Here's all you need to know...

...about the sexual abuse scandals plaguing the Catholic Church. In an article in the Times today, "Catholics Criticize Pope on Abuse Scandal, but See Some Hope":

A majority of Roman Catholics in the United States are critical of the way Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican have handled the reports of sexual abuse by priests, but have confidence in the Vatican to make changes to prevent abuse in the future, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday. (My emphasis.)

After five years of Pope Benedict’s papacy, Catholics in the United States are estranged from the hierarchy in Rome, with most saying the Vatican is out of touch with the needs of Catholics and more than three out of four saying it is not necessary to believe in the pope’s authority to be a good Catholic.

(This last sentence is particularly puzzling to me. Isn't believing in the pope's authority central to being a Catholic? Wouldn't you be a Protestant otherwise?)

According to the poll, "As a result of the recent reports of sexual abuse of children by priests...":

79% of American Catholics said that their financial contributions to the Church have stayed the same;

82% said the reports have had no effect on their Mass attendance; and

86% have not questioned whether they would remain in the Catholic Church.

With numbers like these, what incentive does the Church's hierarchy have to change its behavior? If you were running a business and your customers continued to buy your products, wouldn't you assume they were satisfied?