University students are believers but want Church to change

A survey on religious beliefs and attitudes has portrayed university students as being firm believers though, ironically, they oppose the Church's teachings on several life issues.

Practically all those surveyed do not see anything wrong with premarital cohabitation, just a quarter strongly object to divorce, 85 per cent disagree with the Church's teaching on birth control and 71 per cent agree with premarital sexual intercourse.

The survey questioned a random sample of 417 students and was drawn up by university chaplain Fr Jimmy Bartolo, Fr Charles Tabone, Anton Buhagiar, Edward Zammit, Fr Paul Pace and Mary Anne Lauri.

A very high percentage (98 per cent) declare their belief in God and in the other fundamental principles of the Catholic faith.

There is also a very high level of belief among students in issues like the afterlife (88.1 per cent), bodily resurrection (71.7 per cent) and the efficacy of the sacraments (86.3 per cent).

The majority of respondents - 88.9 per cent - claim they pray, with 71.8 per cent saying they did so "regularly" and 45.4 per cent "daily". A very high number (82.4 per cent) refer to prayer as a "way of communicating with God".

Over three-quarter of respondents (77.1 per cent) attend Mass at least once a week and another 7.7 per cent go to Mass monthly.

Just 0.9 per cent said they "never" receive Holy Communion, while 52.9 per cent said they received the sacrament every time they attend Mass.

On the other hand, the sacrament of Confession is less popular with one third of respondents saying they "never" go to confession.

A total of 14.7 per cent said they believed in fortune telling and 13.1 per cent in the horoscope.

Turning to marriage, 94.6 per cent intend to contract some form of marriage and 90 per cent said they wish to marry in Church.

The attitudes changed when students were asked about the Church's teachings on certain hot issues.

The points of divergence revolve around interpersonal relations, mainly those relating to sexual behaviour and significantly to certain institutional aspects of the Church itself.

A total of 71 per cent see nothing wrong with premarital sexual intercourse, especially when the relationship is described as steady and leading towards marriage.

A total of 39.6 per cent admitted they have indulged in sexual intercourse during the last year. No fewer than 65.8 per cent disapprove of the Church's teachings on premarital sex, while 40 per cent disagree with the Church that divorce is morally wrong.

Although 52 per cent of respondents disagreed with the legalisation of divorce, when asked whether they personally would be ready to file for divorce if the need arises, they express a different view. Only 24.8 per cent say that whatever the circumstances they would never ask for divorce.

Though just 2.5 per cent see absolutely nothing wrong with abortion, 37.5 per cent do not see it as "always wrong" because they think there may be exceptional cases where it can be justified.

No fewer than 99.8 per cent see no wrong with premarital cohabitation with many arguing it helps to get to know your partner better and is seen as a rehearsal for marriage.

Nearly three-quarters (74.6 per cent) declared their faith in the Church as an institution.

Speaking during the launch of the survey, Fr Tabone said the findings dismissed the popular perception that university students had lost their spirituality.

However, it was rather worrying that the findings showed that a good number of students were looking at the Church as irrelevant in their everyday life, he said.

Asked whether it was high time for the Church to revise its strict policy on certain life issues, Fr Tabone said the institution could not remain indifferent to certain demands. The Church has, after all, updated its policies along the years.

Fr Pace described the number of students that prayed as "striking", though it was evident from the survey findings that many were choosing to live on their own accord.

"We are assisting to a breakdown in marriages and we all know there are values that society chooses to ignore. But yes, it's important for the Church to listen," he said.