---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There has always been a certain…"
description: "\"There has always been a certain proportion of people who leave the Church on issues of authority and sex. That hasn't changed since we started doing re..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png"
---

#  There has always been a certain proportion of people who…

![“There has always been a certain proportion of people who leave the Church on issues of authority and sex. That hasn't changed since we started doing research on it back in the early 1960s.” quote by Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png)

> “There has always been a certain proportion of people who leave the Church on issues of authority and sex. That hasn't changed since we started doing research on it back in the early 1960s.”

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A consistent minority leaves the Church due to authority and sexual issues, a pattern unchanged since the 1960s.

**In simple terms:** People leave the Church over authority and sexual concerns, unchanged over decades.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address authority and sexual concerns within religious institutions.

Themes

religion authority sex social change

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

sociological observational

When to use this quote

- church membership
- policy reform
- community dialogue
- academic study

Key Concepts

institutional critique historical continuity faith community

Questions to Reflect On

- What reforms could reduce departures over authority?
- How do sexual ethics influence religious affiliation?

A Different Perspective

Ignoring these issues can perpetuate alienation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Who Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-leave/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/)

## Related quotes

> [Let me get one thing straight; I'm not an authority on sex, I'm more of a fan. I think sex is nice; no family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/let-me-get-one-thing-straight-i-m-not-an-authority-on-sex-i-m-more-of/)

[George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/)

> [A king is always a king - and a woman always a woman: his authority and her sex ever stand between them and rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-king-is-always-a-king-and-a-woman-always-a-woman-his-authority-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We ought not, as soon as we leave church, to plunge into business unsuited to church, but as soon as we get home, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/we-ought-not-as-soon-as-we-leave-church-to-plunge-into-business/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

> [The church acknowledges some Scientologists choose to sever communications with family members who leave. The church says it is a fundamental human right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/the-church-acknowledges-some-scientologists-choose-to-sever/)

[John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/)

> [“We’ve been dispensing good advice instead of the good news. Eventually, kids will tire of our advice, no matter how good it might be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-klumpenhower/we-ve-been-dispensing-good-advice-instead-of-the-good-news-eventually/)

Jack Klumpenhower

> [Worshipers never leave church...we carry our sanctuary with us wherever we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/worshipers-never-leave-church-we-carry-our-sanctuary-with-us-wherever/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [ The decision to leave \[the church\] is you're giving up everything you've worked for your whole life. I feel that people need to understand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-remini/the-decision-to-leave-the-church-is-you-re-giving-up-everything-you/)

[Leah Remini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-remini/)

> [The use of rock, folk, or pop music serves a purpose. It gets people into the church. But an inexperienced guitar player who doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/the-use-of-rock-folk-or-pop-music-serves-a-purpose-it-gets-people/)

[Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/)

> [If you leave the church service thinking about how good the pastor was, he has missed the mark. If you leave consumed with Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/if-you-leave-the-church-service-thinking-about-how-good-the-pastor/)

[Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/)

> [“Don’t water your testimony with your righteous expectations of church members. Their imperfection will disappoint you every time and cause you to leave every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-water-your-testimony-with-your-righteous-expectations-of-church/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [You can leave the Church, but you can’t leave it alone. The basic reason for this is simple. Once someone has received a witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-l-pace/you-can-leave-the-church-but-you-can-t-leave-it-alone-the-basic/)

[Glenn L. Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-l-pace/)

> [The world doesn't want to be punished. It wants to remain in darkness. It doesn't want to be told that what it believes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-world-doesn-t-want-to-be-punished-it-wants-to-remain-in-darkness/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [People who leave, never deserved to be there in the first place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-leave-never-deserved-to-be-there-in-the-first-place/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“reviews are as varied as the people who leave them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reviews-are-as-varied-as-the-people-who-leave-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you're fat, the world is divided into two groups - people who bug you and people who leave you alone. The funny thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/when-you-re-fat-the-world-is-divided-into-two-groups-people-who-bug/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

## More by Andrew Greeley

> [Would it not be much better to have a president who deliberately lied to the people because he thought a war was essential than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/would-it-not-be-much-better-to-have-a-president-who-deliberately-lied/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Priest organizations around the country, both local and national, should realize that their membership has a serious image problem and undertake programs to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/priest-organizations-around-the-country-both-local-and-national/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [The leadership lost its nerve. Instead of taking the lead in the reform movement... they pulled the plug on it. They tried and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/the-leadership-lost-its-nerve-instead-of-taking-the-lead-in-the/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Angels are wonderful and exciting, and they have the appeal of beings who will take care of us and manifest God's personal concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/angels-are-wonderful-and-exciting-and-they-have-the-appeal-of-beings/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [My songs will pass and be forgotten. What counts, however, is that I sang them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/my-songs-will-pass-and-be-forgotten-what-counts-however-is-that-i/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [I think that the core doctrines of Christianity - the incarnation, the resurrection, life after death-these are as strong as ever. In fact, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/i-think-that-the-core-doctrines-of-christianity-the-incarnation-the/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [I have terrible handwriting. I now say it's a learning disability... but a nun who was a very troubled woman hit me over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/i-have-terrible-handwriting-i-now-say-it-s-a-learning-disability-but/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Yet, if the most frequent sex and apparently the best sex is that between married partners who are faithful to one another, is there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/yet-if-the-most-frequent-sex-and-apparently-the-best-sex-is-that/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Everyone takes surveys. Whoever makes a statement about human behavior has engaged in a survey of some sort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/everyone-takes-surveys-whoever-makes-a-statement-about-human-behavior/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [When I can go just where I want to go, There is a copse of birch trees that I know; And, as in Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/when-i-can-go-just-where-i-want-to-go-there-is-a-copse-of-birch-trees/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Nobody puts constraints on God. She doesn't like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/nobody-puts-constraints-on-god-she-doesn-t-like-it/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Well, religion has been passed down through the years by stories people tell around the campfire. Stories about God, stories about love. Stories about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/well-religion-has-been-passed-down-through-the-years-by-stories/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [As the criminal, sinful war in Iraq enters its third year, the president goes to Europe to heal the wounds between the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/as-the-criminal-sinful-war-in-iraq-enters-its-third-year-the/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [God draws straight with crooked lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/god-draws-straight-with-crooked-lines/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

> [Angels represent God's personal care for each one of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/angels-represent-god-s-personal-care-for-each-one-of-us/)

[Andrew Greeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

[Explore all 47 Andrew Greeley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There has always been a certain proportion of people who leave the Church on issues of authority and sex. That hasn't changed since we started doing research on it back in the early 1960s.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Greeley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/there-has-always-been-a-certain-proportion-of-people-who-leave-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/there-has-always-been-a-certain-proportion-of-people-who-leave-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49e/andrew-greeley-14152_always_there-has-always-been-a-certain-proporti_562384.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There has always been a certain proportion of people who leave the Church on issues of authority and sex…” — Andrew Greeley",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Greeley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-greeley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There has always been a certain...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/there-has-always-been-a-certain-proportion-of-people-who-leave-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-greeley/there-has-always-been-a-certain-proportion-of-people-who-leave-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
