Church and data analysis

[on_the_hill]

Is anyone aware of the Church using data and analyses to address social problems? For example, have dioceses or the Vatican studied divorce and its causes in such a way as to know where to direct which resources?

To go further with my example, let’s say the divorce rate is tied to income, education, location of residence (urban, suburban, rural), etc… Has the Church used such data to provide services to mitigate problems that can be identified as contributing to divorce?

 

[Robert_Sock]

Is anyone aware of the Church using data and analyses to address social problems? For example, have dioceses or the Vatican studied divorce and its causes in such a way as to know where to direct which resources?

To go further with my example, let’s say the divorce rate is tied to income, education, location of residence (urban, suburban, rural), etc… Has the Church used such data to provide services to mitigate problems that can be identified as contributing to divorce?

I believe that the Vatican has access to professionals from many fields that inform and advise the Vatican on a great number issues. Even on hot issues like abortion, the Church needs to recognize the potential negative effects of just outlawing abortion and have plans in place to deal effectively with the negative effects.

 

[on_the_hill]

It seems like data analysis would bring a lot of benefits. I’m sure they do it in one form or another. It would be too obvious not to.

I am aware of a new initiative between Esri, Inc. and Global Good. Esri is the maker of GIS software. It worked with the Vatican on a global mapping of properties held by the Church.

Global Good is planning to use the GIS data to locate church properties that are threatened by climate change so the Church can move resources to those places to help the local people and protect the environment.

So I’m just wondering what else is out there.