The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-07-26
Newly Published:
Surrey Gires Interesting
Statistics On Background
Of Some European Priests
BY ERIK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Father Jacob Crottigini of the Foreign Missions of Bethlehem"
has published, in La Docunentdtion Cathollque, the results OF an
extraordinary survey on the social, intellectual, and spiritual
background of young priests and semipariens studying at the
university of Fribourg in Switzerland. Only Swiss, French, Ger
man, and Austrian citizens were approached. In the statistics
they were divided into two groups: Swiss and Foreigners" The
data for the Swiss are given in brackets after those for the
foreigners.
Rural vacations have decreased rapidly in favor Of urban
ones. Fifty per cent of the Swiss, as against 36% of the foreigners
outlook. Why? Because Switzerland has not been through war,
revolution, dictatorship, occupation; it has not been through the
What is the social background of these priests and serninarians
in %Fribourg. Only 1O0% come from wealthy backgrounds,
as modestly well off 20.913.D% admit their "pipched' situation.
and 41(24% say that they grew UP in poverty. A lot OF facts
interpreted. Of the two extremes-weath and poverty-the latter
proves the greater handicap for vacations. What We must do
social backgrounds Of priests and semiarians, but to. compare
them with the social structure of their respective nations. Then
the "rich" really make out quite well.
The next piece of statistics does not come at all as a surprise.
Families with many children have more vacations than those
with few. The average number of children in families having
produced a vocation is 5564. Among those asked $4,000
were only sons! The reasons for this: the Catholic climate IN
a family with many children; the natural drive for the survival
of the family and the family name very strong in EuropeD;s and,
finally, the fact that a European priest today would be hardly
in the financial position to help his parents materially. Chis was
Among the fathers of those INTERCEPTED 602(7D% voted
always for Catholic Christian, or conservative parties; 3L1(99D%
can be considered free of party affiliations, which shows the
typical indvidualism of the non-democratic societies
What about the religious fervor in the families? Only
36 (2D% came from mixed marriages; 81.9 G2.9% declared that
their fathers were deeply religious; 969 97.N% said the same of
their mothers; 7s @.5)% called their fathers religious life
conventional, the same was true Of 26 C2D% of the mothers.
Everybody had a religious mother, but g. 2D% had a non
practising father.
Common prayers were said in 754Cs1.N% of the families.
which shows the stronger community spirit of the Swiss. Another
interesting detail: 20% of fathers and mothers had, in their
youth, thought of choosing a religious life. AS for who exercised
the greater influence on the religious life of the family 51.5(682%
named the mother, 313 (208)% recognized equal influence, 1913
Q0.5)% named the father. Il
In regard to the scholastic background one has to view these
data with great caution. The majority of the Swiss had a purely
Catholic education, the majority of the foreigners a neutral
one-thouph not in the American SenSe-Since CATHOLIC religious
instruction is given in the "non-denominational" hlghschool col
leges in France and in all German and Austrian schools. There
are very few "Catholic schools" in Austria. Still, 41.8148)%
are. convinced that a n~on-Catholic school is preferable; 2557DO
think that one system is as good Tor bad as the other.
Asked whether religious instruction had been a positive or
negative factor in following their vocations 726(68O~ called u
an obstacle rather than an encouragement (parental influence -
a far more important factory. The theological courses at tne
university (and in the seminaries) were also heavily criticized.
The philosophical part was considered inferior by 7l5(6o2%,
the theological part by 53943.0%. The general criticisms can
be summed up in the words: dull, nadly organized, oVoIceo
from life" 1t is of course, possible that, later in their careers,
these men will revise their harsh civilizations in retrospect.
Ninety-seven and five-tenths per cent OF the SWISS and $50"
of the foreigners had belonged to Catholic associations, clubs. 50
dalities. etc. 78 6143T had been altar boys. Almost half OF
those questioned had been encouraged by a friend or by men
they admired and revered, to choose the religious lie. Again u
most half of them found their vocation helped by good books,
while 10 admitted adverse influences from reading.
Interesting is the attitude towards military service for those
preparing for the priesthood. Under the Nazis military service
for seminarians was enforced. 1t no longer exists In Germany or
Austria, yet the French make no exceptions and many frem
priests have been used in combat as commissioned officers IN
the two World Wars. They are famous for their tougnessD AS q
result 81 496 5% of those quizzed thought that military service
for prieststobe is an excellent idea. Yet l have to add Immediately
that at the age of 18 a young European OF a certain eoucauon -
. finished man" in a sense. His religious crisis is behind him. And
the entire spirit of the European armies is of a special KIND.
Army and Church always had mutual Sympathies, and the per-
centage of practising Catholics in the officers corps has always
been high.