Curious survey o' the day
From, where else, France.
Paris Match, of all things, has polled the Plain People of France on recent decisions by the Pope, lifting excommunications of four bishops raised by Archbishop Lefebvre and permitting the Mass to be said in Latin. As an Anglican (with Calvinist complications) agnostic / atheist, this is not something I can summon much strength of feeling over, but the French seem to feel otherwise.
47% approve of the Mass in Latin, 51% disapprove. I am struggling to see why anyone would object to this, as it is an option, not a fiat. A gentleman of my acquaintance is a seriously devout Catholic who prefers the Mass in Latin, and making this form of worship easier for him and those like him seems like a Good Thing. 27% approve of lifting the excommunication, 70% do not. This has been complicated by the fact of one of the 'bishops' - Richard Williamson -being a Shoah-denier. While this sinks him deep, nay submerges him in odium, it is not theologically relevant.
As to those to whom these issues are pertinent - practicing Catholics, 60% are pro Latin, and 41% pro lifting the excommunication.
Digging around in the socio-demographic detail is half the fun of blogging French surveys, and it is Frontistes (61%) who are keenest on the Mass in Latin. This is not surprising, as there is a certain strain of opinion in France where traditionalist view on a whole range of things seem to coalesce. Greens are the most hostile (39%) for reasons I cannot begin to fathom. Muslims are none to keen at 35% anti, not that it is any of their concern, and given that they use pre-medieval Arabic shows rank hypocrisy too.
As to the excommunication lifting, Trots are the most anti (57%), and Communists (37%) and Gaullists (33%) keenest. A rum business.
Paris Match, of all things, has polled the Plain People of France on recent decisions by the Pope, lifting excommunications of four bishops raised by Archbishop Lefebvre and permitting the Mass to be said in Latin. As an Anglican (with Calvinist complications) agnostic / atheist, this is not something I can summon much strength of feeling over, but the French seem to feel otherwise.
47% approve of the Mass in Latin, 51% disapprove. I am struggling to see why anyone would object to this, as it is an option, not a fiat. A gentleman of my acquaintance is a seriously devout Catholic who prefers the Mass in Latin, and making this form of worship easier for him and those like him seems like a Good Thing. 27% approve of lifting the excommunication, 70% do not. This has been complicated by the fact of one of the 'bishops' - Richard Williamson -being a Shoah-denier. While this sinks him deep, nay submerges him in odium, it is not theologically relevant.
As to those to whom these issues are pertinent - practicing Catholics, 60% are pro Latin, and 41% pro lifting the excommunication.
Digging around in the socio-demographic detail is half the fun of blogging French surveys, and it is Frontistes (61%) who are keenest on the Mass in Latin. This is not surprising, as there is a certain strain of opinion in France where traditionalist view on a whole range of things seem to coalesce. Greens are the most hostile (39%) for reasons I cannot begin to fathom. Muslims are none to keen at 35% anti, not that it is any of their concern, and given that they use pre-medieval Arabic shows rank hypocrisy too.
As to the excommunication lifting, Trots are the most anti (57%), and Communists (37%) and Gaullists (33%) keenest. A rum business.
Labels: France, Men and women of the cloth, surveys
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on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 12:53 pm.
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Anglican agnostic/athiest?
Ah-ha! Now I know what to put on my next census form instead of "Jedi".
Stolen, after a fashion, from 'Catch 22'. The God I cannot believe in is defintely middle of the road Anglican.
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