Women Called Catholics: The Sources of Dissatisfaction with the Church, Santa Clara County, California

Abstract

This study attempts to specify the sources of Catholic women's discontent with the church. Factor analysis produced three clusters of specific attitudes, centering on the church's response to 1) local issues; 2) moral issues; and 3) ideological issues. The main finding is that local issues are most important in determining women's general satisfaction with the direction of the church. In light of the Catholic bishops' decision to issue a pastoral letter on women in the church, the essay has some policy implications. Notwithstanding the importance of issues like abortion and the ordination of women, it is clear that the bishops must also address issues which in some circles of the intelligentsia may be considered mundane.