Contact: John Moynihan 617-680-2131, jmoynihan@votf.org

For Immediate Release

Study Reveals Voice of the Faithful Members Come From the Heart of Catholicism

October 23, 2005 - The results of an in-depth survey demonstrate that Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) members share a deep and highly involved commitment to their Church. In the study, conducted by Dr. William D’Antonio and Dr. Anthony Pogorelc of the Life Cycle Institute of the Catholic University of America, under a grant from the Louisville Institute, 35 leaders of VOTF were interviewed at length and 1273 additional members completed extensive surveys. The results were then analyzed by six academicians in a symposium sponsored by the Boston College Church in the 21st Century Center.

“One of the most distinctive characteristics is VOTF members’ high level of education,” wrote the authors. “The vast majority (87%) have at least a college degree; six out of ten have graduate or professional degrees. Furthermore, a majority were educated in Catholic schools, from a high of 70% at the elementary level to a majority of 57% at the college level …the great majority (85%) are also registered in a parish (true of 68% of the national population).”

The results also showed that VOTF members are well versed in Church affairs. Almost a quarter of those surveyed had earned a degree in either theology, canon law or scripture studies; half said that they had taken an extensive number of theology courses, and almost as many had taken diocesan- or parish-sponsored theology courses.

Voice of the Faithful members also attend Mass with greater frequency than Catholics nationally – two out of three attend Mass at least once a week as opposed to 34% of Catholics surveyed in the larger study of Catholics nationally. Eight out of ten VOTF members report that they pray once a day or more.

When asked how important the Church is to them personally, 62% said it is the most important or among the most important parts of their life. At the national level, 44% said the Church was the most or one of the most important parts of their lives.

With regard to activities in their parish, the survey found that half were members of Parish Councils, 45% were on Liturgy Committees, and one in four served on Parish School Boards or Finance Committees. More than six out of ten reported membership in other parish committees. Their active participation in parish life extended to service as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers (45% for each) with one in four listing Mass Server, Music Ministry and Greeter/Usher. Some 52% reported teaching in religious education or RCIA, while 25% reported teaching in a Catholic grade or high school. Two out of three were members of small faith-sharing groups, including parish RENEW groups. “In sum,” wrote the authors, “VOTF members have an extraordinary amount of knowledge about the Catholic Church’s teachings and liturgy.”

Since Vatican II, the Church has stressed “a preferential option for the poor.” When asked how often they served the needy in programs such as soup kitchens, tutoring programs, etc., the study shows that 25% do so weekly and another 25% do so at least once a month or more, while only one in five put themselves in the “seldom” or “never” category.

“Our members come from the heart of the Catholic Church in America,” said James E. Post, president of Voice of the Faithful. “The study convincingly shows that we are who we claim to be – Catholic women and men who share a deep commitment to our Church.”

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About Voice of the Faithful: Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The group's mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. Its goals are to support survivors of abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching.