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People's Trust in Clergy Hits All Time Low: Poll
Christian Post ^ | 12/02/2017 | Anugrah Kumar

Posted on 12/02/2017 7:09:21 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The proportion of people who say they trust priests to tell the truth has reached an all-time low in Britain, while the number of those trusting politicians and police has risen, according to an Ipsos MORI survey.

Only 65 percent of respondents said they trusted priests to tell the truth, according to the survey, conducted among 988 adults last month, The Times reports. Last year, 69 percent had said they could trust clergy, and in 1983, when the annual poll was first conducted, the percentage was as high as about 85 percent.

The proportion of those who say they can trust politicians rose from 17 percent to 20, while those who trust government ministers stood at 22, up from 19 percent in a poll conducted before sexual harassment allegations in parliament.

Last month, Defense Minister Sir Michael Fallon stepped down after reports of a knee-grabbing incident that took place about 15 years ago. About three dozen other members of parliament, including seven cabinet ministers and eight former ministers, were also accused of inappropriate behavior, according to Sky News.

Trust in journalists has also reached an all-time low, at 27 percent, according to the survey, which reveals that the most-trusted group of professionals is nurses at 94 percent, followed by doctors at 91 percent. Trust in police is at 74 percent.

"Ipsos MORI has been tracking trust in professions for over 30 years, and over that time there have been some notable movers," said Gideon Skinner, head of political polling at Ipsos MORI. "Groups such as professors, scientists, the police, trade union officials and civil servants have become more trusted, but the clergy are the most notable losers. But not everything changes — doctors, nurses and teachers have consistently been near the top, and politicians and journalists down the bottom."

A Baptist minster, Jonathan Edwards, explained to Premier why fewer people now trust the clergy. "Clearly, there are many clergy who have slipped up and done things they ought not to have done, and that tends to blacken the reputation of others," he said, without citing specific examples. "Statistics like this should always be received by the Church with humility; we're all failed people and we should be deeply disappointed by these things."

According to a recent study commissioned by Christian youth organization Hope Revolution Partnership and carried out by ComRes, more than 20 percent of people between the ages of 11 and 18 describe themselves as active followers of Jesus in Britain, and 13 percent say they are practicing Christians who attend church.

A report, based on an analysis of the British Social Attitudes Survey and the European Social Survey and published in May, revealed that Anglicanism in Britain is beginning to see an upward trend due to a resurgence in patriotism and pride in Christianity. It said the proportion of those who say they are Church of England worshipers has risen from a low of 16.3 percent in 2009 to 17.1 percent in 2015.

However, an extensive survey in England, also published in May, revealed that only a minority of young people believe Jesus Christ was both a real person who lived on Earth and God in human form.


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: clergy; trust

1 posted on 12/02/2017 7:09:21 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

From what I read, half of them must be queers, so it doesn’t surprise me. I’m not going to seek advice from someone who doesn’t know the difference between a boy and a girl.


2 posted on 12/02/2017 7:11:46 AM PST by libertylover (Kurt Schlicter: "They wonder why they got Trump. They are why they got Trump")
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To: libertylover

IIRC, around 15 to 20 percent admitted to it.


3 posted on 12/02/2017 7:13:10 AM PST by Morpheus2009
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To: SeekAndFind
How can you trust them when they hold the Bible in one hand, while telling you that homosexuality, adultery, euthanasia, and abortion are okey-doaky? Even non-churched, non-Christian people would find that hypocritical.

Billy Graham is respected because he walked the talk and never wavered. He'd get on talk shows where some smarmy smart ass host would try to trip Billy up. Billy would tell them straight up, unless you believe in Jesus you are going to hell. The talk show hosts were always were caught flat footed, and not prepared for that response.
 

4 posted on 12/02/2017 7:25:22 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie
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To: SeekAndFind

1 Tim 3 - “A bishop then must be , must be, MUST BE . . .


5 posted on 12/02/2017 7:27:53 AM PST by aimhigh (1 John 3:23)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

> Even non-churched, non-Christian people would find that hypocritical. <

Bingo.


6 posted on 12/02/2017 7:30:18 AM PST by Leaning Right
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To: libertylover

A chicken hawk clergy has depleted the value of their brand, to use a marketing analogy.


7 posted on 12/02/2017 7:43:36 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: SeekAndFind
Trust in journalists has also reached an all-time low, at 27 percent, according to the survey, which reveals that the most-trusted group of professionals is nurses at 94 percent, followed by doctors at 91 percent. Trust in police is at 74 percent.

Hard to believe 27% of people trust the press - - I would have guessed 15%... at best.

8 posted on 12/02/2017 7:46:21 AM PST by GOPJ (Are the women NOT complaining the ones who 'put out' and moved up the ladder?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Trust in God is what matters.


9 posted on 12/02/2017 7:47:10 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

“Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was buried along with her name, nobody came,”

“Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave, no one was saved,”


10 posted on 12/02/2017 7:48:10 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: SeekAndFind
This is a classic propaganda piece. "Only" 65 percent trust priests, but a whopping 17 percent trust politicians. More than three times as many trust religious authorities than trust civil authorities, but the headline sounds gloom and doom for religion.

Lies come in a lot of different flavors ...

11 posted on 12/02/2017 7:53:31 AM PST by IronJack (A)
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To: SeekAndFind

-——which reveals that the most-trusted group of professionals is nurses at 94 percent, followed by doctors at 91 percent.-——

That’s sort of strange considering doctors kill more people very year than car accidents and gun deaths combined....

Maybe I’m biased since two doctors almost killed me when I had a serious illness or condition...

For something serious always get a second opinion...


12 posted on 12/02/2017 7:58:28 AM PST by Popman (My sin was great, Your love was greater  What could separate us now…)
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To: SeekAndFind

All the lambs know is what they read in the newspaper. And they lie!!!

rwood


13 posted on 12/02/2017 8:22:13 AM PST by Redwood71
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To: libertylover

Amen to that.


14 posted on 12/02/2017 8:38:59 AM PST by ravenwolf (If the Bible does not say it in plain words, please don`t preach it to me.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The current pope is helping that number immensely.


15 posted on 12/02/2017 8:57:48 AM PST by faucetman (Ju"st the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: GOPJ

“Trust in journalists has also reached an all-time low, at 27 percent!”

When 27-30% appears in surveys, it probably is an indication of that % of liberals are living in the survey areas.


16 posted on 12/02/2017 9:11:25 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Build Kate's wall and keep the illegals out of America.)
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To: SeekAndFind

If your Priest is a Western Civ-hating f*ggot devoting most of his time and Church resources to massive importation of well-tanned soccer fans, I’d say that might have something to do with your marketing problem.


17 posted on 12/02/2017 9:31:52 AM PST by gaijin (Basically Obama lawyers would blatantly make up some totally groundless allegation against a fat cas)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Lavender Mafia in the Roman Catholic church has done more damage to the faith of the flock then the USSR did.


18 posted on 12/02/2017 7:37:31 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: faucetman

Yes, compared to John Paul II what a lackluster individual, although he does have a bag of insults to rival Don Rickles.


19 posted on 12/02/2017 7:39:06 PM PST by MSF BU (Support the troops: Join Them.)
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To: Grampa Dave

Good catch... I’ll bet you’re right.


20 posted on 12/02/2017 9:14:05 PM PST by GOPJ (Are the women' NOT complaining' the ones who 'put out' and moved up the ladder?)
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