ROME, FEB. 22, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Eight out of every 10 entertainers in Italy said they «never forget to pray before going on stage or on the air,» a survey finds.
The survey by the Italian bishops´ conference also finds that six out of 10 in the same group said they «seek to find time for dialogue with God in the course of the working day.»
In its February bulletin, the bishops´ Office of Social Communications published the results of the survey on commitment to the faith on the part of film and television personalities, carried out for the Jubilee of Performers and the World of Entertainment, the last such event held before the closing of the Holy Year.
Among those surveyed, 45% said that «faith and religiosity have a place of great importance in their own life,» 25% «regard faith as one of the first value references,» and 12% «do not place religiosity among their own most important elements.»
The survey, carried out by Sat2000, the thematic television channel of Italian Catholics, found that 40% of those consulted declared themselves «fervent believers,» 30% said they are «lukewarm and not practicing,» while 18% «do not, in fact, identify themselves as Catholic,» and 12% «do not know or did not answer.»
The performers were quite critical of television in general. In fact, 53% said that TV does not give enough attention to human values, to «the individual´s genuine liberty and sense of justice.» More than 25% believe that themes about faith must not be restricted to religious productions, but should be present in the most successful programs.
Yet, asked if they try to communicate their own faith in the workplace, only 55% said yes.
