Catholicism 'not valued' : poll

Almost six in 10 Catholics say that their faith is not "generally valued" in British society, according to a poll commissioned by the BBC.

But 70 per cent of British Catholics polled expect the Pope's visit to help the Catholic Church in the UK.

Nearly half thought he should drop his insistence on clerical celibacy.

And 52 per cent of the 500 Catholics surveyed ahead of the Pope's visit on Thursday said the sex abuse scandal had shaken their faith in the Church's leadership.

Two-thirds also thought women should have more authority and status within the Church.