01: There has been debate and controversy about the existence and influence of a homosexual subculture in the Catholic priesthood, but a new study confirms that such “gay cliques” are prevalent in many dioceses.
The influence of such a subculture has been cited by Catholic conservatives and leaders as a factor in the rise of sex abuse cases, while others have hotly contested that claim. The new survey, conducted among 1,200 priests by sociologist Dean Hoge of Catholic University, found that more than half of the priests identified such a subculture, with 19 percent of priests saying it “clearly” existed, and 36 percent that it probably existed. For seminarians, the figures were, respectively, 19 percent and 26 percent.
02: There has been a significant increase in the role of spirituality in the workplace since Sept. 11, according to a survey by the marketing company MarketFacts TeleNation.
The survey of 650 employed Americans found that 55 percent said that spirituality plays a “very significant” or “important” role on the job. More than a third — 34 percent — said the role of spirituality in the workplace has become more important since Sept. 11.
Spirituality & Health magazine (Fall) notes that while all demographic groups reported this increase in spirituality, 42 percent of women reported it compared to only 27 percent of men.
(Spirituality & Health, 74 Trinity Place, New York, NY 10006)
