With Friday's Marriage Referendum fast approaching, the latest opinion polls show the Yes side has a clear lead, although the No side has narrowed the gap over recent weeks.

Members of the Catholic church have been involved in both sides of the debate. A number of Bishops have called for a No, while some priests have explained their reasons for voting Yes.

Newstalk Lunchtime carried out an anonymous survey of 100 Catholic priests to see how they intend to vote in the referendum on same-sex marriage.

They were also asked their attitudes on same-sex marriages within the church. 

The survey found that:

• 73% intend on voting No, while 13% will be voting Yes
• 14% are undecided
• 34% of priests said they would like to see an end to the signing of civil marriage registration form following the religious ceremony, while 50% said this should continue regardless of the outcome of the referendum. 10% had yet to make up their mind, while 6% had no opinion on the matter
• 46% felt their views were not in line with the bishops' direction on that issue, while 49% felt they were. 5% had no opinion on the bishops' direction
• 82% would not like to see same-sex marriages within the church, while only 6% would. 12% were undecided
• 21% of those contacted declined to take part in the survey

Reasons given for a 'No' vote included the belief that the vote was a matter of faith, and a sizable number thought extending marriage rights would have a negative impact on children. The redefinition of marriage was another contentious issue.

On the 'Yes' side many felt marriage rights should be extended to all citizens of the Republic, and agreed that the vote will have no impact on religious marriages.

The majority of undecided voters said they were still reading the newspapers, and listening to the debates, and would vote with their conscience and not allow themselves be led by the Church.

You can listen back to Donal Donovan's Newstalk Lunchtime report below, including the comments from some of the priests who were surveyed: