According to a recent study, American Catholics have not abandoned the Church after the sex abuse scandals. In fact, the only truly measurable change in behavior and attitude is that Catholics are less likely to respond to a diocesan appeal than they were three years ago. I have to say, I'm surprised by these results.
I wonder what a similar study would show here. It's obvious churches aren't as full today, but that process of falling attendance had started before the Bishop Casey and Brendan Smith scandals in the early 90s. Still, I can't imagine that the seemingly endless horrors stories and the inadequacy of the Bishops' response can't have had a big effect on church attendance.
