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Flemington, NJ, July 17, 2007 – Results from a national focus group of 429 Americans indicated that a majority of all responders (68%) reported that they do not think the Catholic Church is doing enough in response to sexual abuse.

The study was conducted by HCD Research, using its mediacurves.com web site, during July 16-17, to obtain Americans’ views on an apology issued by Cardinal Roger Mahoney to sexual abuse victims following the largest settlement in the history of the Catholic Church.

While viewing video segments of the Cardinal’s press conference, participants were asked to indicate the Cardinal’s level of sincerity by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The curves indicated that while Catholics perceived the Cardinal’s apology to be sincere, non-Catholics perceived that the Cardinal’s apology was insincere. Participants were also asked pre- and post-viewing questions.

Study participants included a national sample of self-reported Catholics, Protestants and other religious groups. To view sincerity curves and detailed results among religious affiliation, go to: www.mediacurves.com 

Among the study findings:

• Prior to viewing segments of the press conference, among all responders, 68% reported that the Catholic Church is not doing enough to respond to sexual abuse, compared to 63% of Catholics, 70% of Protestants and 71% of other religious groups.

• The Cardinal’s apology had little effect on all groups. After viewing segments of the press conference, among all responders, 66% reported that the Catholic Church is not doing enough in response to sexual abuse, compared to 57% of Catholics, 68% of Protestants and 72% of other religious groups.

• More than half of all responders (53%) reported that sexual abuse would decrease if Catholic priests were permitted to get married. Among religious affiliation, 49% of Catholics reported that sexual abuse would decrease, compared to 51% of Protestants and 58% of other religious groups.

The Media Curves web site provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

HCD Research specializes in conducting communications research for the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, financial and entertainment industries, among others.  Headquartered in Flemington, NJ, the company's services include traditional and web-based communications research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. 

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, managing partner, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).