Ed. Note: The following is an executive summary of a survey performed by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The full survey results are available on the archdiocesan website, www.la-archdiocese.org.

In September 2003, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles, contracted with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University to conduct a survey of pastoral leaders and Synod delegates of the Archdiocese that would provide an evaluation of his ministry. This evaluative study was designed to assist Cardinal Mahony in the implementation of pastoral initiatives recently identified through the Archdiocesan Synod and in his planning priorities for the next eight years.

CARA worked directly with Cardinal Mahony to develop the evaluation questionnaire. Themes were drawn from material discussed in the Directory on the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops, Pastores Gregis: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II, and Cardinal Mahony's pastoral letter on ministry, "As I Have Done For You." Questions regarding future priorities were adapted directly from the "Pastoral Initiatives, Priorities, Strategies of the Synod of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles 2003." The questionnaire includes 139 closed-ended questions and two open-ended questions.

This evaluation form, along with a CARA return envelope, was mailed in November 2003 to 3,195 pastoral leaders who are active in ministry in the Archdiocese. Respondents were guaranteed that their individual responses would be entirely confidential. At this point, Cardinal Mahony appointed Msgr. David O'Connell of the Council of Priests as representative of the Archdiocese for the remainder of the project. A postcard reminder was sent to those who did not respond to the initial mailing in December 2003 and a second evaluation form followed in January 2004.

As of February 1, 2004 --- the cut-off date for accepting responses --- CARA had received a total of 1,268 responses for an overall response rate of 41 percent (1). Following standard assumptions of statistical inference this response provides for an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. Primary respondent sub-groups include priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons, and lay persons serving as lay ecclesial ministers, Synod delegates, or parish council presidents (2).

CARA destroyed all return envelopes used by respondents to reply to the survey. Paper questionnaires will be destroyed six months from the date of this report. The electronic data set, containing no individual identifying information, will be stored in CARA archives. CARA will not release these data to anyone.

Evaluation of Ministry

The first 71 questions on the survey asked the respondents to evaluate different aspects of Cardinal Mahony's ministry as Archbishop of Los Angeles. Respondents were first asked to evaluate general aspects of ministry, followed by evaluations of ministries to, and relationships with, specific groups. Then questions asked respondents to evaluate aspects of Cardinal Mahony's teaching ministry, priestly ministry, and pastoral ministry.

Overall Evaluation of Cardinal Mahony

Two-thirds of respondents (68 percent) rate Cardinal Mahony's ministry overall as "good" (50 percent) or "excellent" (18 percent). Among sub-groups of respondents, religious brothers and deacons are the most positive in their overall evaluation of the Cardinal with about eight in ten responding "good" or "excellent."

About seven in ten religious sisters, priests, parish council presidents, and Synod delegates respond similarly. Pastors and lay persons are slightly less likely to provide overall evaluations of at least "good" (64 and 61 percent, respectively).

About seven in ten respondents from the San Fernando and Our Lady of the Angels pastoral regions give Cardinal Mahony an overall evaluation of "good" or "excellent." About two-thirds of those in the San Gabriel, San Pedro, and Santa Barbara pastoral regions respond similarly.

General Aspects of Ministry

Regarding general aspects of ministry, respondents are most likely to evaluate Cardinal Mahony positively for his teaching of the faith, fostering prayer and worship, and promoting works of charity (75 percent or more "good" or "excellent"). Religious sisters and priests are among the most likely to rate his promotion of social justice highly, while deacons and lay persons are less likely to agree that Cardinal Mahony is "excellent" in this aspect of ministry. Cardinal Mahony is least likely to be rated as "excellent" for collaborating with others in ministry, knowing the people entrusted to his care, strengthening community, administration of the Archdiocese, and stewardship of Archdiocesan resources. Fewer than six in ten rate the Cardinal as at least "good" for these aspects of ministry. This pattern of ratings is similar across sub-groups of respondents.

Ministries and Relationships with Groups

Three in four respondents say that Cardinal Mahony's ministries to migrants and refugees and ethnic groups are "good" or "excellent." Slightly fewer respond similarly regarding his ministries to people from other religious traditions and people who are poor (72 and 66 percent, respectively). Respondents are least likely to rate his ministries to separated and divorced Catholics and inactive and alienated Catholics as at least "good" (43 and 34 percent, respectively). Respondents self-identifying as "Hispanic or Latino" are less likely than those identifying as "Anglo, Caucasian, or white" to rate Cardinal Mahony's ministry to migrants and refugees as "excellent."

Among all respondents and all sub-groups, Cardinal Mahony's relationship with groups outside the Church are rated most positively. More than three in four say the Cardinal's relationships with civic leaders, leaders of other Christian churches, and leaders of other religious traditions are "good" or "excellent." Half or fewer respondents say Cardinal Mahony's relationship with their parish or their deanery is at least "good." Priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay persons are also less likely than others to rate Cardinal Mahony's relationship with a group that they themselves are a part of as at least "good."

---Fifty-two percent of priests say Cardinal Mahony's relationship with priests is at least "good" (14 percent "excellent").

