The Liberal-Conservative Scale (L-C Scale)

The most important part of a person's action is gaining merit for heaven.

Catholics should try to gain all the indulgences they can.

The celebration of Mass in private homes should be encouraged.

Nuns should wear modern dress.

Priests should wear a distinctive outfit.

Catholics should support birth control clinics set up by the government.

Sermons at Mass should deal with current social problems.

Catholic children should not be exposed to non-Catholic ways.

The church is losing its hold on its members by relaxing the laws of fasting and abstinence.

There are times when Catholics should criticize Church authorities in the press.

Parts of the Mass should be in Latin.

Catholic magazines that will strongly defend the Church's views are needed.

A priest should run his parish and not get involved in political issues.

Disobedience to Church authority leads to chaos and anarchy.

Catholic colleges and universities should be free from interference from Church authority.

Titles such as 'your Excellency' and 'Monsignor' should be dropped.

Confirmation should be postponed until the late teens.

Nuns should receive training outside the convent.

Many popular hymns lack the majesty that is fitting for Mass.

Protestant hymns and prayers should be avoided in Catholic services.

Catholic schools should hire Catholic teachers.

Parishes should have guitar Masses.

Seminarians should attend class with other college students.

Catholics should make the nine First Fridays at least once in their lives.

Following one's conscience is a legitimate excuse for disobeying Church authority.

A layman should not criticize the actions of a priest or nun.

More theologians from other faiths should teach at Catholic colleges.

The Church should never grant a divorce to someone validly married.

Sunday Mass should remain obligatory.

Catholic organizations should help blacks obtain jobs and earn better incomes.

Artificial birth control is morally wrong.

Catholics should help disadvantaged groups to secure equal rights.

Priests should change from their traditional clerical garb and wear ordinary clothes.

A good Catholic should say the Rosary often.

Priests should be allowed to marry.

Parochial schools should be closed.

It is a Catholic's duty to defend the Church when someone criticizes it.

Catholics should be allowed to use birth control pills.

Children should be ten years old before going to Confession.

Priests and nuns should devote their time and energy only to activities that are sponsored by Catholic groups.