Everybody else gets it

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 09, 2004

Now we have a survey to confirm the obvious: American Catholics are appalled by the sex-abuse scandal.

But now here's a result worth noticing:

In the first comprehensive national study of the effects of the sexual abuse scandal, researchers at Catholic University of America and Purdue University found nearly four of five people in the pews said they were ashamed and embarrassed for their church, and nearly three-quarters said the failure of bishops to stop the abuse is a bigger problem than the abuse itself.

For the benefit of any bishops who might be reading, let me give you that again:

In the first comprehensive national study of the effects of the sexual abuse scandal, researchers at Catholic University of America and Purdue University found nearly four of five people in the pews said they were ashamed and embarrassed for their church, and nearly three-quarters said the failure of bishops to stop the abuse is a bigger problem than the abuse itself.

The "Dallas Charter" addresses the abuse. As for the "bigger problem," we're still waiting for the first glint of recognition.