New England Public Radio

Bishop Mitchell Rozanski of the Springfield Catholic Diocese announcing plan to merge Cathedral and Holyoke Catholic High Schools into a new regional school, 23 February, 2015. Behind him is Dr. Paul Gagliarducci, who will oversee merger and building of new school.
(Photo Credit: Kari Njiiri for NEPR)

In Survey, Catholic Diocese Looking For ‘Honest Feedback’ From Those Outside The Faith

The Springfield Catholic Diocese says it’s looking for “honest feedback” about the church in a new survey. In the first ten days, the diocese reports hearing from close to 1,000 people.

The Springfield Diocese knows it’s lost members. And this survey, says spokesperson Mark Dupont, will help the church plan its next steps.

“Our goal is to hear from as many people [as we can] — especially those who have sort of fallen away from the Catholic faith or who are not part of our Catholic faith, we’re very curious about their thoughts,” Dupont says.

This is about rebuilding bridges and trust, Dupont says, after the clergy sex abuse scandal, and also “parish planning, pastoral planning, which involved closing a number of parishes here in western Massachusetts, also was very painful for many people.”

The survey is in English and Spanish, and entirely online. So the diocese is asking parishes to make tablet computers available after Mass, for folks without internet access.