U.S. Catholics back Pope Francis on changing church's focus

[cbayer]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/04/us-usa-catholic-poll-idUSBRE9930AQ20131004


Pope Francis signs a book as he arrives at the San Damian monastery during his pastoral visit in Assisi October 4, 2013.
Credit: Reuters/Gian Matteo Crocchioni/Pool

By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO | Fri Oct 4, 2013 6:29am EDT

(Reuters) - Pope Francis' comments that the Catholic Church should not focus so much on homosexuality, abortion and contraception have met with strong approval from U.S. Catholics, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Friday.

Sixty-eight percent of American Catholics agree with comments the Pope made to that effect in an interview published last month in the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica, while 23 percent disagreed, according to the poll. There was little difference in opinion between observant and less-observant Catholics, women and men, and among age groups, the poll found.

American Catholics also like their new pope, with 89 percent having a "favorable" or "very favorable" opinion, and only 4 percent voicing an unfavorable opinion, the poll found.

"Maybe they were just waiting for a Jesuit," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Hamden, Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Francis is the first pope from the religious order of the Jesuits, an order known for its intellectuals and iconoclasts.

more at link

[skepticscott]

1. He's done a great job of salesmanship

in convincing so many desperate American Catholics that anything has changed. Nothing that matters has changed, nor will it, except perhaps for the way the RCC handles its PR, and manipulates its public perception in the media.

Church dogma and policy under Francis will be as bigoted, sexist and immoral as it has ever been, they'll just try harder to distract susceptible people from that simple fact.

[Walk away]

2. The best thing about the religious is also the worst thing.

They seem to be sheep that go along with their leaders without many questions. Depending what their popes, bishops, rabbis or mullahs are spouting this week, it could be good or bad.

[cbayer]

3. There's a lot of "sheep" references in biblical texts, interestingly.

I agree with you. Sheep can be very peaceful. They like flocks and tend to take care of each other. They provide some very valuable things like wool, milk and meat. While not totally passive, they tend to get along.

OTOH, they can be herded off a cliff without really rebelling.