ABSTRACT
Catholic Church is the fact that about half of all Italians consider it as the only spiritual and moral authority worthy of respect, not finding other national social forces and institutions of equal value and authoritativeness. The Church is charged with not remaining within its duties and boundaries, but using its pre-eminent position in the religious field to gain social and political advantages. Many Italians, despite making use of the services offered by the Church, have difficulty in identifying with the religious personnel who operate in the various ecclesial environments. In fact, 73 per cent of Italians declare that it is possible to be good Catholics even without adhering to the indications concerning sexual morality presented by the Pope and bishops. The popularity of the clergy fluctuates too, touching its highest level among convinced and active Catholics and its lowest among Catholics by tradition and education.
