An NBC survey of the Roman Catholic workforce, including those in Delaware County, showed divided opinions on key issues, writes Chris Glorioso and Evan Atulberger for nbcphiladelphia.com.

The survey was distributed to 32,000 employees in the Official Catholic Directory. Of those, 2,700 responded.

Some, like Drexel Hill Rev. Eileen McCafferty DiGranco of St. Mary Magdalene Community, felt that progressive reforms are needed or the church could collapse.

Others, like St. Denis priest Rev. Kevin Gallagher in Havertown, held a more traditional view on issues like women priests.

“Can women imitate Christ? Absolutely. And they do it heroically every day,” Gallagher said. “But Christ the priest, Christ the minister, is reserved to men.”

About 58 percent of respondents felt that women should not be ordained priests. But nearly 60 percent said ordaining women to the deaconate was worth considering.

Almost two thirds of the surveyed employees, about 65 percent, were open to ordaining more married men as priests.

Other results:

• 39 percent believe abuse or misconduct is still a major problem.
• 53 percent were open to the idea of birth control.
• 86 percent agree the Church and the pope are doing the work of Jesus Christ.

Read more about the survey results here.

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