The Pope's Sex Problem: Catholic Survey Reveals Frustrated Flock (xpost from Foreign Afairs)

[unhappycamper]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/catholic-survey-shows-deep-frustration-within-the-church-a-946069.html



The Vatican last year sent out a survey to Catholics around the world focusing on attitudes to sex and sexuality. The responses are now in -- and they show that the Church is badly in need of reform. Can Pope Francis meet such expectations?

The Pope's Sex Problem: Catholic Survey Reveals Frustrated Flock
By SPIEGEL Staff
February 03, 2014 – 04:30 PM

Adolescents find it embarrassing to talk about sex with adults. Even more so when the adult in question is their Catholic priest.

~snip~

The debate continues. "For our generation, it's also a question of responsibility. If you don't want to become a parent at 16 or 17, you have to use contraception," says Hannah. The 16-year-old and her fellow adolescents cite many other issues where they believe change is needed. "Homosexuals should also be allowed to marry, so that the church can be open to everyone," says Jonas. "The church doesn't have the right to interfere."

Last week, Germany's Catholic bishops held a two-day conference in the Bavarian city of Würzburg for the purpose of compiling and analyzing the responses given by Hannah, Jonas and other Catholics from all 27 dioceses in Germany. Their conclusions are bound for Rome. The project has likely led to more churchgoers expressing their opinions than ever before in 2,000-year history of the church.

In the past, the church has turned to its bishops to assess the mood in the grassroots, but their reports often contained more pious desires and wishful thinking than facts.