---Fifty-one percent of religious sisters and brothers say the Cardinal's relationship with women and men religious is at least "good" (19 percent "excellent").

---Just under half of lay person respondents say Cardinal Mahony's relationships with lay leaders, the laity, or lay ecclesial ministers is at least "good" (12, 10 and 8 percent, respectively, regard these as "excellent").

By comparison, more than seven in ten deacons say Cardinal Mahony's relationship with deacons is at least "good" (29 percent "excellent").

Teaching Ministry

More than eight in ten respondents say Cardinal Mahony does "somewhat" or "very" well in his teaching ministry of proclaiming the Gospel by his words, defending and safeguarding the faith, and grounding his teaching and preaching in Scripture (about half say he does each of these "very" well). Seven in ten or fewer respond similarly to the Cardinal's proclaiming the Gospel by his witness, leading people to faith, and strengthening people in their faith (less than three in ten say he does each of these "very" well). Similar patterns of responses are made by sub-groups, although deacons are slightly more positive and lay persons slightly less positive than all other respondents, in their evaluations of the Cardinal's proclaiming the Gospel by his witness, leading people to faith, and strengthening people in their faith.

Priestly Ministry

Nearly nine in ten or more of all respondents say Cardinal Mahony does "somewhat" or "very" well in his priestly ministry of celebrating and presiding in reverent style (68 percent "very" well), encouraging participation in the Eucharist, and leading the faithful in worship and prayer. By comparison, seven in ten or slightly fewer respond similarly regarding the Cardinal's inspiration of spiritual growth and promotion of devotional practices (28 and 27 percent, respectively, done "very" well). Similar patterns of responses are made by sub-groups, although deacons are slightly more positive, and priests slightly less positive than all other respondents, in their evaluations of the Cardinal's inspiration of spiritual growth and promotion of devotional practices.

Pastoral Ministry

Eight in ten or more respondents say Cardinal Mahony respects cultural differences, understands changing demographics, encourages the faithful to use their gifts, understands socio-economic realities, and promotes the common good "somewhat" or "very much" in his pastoral ministry. Parish council presidents are less likely than all other respondents to say Cardinal Mahony understands socio-economic realities and changing demographics "very much." Two-thirds or fewer respondents say Cardinal Mahony fosters unity within the Archdiocese or values the principle of subsidiarity at least "somewhat." Respondents self-identifying as "Hispanic or Latino" are more likely than those identifying as "Anglo, Caucasian, or white" to say Cardinal Mahony fosters unity with the whole Church.

Encouragement and Support of Groups

Respondents were asked to provide an evaluation of Cardinal Mahony's encouragement and support for 14 different groups in the Archdiocese. About three in four respondents say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports deacons, catechists and religious educators, diocesan priests, and lay mission helpers "somewhat" or "very much." About seven in ten say the same for the laity in general, lay leaders, pastoral associates, Catholic school teachers and administrators, lay associations, and other lay ecclesial ministers. About two-thirds say he encourages and supports religious sisters, religious priests, religious brothers, and wives of deacons at least "somewhat." Similar to the pattern of responses regarding the Cardinal's relationships with groups, priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay persons are less likely to say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports the group that they are most closely associated with "somewhat" or "very much."

---Sixty-seven percent of priests say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports diocesan priests at least "somewhat," and 58 percent say the same for religious priests.

---Sixty-seven percent of religious sisters and brothers say the Cardinal encourages and supports religious brothers at least "somewhat," and 62 percent say the same for religious sisters.

Fewer than six in ten lay person respondents say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports the laity in general, lay leaders, or other lay ecclesial ministers at least "somewhat."

By comparison, three in four deacons say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports deacons "somewhat" or "very much." However, fewer deacons --- 64 percent --- respond similarly for Cardinal Mahony's encouragement and support of "wives of deacons." Among deacons and religious sisters and brothers, those self-identifying as "Hispanic or Latino" are more likely than those identifying as "Anglo, Caucasian, or white" to say Cardinal Mahony encourages and supports most groups.

Pastoral Initiatives, Priorities and Strategies

Twenty-four of the survey questions asked respondents to place some level of importance or priority on the Archdiocesan Synod pastoral initiatives and pastoral priorities and strategies. Respondents were first asked to rank the importance of the six Synod pastoral initiatives. They were then asked to evaluate the priority level of 15 pastoral priorities and strategies and then to finally select among these the three most important priorities and strategies for Cardinal Mahony at this time.

Synod Pastoral Initiatives

Respondents are evenly split on priorities between the Synod pastoral initiatives regarding Eucharist and sacramental living and evangelization and new evangelization. A quarter of respondents each select one or the other as the "most important" priority for Cardinal Mahony at this time and each has a nearly identical average ranking of importance. One in five respondents select the initiative regarding participation and accountability as "most important." Initiatives regarding ministry and leadership, social justice, and ongoing education and formation are selected as "most important" by one in ten or fewer respondents.

