Philip Crispin
Many French priests feel overworked and are asking grave questions about their future role within the Church, a major new study has found, writes Philip Crispin.
"Overwork, isolation, fatigue: a significant group of priests have given voice to their suffering," said François Boursier, a lecturer at the Institut Catholique in Lyons which carried out the research. "But a majority believe that they succeed in striking a good, even very good, balance in their lives, thanks to the importance attached to spirituality and prayer."
Mr Boursier said many priests regretted being snowed under by managerial tasks and were concerned by poverty - a priest's monthly allowance is between £470 and £670.
Some 1,200 priests and Religious took part in the study, the biggest since 1985. Mr Boursier believes the study is representative of the lives of France's 17,473 diocesan priests.