June 10, 2002
For Information Contact: Ted Apostol (602) 707-0050

Scandal Having Some Impact on Catholic Church Attendance
Majority of Arizonans Think Oath of Celibacy Should Not Be Required

PHOENIX -The recent scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church also have rocked some church-goers, according to a just-released survey of 413 Arizona adults by WestGroup Research of Phoenix. Survey results show that some Catholics (9%) are attending services less often as a result of the scandal. In addition, 59% of all respondents and 54% of Catholic respondents say that Catholic priests should not be required to take an oath of celibacy. The survey was part of WestGroup's ongoing monitor of current events for May 2002. The overall study with has a margin of error at a 95% confidence level of + 5%.

Results overview:

• About four out of five (79%) respondents mentioned they have seen or heard about the Catholic church in the news.
• When asked specifically, the survey shows that nearly all Arizona adults are aware of the scandal (95%).
• Some Catholics are attending services less often as a result of the scandal - 9% of Catholic Church attenders.
• Most Arizona adults surveyed say Catholic priests should not be required to take an oath of celibacy - 59%. A slightly smaller percentage of Catholics believe the oath should not be required - 54%.

Four out of five respondents (79%) have seen or heard something in the news about the Catholic Church. When asked specifically if they had heard anything about priests in the Catholic Church who have sexually abused children, most respondents (95%) to the WestGroup Research monthly telephone study said they had. Among these, just more than half (51%) said they thought the problem was to a greater extent in the Catholic Church than among other religions. Catholics, however, were significantly less likely to think it is a Catholic problem (34%) and more than half (54%) said the problem is the same for all religions.

Looking just at those adults who have attended religious services in the past 30 days, a small percentage of them (3%) say the scandal has caused them to attend religious services less often. This decline in attendance was mostly among Catholic attenders (9%).

The majority of Arizonans (59%) appear to believe Catholic priests should not be required to take an oath of celibacy. A slightly smaller percentage of Catholics also feel this way (54%).

Questions/Responses:

From what you may have seen or heard, what religious organizations or denominations are currently in the news?

Do you think this is happening to a greater extent, same extent, or lesser extent in the Catholic church than it is in other religions? (Among those aware: n=393)

How has the scandal affected your attendance at religious services? Would you say it has made you decide to attend religious services…
(Among those who have attended religious services in past 30 days.)

Do you think Catholic priests should or should not be required to take an oath of celibacy?

From what you may have seen or heard, what religious organizations or denominations are currently in the news?

Have you seen or heard anything about priests in the Catholic church who have sexually abused children?

Do you think this is happening to a greater extent, same extent, or lesser extent in the Catholic church than it is in other religions? (Among those aware: n=393)

How has the scandal affected your attendance at religious services? Would you say it has made you decide to attend religious services less often, had no effect, or more often?
(Among those who have attended religious services in past 30 days.)

Do you think Catholic priests should or should not be required to take an oath of celibacy?

Research Results—Background Information
Each month WestGroup Research conducts WestTrack, an omnibus poll, with Arizona residents. The following findings are a portion of the results of the non-proprietary questions posed in the January phase of the WestTrack polling (to residents of metro Phoenix). The research was designed by WestGroup analysts and conducted by WestGroup interviewers at the state-of-the-art phone bank in the firm’s Phoenix offices. The research was conducted from January 5th through January 25th.

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