Edward Ricci was sickened as he watched his bishop, the Most Rev. Anthony O’Connell, resign in March from the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., after admitting to sexual misconduct years earlier in another state.

But Ricci is no ordinary parishioner venting his anger in cyberspace.

He is a major Catholic philanthropist, threatening to withhold his six-figure donation to his church unless the nation’s bishops agree to oust all errant clergy. Through his Web site, www.nopeds.org, he is urging other Catholics to join him, and some benefactors already have.

Outside of communities hardest hit by the crisis, church fund-raisers say most major donors have been slower to react. But some are now exploring whether they should give directly to Catholic social service agencies to ensure that their money is not used to settle molestation lawsuits, fund-raisers say.

“The mood is worrisome at the present time,” said Francis Butler, president of Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities.

“It is really a terrible atmosphere in which to raise money, and people are increasingly wary of making major donations to dioceses that are facing judges and juries.”

Many bishops have promised parishioners none of their donations will be used to pay settlements to abuse victims. They also point to reforms including the removal of priests suspected of molestation and, in some areas, the opening of church files to prosecutors.

Butler, whose agency is a Washington-based network of 48 family foundations that collectively gives Catholic institutions more than $200 million annually, said he knew of one Maryland donor who was withholding his annual gift because of the scandal. He would not give specifics.