Confidence in religious leaders stabilizing

(RNS) An annual Harris Poll shows 27 percent of U.S. citizens have a great deal of public confidence in the leaders of organized religion.

While the 2005 number is the same as last year's figure, it reflects a sustained notable increase from 2003, when only 19 percent reported having a great deal of confidence in religious leaders, probably because the Catholic sex abuse scandal was at its height.

"Once the issues are addressed, the people are likely to forgive more," said George H. Moyser, political science chairman at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Roman Catholics' "strong attachment to the church likely translates to a positive image of national religious leaders," Moyser said. Three-fourths of the public expressed at least some degree of confidence in the leaders of organized religion.