Ad Dominum

The clergy, honesty, and ethics

Posted on January 6, 2010, 12:02 am, by Thom, under Catholic Christianity, Christendom.

Gallup recently released the results of its annual Honesty and Ethics Ratings of Professions poll. Ratings for clergy have not been this low in 32 years.

In 2008, 56% of respondents rated the moral caliber of clergy as “high” or “very high.” In 2009, that number fell to just 50%. Gallup noted in the findings that “now the clergy’s ratings are below where they were earlier this decade” at the height of the clergy abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.

Why the drop? Some people think they know the answer.

“The Catholic Church’s ongoing clergy sex abuse and cover-up crisis has also prompted victims in other denominations to step forward, speak up, call police, expose predators, file lawsuits, and speak publicly. This has, we suspect, also contributed to the diminished view of clergy.” [Barbara Doris of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)]

That’s a nice theory, but I don’t necessarily buy it, or at least entirely. According to a Christian Century article,

Ratings have declined year by year among Catholics and Protestants, whether they were regular or occasional churchgoers. However, ratings rose among those professing “no religion.” [01/12/2010, p. 13]

There’s a chin scratcher. Why are non-religious people trusting clergy more, while religious people are trusting clergy less?

Clergy rankings fell the most of the 22 professions included in the survey, beating out lawyers, bankers, and even stockbrokers.

Ouch.