BERLIN: Trust in the Catholic Church in Germany has plummeted since the child sexual abuse scandal.

Barely one in six Germans now say they have confidence in the church. This is accompanied by government statistics showing that people in dioceses affected by paedophile priests are leaving in record numbers.

There is also anger directed at the German-born Pope Benedict. Fewer than one in four say they trust him, according to a poll carried out by Stern magazine published yesterday.

Only 17 per cent of respondents said they trusted the church and 24 per cent the Pope.

Regensburg, where the Pope's brother, Bishop Georg Ratzinger, was once in charge of the Domspatzen - ''cathedral sparrows'' - and is now at the centre of abuse allegations, is seeing a wave of disillusioned worshippers leaving.