The US Church's gradual resolution of clergy sexual abuse cases continued its progress in 2006, as the number of allegations and the amount in settlements paid to victims both dropped. But the news was tempered by a major newspaper writing of the "dwindling" influence of Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, and by calls for the resignation of the hierarchy's elected head.

 According to an audit sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), 710 people reported allegations of abuse to church authorities last year, a 9 per cent decline from 2005.

The costs for settlements, therapy and other obligations came to US$400 million (£200m), a decrease of 15 per cent from the year before. Overall, US dioceses and religious orders have paid out in excess of US$1.5 bn (£750m) in settlements. Catholics' confidence in the bishops was 70 per cent for the second year.

Amid his diocese's declaration of bankruptcy and a US$48m (£24m) settlement, the USCCB President Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane rejected an "ultimatum" from four prominent donors to resign last week. Bishop Skylstad reportedly told the men that "the perceived community of bishops, priests and laity" were "the perpetrators of the abuse". The laymen responded that the bishop was "just wrong" to include the laity in his depiction.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported  that "scandal and shifting demographics" have "diminished" the influence of the city's Archbishop, Cardinal Roger Mahony, whose 4.3 million-member archdiocese still faces more than 500 unresolved abuse lawsuits.