Critical yet loyal : An exploratory study of Roman Catholics’ commitment to their Church after the sexual abuse scandal

Abstract

This study deals with the question of Roman Catholics’ commitment to their Church after the sexual abuse crisis. This question is answered through a survey among 131 Roman Catholics. Several dimensions of commitment can be distinguished: feeling shocked by the abuse, accusing the Church of laxity and negligence, the trust that one has in the media, losing trust in the Catholic Church, doubting one’s faith, and distancing oneself from the Church. The respondents express criticism of the Church, yet also loyalty to it. We describe a four-stage model of the loss of commitment: 1. learning about the abuse; 2. criticism of the Church; 3. loss of faith and 4. erosion of ties with the Church. In women and in respondents who know abuse victims, erosion of commitment occurs more frequently. In respondents with a theological background, loss of commitment is relatively minor.