In recent years, researchers have asked U.S. Catholics about their views and perceptions regarding sexual misconduct and abuse within the church. The responses they provided help show how people’s perceptions have been changing.
For example, a survey carried out by the Pew Research Center asked people in 2019 if they thought that abuse and misconduct within the Catholic Church reflected an ongoing problem. Some 69% of people said that it did. In 2025, when the same question was asked, only 62% of respondents said that it was an ongoing issue. Similarly, when asked if the accusations reflected problems that were largely part of the past and generally do not occur anymore, only 24% of respondents responded affirmatively in 2019, compared to 31% in 2025.
Does it happen in other churches?
Notably, this study focused on Catholic priests, but there have been reported abuse cases from other denominations. When people were asked if these cases were equally common across various denominations, 61% said that was the case in 2019, but it rose to 68% in 2025. When respondents were asked if it was more common among Catholic priests, 33% said that it was in 2019, compared to just 19% in 2025.
People were also asked if they thought abuse was equally common with other adults who worked with children, such as coaches or teachers, taking the focus specifically off of clergy. In 2019, 68% of respondents said that it was. That number dropped in 2025 to 65%.
Even as perceptions shift and change, it is clear that clergy abuse continues to occur. Victims need to be aware of all the legal options that they may have for seeking justice and compensation.