I was particularly struck by Elisa, who said that she no longer donates to the Bishop’s Appeal: “I do feel that the Vatican and bishops are very corrupt. I refused to give to the Bishop’s Appeal this year because of the bishops’ stance against gay marriage and against women, including birth control and ordaining women. I also vehemently disagree with the sex abuse scandal and believe that anyone who was tied to that deserves to go straight to hell. I completely respect the lapsed Catholics—including my husband—who have decided not to go to church because of this and other reasons. I, too, share their ambivalence towards the Catholic Church leadership.”
