And the money keeps rollin' in.

According to reports from Catholic research groups, donations to parishes and the Catholic Church overall actually rose in the last year, contrary to predictions that the sex-abuse scandal would have a negative impact on giving to the church. The Associated Press reports that, while some dioceses came in under their annual fundraising goals, parish collections rose by 4.9 percent. Giving to bishop's appeals, however, dropped by 2.3 percent. But not all dioceses submitted numbers to the self-reporting survey, which has opened the findings to criticism.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops have renewed and revised their commitment to socially responsible investing. They already screened for companies linked to abortion, weapons production, and contraception. They have added to the screening list stem-cell research, human cloning, pornography, and land mine production. The new policy also includes favorable treatment for companies with good labor records and environmental practices.