It's not what I believe, it's what happened.  Core Catholic countries in Europe were seeing a steep and steady decline in Church attendance after WWII, and I am not referencing the countries under communism.  I am referring to France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, and Germany.  I wouldn't be surprised if much of that had to do with national bishops supporting fascist authoritarians and then silently standing by as their countries were destroyed by the very fascists they helped bring to power.  Why wouldn't the laity who paid the price for the destruction start walking out of churches.