in a relevant way Selection of comments from participants Need to include comments people made about their personal faith, the difficulty attending Mass with small children, the sense that they are not welcome because their lifestyle choice is at odds with Church teaching.

Moving forward Learning from this exercise? How it can be used? Opportunity to do something important Time to reflect – produce a full report Role of the Justice, Peace and Development Commission The need to reconnect with the people visited so that they are not left feeling like it was just another paper exercise. Potential follow-up in both areas visited? Groups of lay people who were trained and commissioned to visit/suuport people in each parish.. = Welcoming ministry? JPC need to sit down and explore hpw to rpovide a source of faith and spiritual support to these people who cannot engage where they are at now.

Final Thoughts “The thing the Church need most today is to heal the wounds and warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the Church as a field hospital after battle.” Pope Francis “We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realising that. This enables us to do something and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way. An opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.” Archbishop Oscar Romero Two final thoughts - Pope Francis is showing us by his life and example how we can be Church together – Archbishop Romero reassures us that the Lord does not expect us to do it on our own, but to step onto the path and trust in his providence about where it will take us.