WASHINGTON - Catholic parishioners in the United States have less faith in Church hierarchy than a decade ago, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday.
While most of the Catholic Church's 190 U.S. dioceses have developed measures to stop sexual abuse by priests, 74 percent of those Catholics polled think Church leadership is more concerned about protecting its image than finding a solution.
In 1993, 64 percent of Catholics surveyed expressed that opinion, according to Gallup.
The percentage of Catholics who said the Church handled the problem in a totally inadequate manner rose from 53 percent in 1993 to 72 percent in the current survey.
Despite the recent scandals, most Catholics say they maintain faith in their religious beliefs.
Nearly 76 percent said the scandals had not affected their faith in Catholic teachings, but the Gallup poll also indicated 30 percent of Catholics are now less likely to give the Church money.
About 74 percent of those surveyed said they would not stop going to Mass because of the sexual abuse allegations.
