Catholic Priest in the United States : a Study of Active and Resigned Priests, 1969-1970

UKDA study number:683

Principal Investigators

Greeley, A.M.
Schoenherr, R.J.
National Opinion Research Center (Chicago)

Data Collector

National Opinion Research Center (Chicago)

Sponsor

Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.A.)

Distributed by

UK Data Archive, University of Essex, Colchester.

January 1979

Bibliographic Citation

All works which use or refer to these materials should acknowledge these sources by means of bibliographic citation. To ensure that such source attributions are captured for bibliographic indexes, citations must appear in footnotes or in the reference section of publications. The bibliographic citation for this data collection is:

Greeley, A.M., Schoenherr, R.J. and National Opinion Research Center (Chicago), Catholic Priest in the United States : a Study of Active and Resigned Priests, 1969-1970 [computer file]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive [distributor], January 1979. SN: 683.

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683 . Catholic Priest in the United States : a Study of Active and Resigned Priests, 1969-1970

Depositor:

Bova, P. , National Opinion Research Center (Chicago)

Principal Investigators:

Greeley, A.M.

Schoenherr, R.J.

National Opinion Research Center (Chicago)

Data Collector:

National Opinion Research Center (Chicago)

Sponsor:

Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.A.)

Project Number:

NORC ; 5029

Other Acknowledgements:

Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.A.)

Abstract:

To describe and analyse the life and ministry of Roman Catholic priests in the United States.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions
A)Active Priests
Opinion of seminary training, frequency of dating girls before and during seminary training, satisfaction with present assignment, opinion of the priesthood in general and of recruitment. Principal type of work since ordination, time spent on various activities in an average week, opinion of present work and of supervision received, number of hours spent working per day/week. Membership of priests' associations. Comparison of priesthood with other professions (e.g. amount of skill, responsibility involved), opinion of pay received and promotion opportunities, frequency of religious observance and religious experience, evaluation of various activities/problems (e.g. private devotion, visiting the sick/theological change, celibacy), attitude to the Church in general, who controls decision-making in diocese (satisfaction with), amount of contact with Protestant clergy and Jewish rabbis, attitude to proposed changes in the Church and problems such as contraception, abortion and divorce. Friendship network, amount of leisure time taken, date of last vacation, personal health rating, extent of social relations with women, alcohol intake. Reasons for remaining in priesthood, whether any friends have left and reaction. Assessment of happiness now and five years ago. Opinion on several social issues (e.g. poverty, Vietnam). Assessment of needs for the following year.
B)Resigned Priests
As above, including: comparison of present and previous occupation; current canonical status, attitude to 'laicization'/resuming the priesthood; future intentions; reasons for leaving; current religious position; whether sought psychiatric or psychological help (reasons); satisfaction with decision to leave; whether happily married, evaluation of time spent in ecclesiastical ministry.
Background Variables
A)Active Priests
Educational history and qualifications, diocese, current and previous positions, date of birth, date of ordination, whether U.S. citizen, familial history, race, readership of religious publications.
B)Resigned Priests
As above, including: marital status; employment status; occupation; number of children; monthly income.

Coverage:

Dates of Fieldwork: December 1969 - June 1970
Country: United States
Spatial Units: No information recorded
Observation Units: Individuals; Groups

Universe Sampled:

Location of Units of Observation: National
Population: Active and recently resigned Roman Catholic Priests in the United States

Methodology:

Time Dimensions: Cross-sectional (one-time) study
Sampling Procedures: No information recorded
Number of Units: A) Active Priests 5475 (obtained);B) Resigned Priests 873 (obtained)
Method of Data Collection: Postal survey

Language(s) of Written Materials:

Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:

Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required and standard conditions of use apply. The depositor may be informed about usage. See terms and conditions of access for further information.
Availability: UK Data Service
Contact: Get in touch

Date of First Release:

1 January 1979

File last updated:

7 May 2013