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Appendix A Pastor Interviews The following is the script used to structure the interviews conducted with Catholic pastors in the summer of 2004. This script was not followed verbatim but rather was used to guide the conversation with pastors. 1. When were you first ordained? How long have you been assigned to this parish? 2. What was it that made you want to become a priest? 3. How would you describe your style of preaching? For example, would you say that you mostly attempt to explain and expound upon the weekly scriptural readings, or do you attempt to provide advice to your parishioners as to how they should live their own lives? Generally speaking, do you enjoy preaching, or is it something that you don’t really look forward to? 4. Now I’d like to talk a little bit about some public policy topics that are of interest to the Church, and I’d like to start by considering aid to the poor. Is this a topic that you think it is appropriate for parish priests to speak out about (for example, in their homilies, in public announcements, in the bulletin ), or should discussion of this topic be left up to Church leaders like the bishops and the pope? Do you ever address issues like aid to the poor in your homilies or other public announcements? If so, how (that is, do you encourage individuals, in their capacity as private citizens, to participate in charitable projects, or do you link aid to the poor with public policy concerns)? How often would you say that you publicly address this issue with your parishioners ? 5. Do you think it is appropriate for parish priests to speak out about public policy towards abortion, or should discussion of this topic be left up to Church leaders like the bishops and the pope? Do you ever speak about abortion in your homilies or other public announcements? If so, how (in other words, do you speak about abortion with regard to individual morality 197 only, or do you sometimes speak about what an appropriate public policy on abortion would be)? How often would you say that you publicly address this issue with your parishioners? 6. Do you think it is appropriate for parish priests to speak out about capital punishment, or is this an issue better left for Church leaders to discuss ? Do you ever speak out on capital punishment in your homilies and other public announcements? If so, how? How often? 7. What about foreign affairs and the war on terror? Is this an issue that parish priests should speak out about, or should consideration of foreign affairs be left to Church leaders? Do you ever address issues of foreign affairs in your homilies and other public announcements? If so, how (that is, do you ever express support for American troops, or pray, and encourage parishioners to work for, peace)? How often would you say that you publicly address foreign affairs with your parishioners? 8. Do you think it is appropriate for parish priests to speak out about issues like homosexuality and gay marriage, or should these issues be left up to bishops and the Pope to discuss? Do you ever address homosexuality in your sermons? If so, how (in other words, when you address this issue, would you say you normally stress the need to have compassion and care for those with such inclinations, or do you reiterate the Church’s teaching that such activity is sinful)? How often would you say you publicly address this issue with your parishioners? 9. Generally speaking, do you think that birth control is a subject that is appropriate for parish priests to address, or is it better left to Church leaders ? Do you ever address the Church’s teachings on birth control in your homilies or other announcements? If so, how? How often? 10. A lot of what I’ve read about what it’s like to be a priest really brought home to me what a physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually challenging task Catholic priests have. One challenge in particular that some priests might face is walking that fine line between instructing and leading their parishioners in their faith journey, and overstepping that line by being too forceful, which could risk alienating their parishioners. In your own leadership of the parish, and especially in your homilies and public announcements, to what extent do you tell the people what you think it is necessary for...

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