Trust in Catholic Church at new low in France

[trotsky]

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11531/trust-in-catholic-church-at-new-low-in-france

Most French people now have a bad image of the Catholic Church, according to a poll published by the French newspaper Christian Witness. In addition, they believe Pope Francis has handled the sex abuse crisis badly.

A survey of 1000 people in France shows mistrust of the Church in France has increased by 24 per cent in under a decade.

Fewer than one third of French people mistrusted the Church when the last comparable survey was done in 2010. The number has now risen to more than half.

The poll was carried out the day after Pope Francis declined to accept the resignation of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, given a six-month suspended sentence for failing to report sex abuse by a priest. Barbarin is appealing and the Pope is understood to be making a presumption of innocence pending appeal.