Original scientific paper
Some Aspects of the Relationship Between Members of the Movement Prayer and Word and the Catholic Church in Croatia
Vine MIHALJEVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0003-1063-1546
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Marko MARINIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-9683-7571
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Stipe TADIĆ
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb
Abstract
Empirical research among the members of the new lay
ecclesiastical movements was conducted in 2001. As there were
also 148 members of the autochtonous Croatian movement
Prayer and Word among the examinees, several issues regarding
their relationship towards the institution of the Catholic Church
have been selected for the purpose of this article. First, some
basic information about the establishment and activity of this
movement has been presented, then the sociodemographic
characteristics of the examinees. Finally, most of the article is
dedicated to certain aspects regarding the relationship of the
members of the Prayer and Word movement towards the
Catholic Church and its officials, from the point of view of two
independent variables: gender and age. The research has shown
that the highest percentage of examinees are of the opinion that
the Catholic Church is attempting to live the Gospel and bear
witness to it, i.e. striving to live their calling on an exemplary
level. Women perceive priests first and foremost as "spiritual
leaders", while men regard them as "builders of the living
church". As far as the priests' attire is concerned, women are
more inclined to think that priests should dress according to
occasion, while men believe they should always emphasise their
priesthood wherever they are. Regardless of gender or age, examinees will go to the priest for advice only on occasion. The
results of the research have demonstrated that the examined
members of the ecclesiastical movement Prayer and Word have a
rather critical attitude towards their parent religious institution,
with which they do not exchange the kind of cooperation and
understanding that would be desirable according to the opinions
of the examinees.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
60392
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2005.
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