(RNS) Nearly three-quarters of U.S. Catholics believe the Vatican tried to cover up clergy sex abuse, and a majority says Pope Benedict XVI has handled recent reports of past abuse poorly, according to a new poll, but less than 10 percent have considered leaving the Catholic Church over the issue.
The Vatican has been besieged by criticism in recent months that top officials, including the future pope, mishandled cases of clergy sex abuse, allowing abusers to work in parishes with children, or stalling for years before defrocking serial molesters.
More than half of U.S. Catholics — 58 percent — say the Vatican did a “poor job,” of handing those reports, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll published on Tuesday (May 4). Less than one in three gave the Vatican good marks on the scandal, and 74 percent said the Vatican tried to cover up the problem in the past.
Still, nearly 7 in 10 Catholics say the scandal has had no effect on their views of the church; a plurality — 42 percent — holds a favorable view of church leaders. One in four is undecided and 22 percent have an unfavorable view.
Only 17 percent view Benedict unfavorably, with 42 percent holding a favorable view. Eighty percent of American Catholics say their financial contributions to the church have stayed the same.
As for the scandal’s causes, less than one in three said mandatory celibacy for priests was a major factor — 28 percent said it was a minor factor, and 35 percent say it was not a factor at all. The issue of homosexuality among priests elicited nearly identical responses.
The poll was based on telephone interviews with 412 Catholics conducted April 28-May 2. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
– Daniel Burke
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted May 5, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I’ll go out on a limb here and suggest that nearly three-quarters of U.S. non-Catholics also believe the Vatican tried to cover up clergy sex abuse, and a majority says Pope Benedict XVI has handled recent reports of past abuse poorly!
However, where I think Catholics and non-Catholics may differ….is that the opinion of the Church held by non-Catholics has changed.
posted May 5, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Thanks for the article on this poll. It appears that most will stay with the church.
posted May 5, 2010 at 9:32 pm
The title says that U.S. Catholics are unsatisfied with the response of Benny to the abuse in the church. Well, so are those who are not Catholic.
posted May 6, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I don’t think this poll is very accurate. It would be interesting to have another one to compare it with. It depends on where they get their news from (TV, diocesan news, or secular news).
We don’t hear abou it in most churches – which it should be, but most homilies are pre-made (canned). Pretty sad unless they read a letter from the Bishop and/or Pope (the Bishops and Cardinals are rallying around the Vatican). To join a Church, it is expected to give as you can. I’m Catholic, but haven’t joined a church.
Would like to see more compassion taught for all of God’s creaturs (human and animal).
Jan Fredericks
Licensed Counselor
President, God’s Creatures Ministry