The Irish Catholic has published a report on the 2018 European Social Survey data, noting that while there have been further declines in mass attendance in Ireland, there has been a rise in those who say they pray every day.
I was interviewed for the article, pointing out that this could fit in with trends towards being ‘spiritual but not religious’, found in other parts of Europe:
Dr Gladys Ganiel, a sociologist at Queen’s University Belfast said the revelation about prayer is “quite interesting” and that she is “not entirely surprised”.
“This could be tapping into individualised spiritual practices which we know in other parts of Europe continue even where there has been much steeper declines in institutional religion than in Ireland.
“There could be people who have dropped off going to Mass but are still praying,” she said.
The article also quotes Dominican preacher Fr John Harris OP, Dr Philip Gonzales, a lecturer in philosophy at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and Dr Tom Finegan, a theologian at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, who emphasise that these figures on prayer could be interpreted as indicating a deeper human need for a spiritual dimension to life. They interpret this as a hopeful sign for the Church.
I also was not entirely surprised because the findings fit with results from my own survey research on the 2018 Papal visit to Ireland.
I asked people if their religious practice had changed as a result of Francis becoming Pope in 2013; and if they anticipated their religious practice would change as a result of Francis visiting Ireland.
Among the general population, religious practice had not changed (63 percent) and would not change (63 percent) – figures that were similar to practising Catholics, defined as those who attend mass monthly (64 percent since Francis became pope, and 62 percent after the visit).
But of those who indicated change in their religious practices, ‘praying more often’ was top of the list.
For practising Catholics, 16 percent said they would pray more often as a result of Francis’ visit, compared to 7 percent of the general population.
And for practising Catholics, 15 percent said they prayed more often since Francis became pope in 2013, compared to 8 percent of the general population.
In other publications based on this data, I argue that these figures on prayer (alongside other factors discussed in more detail, such as more favourable opinions of the Church since Francis became pope, demonstrate a partial ‘Francis Effect’ in Ireland).
It would be wrong to say that these surveys are pointing towards revival. But they indicate at least some modest signs of religious vitality.