How the Church Learns and Teaches for individuals Question Title * 1. The demographics below are needed to represent you and your message to the Vatican statistically and anonymously in aggregate form. Depending on the volume of responses from your diocese, we may send data to your local bishop. City/Town: * State/Province: * Country: * Diocese Question Title * 2. Describe yourself based on the following: Gender Religious Status Catholic Standing Level of Satisfaction Age Range My profile Male Female Other My profile Gender menu an active Catholic Catholic in name only & struggling Other Christian People of other faiths My profile Religious Status menu A conservative Catholic A “middle-of-the-road” Catholic A progressive Catholic My profile Catholic Standing menu Satisfied with the Church as it is Aware that institutional Church must change but not doctrine) needs to occur Prepared for significant reform change, including doctrine My profile Level of Satisfaction menu Younger than 40 40-60 Older than 60 My profile Age Range menu Question Title * 3. Please check the topics that you feel need reform in the Church. The dualism of a “teaching Church” and a “learning Church” Non-acceptance of the teaching Necessity for dialogue Existence of diocesan councils or the like Synod Participation All are part of both the learning and teaching Church Need for an ongoing exchange between bishops and the faithful Other: Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. My present circumstance is best described as (check as many as fit your situation): I am engaged I am in my first and only marriage I am single and never been married I am a widow/widower I am divorced I have remarried We have children from previous marriages I am a single parent I am in a same-sex relationship I am cohabiting with someone I am in an interfaith marriage I am employed I am unemployed I am retired I am a priest I am a former priest I am a religious I am a former religious I am a deacon Other (please specify) Question Title * 5. From the pronouncements of Pope Francis, he suggests that all the faithful are called to active participation in teaching and governing, in mission and ministry. However, the current Church practice assumes that the faithful's only role is to listen while only the Church can teach. To what extent do you agree with the Church's current practice? Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Comment Question Title * 6. I believe that all of the People of God – bishops, clergy, religious, lay men and women – by virtue of our baptism, should become part of a learning and teaching Church, discerning together what we have to do to bring the Gospel up to date and make Church teachings relevant for our times. Stronglly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Stronglly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Comment Question Title * 7. If the teaching of the Church does not fit my values and experience, such as the Church's teaching on birth control, I believe I have a responsibility to allow my conscience to take precedence over the teaching. Strongly Agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Strongly Agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Question Title * 8. Despite the fact that many bishops are blocking the kind of dialogue Pope Francis is seeking, I believe that dialogue should become an institutional tool for building relationships to solve problems. Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Comment Question Title * 9. To formulate valid Church teachings, the Church must responsibly listen to the faithful and honor their lived experiences. Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Other (please specify) Question Title * 10. If the Church of the 21st century truly wants to understand the challenges and lived experiences facing families today, going along with Francis' call for dialogue, bishops must create opportunities for dialogue with all forms of families - divorced and remarried couples, same sex couples and families, couples in interfaith marriages, couples living together, and the like. Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Comment Question Title * 11. Bishops must create systems and structures for dialogue within dioceses to discuss relevant social teachings that meet contemporary needs. Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Strongly disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Comment Question Title * 12. Following the prompting of Pope Francis to open dialogue in dioceses, indicate which of the following dialogue venues already exist in your diocese: Mandatory representative diocesan synods Representative diocesan pastoral council with decision-making authority Representative diocesan financial council with decision-making authority Elected Pastoral councils with decision-making authority All the above To my knowledge, none of the above Other Question Title * 13. To acknowledge the lived reality of families today, the Church must include a broad spectrum of families (not just bishops and clerics) in the 2014 and 2015 Synod gatherings. Strongly disagree Disgree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Strongly disagree Disgree No opinion Agree Strongly agree Comment Question Title * 14. The invitation for families to participate in the Synod should be the first stage of an ongoing exchange between bishops and the faithful on a wide range of contemporary issues. Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Strongly agree Agree No opinion Disagree Strongly disagree Comment Question Title * 15. Share any personal experience, whether positive or negative, regarding any attempt you have made to reach out to your bishop or pastor regarding Church teaching or policy.Note: Experiences will only be shared or represented as generalized experiences. Question Title * 16. If you have a comment not covered in this survey that you would like to add, please do so. Done