Synod delegates, priests, and deacons select evangelization and new evangelization as the "most important" priority (36, 3 1, and 33 percent, respectively). Religious sisters and brothers select Eucharist and sacramental living as "most important" (34 percent). Lay persons are evenly divided in their selection of the "most important" priority between Eucharist and sacramental living and evangelization and new evangelization (23 percent each). Among all sub-groups, those self-identifying as "Hispanic or Latino" are more likely than those identifying as "Anglo, Caucasian, or white" to select evangelization and new evangelization as the "most important."

Synod Pastoral Priorities and Strategies

Regarding the Synod pastoral priorities and strategies, the largest group --- 62 percent of respondents --- selects increasing participation in decision-making at all levels as a "high priority." Among sub-groups, priests are an exception as they are more likely to select promoting evangelization at all levels as a "high priority" (63 percent). All other sub-groups --- including parish council presidents and Synod delegates (although by less than I percent) --- were most likely to select increasing participation in decision-making at all levels as a "high priority."

Other than increasing participation in decision-making at all levels and promoting evangelization at all levels, respondent sub-groups were most likely to select the following as a "high priority":

---Priests: Revitalizing Sunday Mass celebration (51 percent), developing processes for accountability (49 percent), and offering effective adult faith formation programs throughout the Archdiocese (48 percent).

---Religious Sisters and Brothers: Providing just salaries and benefits for Archdiocesan personnel (61 percent), increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious, and clergy (60 percent), and offering effective adult faith formation programs throughout the Archdiocese (59 percent).

---Deacons: Increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious, and clergy (59 percent), providing just salaries and benefits for Archdiocesan personnel (58 percent), and developing processes for accountability (53 percent).

---Lay Persons: Increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious, and clergy (69 percent), providing just salaries and benefits for Archdiocesan personnel (64 percent), and developing processes for accountability (63 percent).

Respondents were also specifically asked to select "the most important," "second most important" and "third most important" Synod pastoral priorities and strategies. One in four respondents --- the largest grouping --- selects promoting evangelization at all levels as the "the most important" priority for Cardinal Mahony at this time. This same selection for "most important" is made among all sub-groups.

A total of 38 percent of respondents select promoting evangelization at all levels as one of their top three priorities, followed by increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious, and clergy (33 percent), increasing participation in decision-making at all levels (27 percent), and developing processes for accountability (26 percent). Selections differ slightly among sub-groups:

---Priests: A total of 46 percent of priests select promoting evangelization at all levels as one of their top three priorities, followed by increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious, and clergy (30 percent), and revitalizing Sunday Mass celebration (27 percent).

---Religious Sisters and Brothers: In all 36 percent of religious sisters and brothers select promoting evangelization at all levels as one of their top three priorities, followed by increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious and clergy (31 percent), and increasing the number of women in leadership, administration, and ministry (29 percent).

---Deacons: Some 38 percent of deacons select promoting evangelization at all levels as one of their top three priorities, followed by increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious and clergy (36 percent), and increasing participation in decision-making at all levels (28 percent).

---Lay Persons: A total of 37 percent of lay persons select increasing collaboration and cooperation among laity, religious and clergy, followed by developing processes for accountability (35 percent), and promoting evangelization at all levels (29 percent).

Open-Ended Questions: Contributions and Challenges

The survey included two open-ended questions. The first asked, "What has been Cardinal Mahony's greatest contribution as Archbishop of Los Angeles?" The second asked, "What is the greatest challenge facing Cardinal Mahony as Archbishop of Los Angeles?"

Many respondents to the first of these open-ended questions tend to agree about Cardinal's Mahony's contributions as Archbishop. The themes that arise in response to this question are relatively clear and consistent. These include building the new Cathedral, convening the Synod, speaking out for social justice, making contributions in the area of liturgy, exercising collaborative leadership and encouraging lay ministry, dividing the Archdiocese into regions, and being media savvy.

Reactions to the question about the greatest challenge facing Cardinal Mahony can be divided into two basic categories: issues experienced by U.S. dioceses in general because of broad factors facing Catholicism, and issues specific to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the leadership of the Cardinal.

The former category includes challenges regarding responding to the fallout of the sexual abuse scandal, the need for evangelization, declining vocations to the priesthood and religious life and its implications, and concerns relating to left-right theological debates within the Church.

The latter category includes challenges regarding the size and diversity of the population of the Archdiocese, the state of Archdiocesan finances, the need to implement the Synod initiatives, the need for listening and collaboration, and clergy morale and the Cardinal's relationship with the presbyterate.

Footnotes: (1) This response rate reflects the removal from the denominator of bad addresses, respondents who had died, and respondents who were either too ill or incapable of filling out and returning the evaluation to CARA. (2) The discussions of sub-groups are organized in an order of: priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons, and finally lay persons. This order was established by the number of respondents in each grouping. Larger groups (priests and religious sisters and brothers) have smaller margins of error allowing for more complete analyses of sub-groups within these respondent groups (e.g., generation, race and ethnicity, etc.). The "lay person" respondent group includes all lay persons who are not a religious sister or brother.