“And a large percentage of those leaving do so because the other churches approve serial adultery (i.e., divorce and remarriage.)”
A opposed to marriage->annulment (for the well-heeled only) ->remarriage, which is much more moral and correct compared to what those dirty Protestants do.....right?
I agree that the American annulment mill is an abomination. Fortunately our annulments represent the vast majority of annulments globally so it is not a universal abuse.
That being said, the tired old canard about only the rich being able to afford one is just silly. I have yet to meet a committed Catholic who, truly qualifying for an annulment, was unable to afford to go through the process.
It comforts Catholics to convince themselves that people leave for moral reasons. Then they aren't forced to consider that people leave for valid theological reasons.
It does foster spiritual pride like nothing else I've seem. The tax collector and pharisee praying outside the temple come to mind.