U.S. trip helped pope, Catholic Church image: poll

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - Americans have a more favorable view of Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church after his U.S. trip but many believe more must be done to avoid a repetition of a sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Church, a poll showed on Wednesday.

The poll, taken among Catholics and non-Catholics, showed that 61 percent felt the trip met or exceeded their expectations but that only 35 percent said they were more in touch with their own spiritual values as a result of the trip.

The poll, called "The Papal Visit: Americans Reflect," was carried out last week in the United States by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion and commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, the international Catholic fraternal benefit society.

It was released simultaneously in the United States and Rome.

Benedict made his first visit to the United States April 15-20, visiting Washington, the United Nations and New York.

One of the emotional high points was his surprise meeting with victims who had been sexually abused by priests in Boston archdiocese, the epicenter of the scandal.

Fifty-eight percent of those polled said they were satisfied with Benedict's apologies for the scandal, which he said had left the Church "deeply ashamed". He vowed to exclude pedophile priests from the Church.

But only 32 percent believed sufficient steps had been taken to avoid a repetition of the scandal, while 46 percent said more had to be done and 22 percent were not sure.