Survey: Catholics worried that sex abuse costs curtail church work

Published: 2005-01-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A survey of Catholics who regularly attend church shows a growing concern about the church's financial ability to fulfill its mission because of the costs related to the clergy sex abuse crisis. The crisis has also increased the desire by Catholics in the pew for greater church accountability on financial issues, according to the survey conducted by telephone during the first half of December 2004. "Clearly, nearly three years after the clergy abuse scandal broke, one of the lingering elements is that parishioners are still not content with the financial stewardship of the church," said Charles E. Zech, economics professor at Catholic-run Villanova University near Philadelphia and an expert in church-giving patterns. Zech helped draft the questionnaire and wrote the analysis accompanying the survey. The survey was sponsored by Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities in Washington. Known as FADICA, it is a consortium of private organizations providing funds to Catholic organizations and programs. Zogby International conducted the survey of 803 self-identified Catholics, of whom 81 percent said they attended Mass at least once a week. The rest, 19 percent, said they attended Mass "almost once a week." The full survey is available on the FADICA Web site at: www.FADICA.org.

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