Out in Los Angeles, they’re still trying to make sense of what has happened this week to make the archdiocese $660 million poorer. The faith seems to be holding strong, though doubts about the institution surrounding it persist:

As she is every morning, Angela K. Lee was at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catholic Church in Encino on Thursday to attend the 7:30 a.m. Mass.

Her presence there says much about how individual Catholics have reacted to the priest sex abuse scandals that have shaken their church. She still believes, and her prayers sought healing for abuse victims and for her church. While saying the rosary after Mass, Lee also prayed for clergy, including Cardinal Roger M. Mahony.

She shared with God her anger at church leaders, especially Mahony, whom she had long admired for his outreach to the marginalized. Now Lee says he mismanaged the cases that resulted in a $660-million settlement between the Los Angeles Archdiocese and abuse victims this week.

But when it comes to faith, the scandal has strengthened her belief, not undermined it. “This heartbreaking episode has taught me how vulnerable we are,” Lee said. “It has taught me once again that we are all sinners in need of God’s redemption and forgiveness.”

Polls indicate that Lee’s reaction mirrors that of many Catholics: They’re disenchanted with church leaders but steadfastly profess faith. Though giving to some dioceses dipped as scandals erupted across the nation, it has rebounded, and Mass attendance remains largely steady, the research shows.

It will take a lot of time and prayer to heal these wounds. But if what has happened in other places is any indication, healing does come. Eventuallly. But I don’t think anyone comes out of this quite the same.

Photo: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles