A majority of American Catholics believe celibacy plays a role in sex abuse of children by Catholic priests according to a new poll

31 percent see the policy as a major factor and 28 percent characterize it as a minor factor in causing the abuse,in latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

However 35 percent of American Catholics say that celibacy plays no part.

A majority believe homosexuality among priests has some relationship to the pedophile acts, 30 percent said it is a major factor and 23 percent a minor factor.

The poll showed that 37 percent of Catholics do not think homosexuality among priests is a factor in the abuse of children.