New poll shows huge opportunity for Church to reach young people

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A leading professor in the sociology of religion has said that the Church in Ireland has a “great opportunity” to bring the message of the Gospel and Christianity in an attractive way to new generations who “search for meaning” online.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic after the release of an Amárach poll showing a disconnect between young people and the Church, Gladys Ganiel, Professor in the Sociology of Religion at Queen’s University Belfast, said she saw opportunity. “I think with all these polls quite often people who are embedded in the institutional Churches are very worried. My perspective is that the period of history we are in for the Churches in Ireland is actually a great opportunity, because historically every time Churches or other types of religious organisations have sought social and political power, they have really messed it up,” Prof Ganiel said.