The sex abuse scandal in the Catholic church is emboldening Catholics in Austria to push for liberal reforms in the church.Austrian Catholics long have been a thorn in the Vatican's side, leaving the church in thousands each year.
The head of the Vienna archdiocese's church tax office estimates that up to 80,000 of Austria's roughly 5.5 million Catholics could leave the church this year.
Last year more than 50,000 people formally had their names removed from church registries, a 31 percent increase over the year before.
Many say they still consider themselves devout believers, but the they have been expressing frustration with the Catholic hierarchy's outdated ways and disgust over the sex abuse scandal.
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn has gotten involved, becoming one of the first high-ranking Catholics to openly acknowledge church guilt in the abuse scandal.
He also spoke of the positive aspects of gay relationships and suggested the church needed a new perspective on the remarriage of divorcees.
SIC: WABC3