Kieren,
I think that the effects of the scandal are playing out in a number of ways.  Certainly, for some of us, it's had a corrosive effect on our faith, which has launched us in a number of different directions (to different denominations, to"unchurched," to SBNR, to agnostic or even atheist perhaps.)  Others, I suspect, have tried to double down to the uber-conservative side, perhaps under the old "if we could only return to [whatever they perceive to be the idyllic past of the church]"  I suspect it's had a big  impact on vocations, and the type of people who are interested in the priesthood today.  

I tend to agree with those over the centuries who say that we humans have a hunger for "something more."  And the problem with the disillusionment with the church/religion, is that this begs the question of how do we answer that hunger?  This is one of the reasons I believe that the church will HAVE to change.  It was already struggling to keep up with society.