The "declining religiosity" of scientists working on the summer ice of Antarctica has ended a long-standing relationship with New Zealand priests.
For 57 years, priests from the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch's Antarctic Chaplaincy Programme have provided religious services, counselling and individual support for as many as 2000 people stationed at McMurdo Station, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole stations and Scott Base.
But attendance at the Chapel of the Snows at McMurdo Station and the number of residents wanting the services of the chaplains have been steadily declining.
Now, the National Science Foundation (NSF), which manages the US Antarctic Programme, says it can no longer support the priests' services.
"The chaplains have been aware for some time of the declining religiosity of the Antarctic population, and have made considerable efforts to provide relevant and timely religious opportunities to the population," a Catholic Diocese of Christchurch statement said yesterday.
