A growing body of scientific research highlights numerous benefits of religious practice. In 2009, the Iona Institute launched a paper by well-known psychiatrist Professor Patricia Casey called ‘The Psycho-Social Benefits of Religious Practice’.

The paper examines the various scientific studies done in this area and these show that religious practice is associated, on average, with:

– Lower levels of depression

– Lower levels of marital breakdown

– Lower levels of alcohol and drug abuse

– Lower levels of pregnancy among teenagers

– Faster recovery from bereavement

– Faster recovery from illness

– Longer life expectancy, etc.

The Iona Institute also has a website dedicated to this topic called www.religiouspractice.ie.