Catholic Churchgoers worry financial fallout will impede the work of the church. A new survey of people who attend Mass at least twice a month finds “a growing uneasiness” with the way the church handles money, says Frank Butler, Foundations & Donors Interested in Catholic Activities, survey sponsor. The donor group represents more than $200 million annually to Catholic concerns. Key findings: •65% say the financial effect of the scandal will impede the church’s ability to meet its mission vs. 55% in ’02. •46% say they spend less than an hour or no time at all at parish activities each month, compared with 27% in ‘02; 29% spend 1-3 three hours, vs. 25% in ‘02. 25% spend 4 hours or more, down from 57% in ‘02. •70% say the church should be more accountable for its finances vs. 65% in ’02, plus 71% want public annual audits of every level of church finances, up from 66%. •14% have decreased or stopped giving at the parish level, vs. 12% in ‘02. Although total donations were about the same in ‘04 as before, it came from fewer people (USA Today 1/10/05)
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