I think the issue of clergy sexual abuse sparked people to look at their faith in a different way.
Rosa Parks was the queen mother of a movement whose single act of heroism sparked the movement for freedom justice and equality. Her greatest contribution is that she told us a regular person can make a difference.
In morals what begins in fear usually ends in wickedness in religion what begins in fear usually ends in fanaticism. Fear either as a principle or a motive is the beginning of all evil.