IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REALLY IN CRISIS?

What makes a crisis? The hype created by the media or the facts on the ground?

To judge from media reports the Catholic Church is suffering “its greatest scandal in centuries” (Carmel Rickard in Natal, Mercury 8th April 2010). The Catholic Church has lost all credibility (Archbishop Rowan Williams). “The Pope has said nothing!” “He has not apologised!”

To answer the question whether the Church is really in crisis we must start at the beginning, namely the structures of the Catholic Church, and how authority devolves from the Pope, through the Bishop to the local parish priest.