Good news: Survey Finds Pope Francis' Popularity Plunging After Most Recent Abuse Scandals

[NeoGreen]

http://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/09/18/survey-finds-pope-francis-popularity-plunging-after-most-recent-abuse-scandals/

Survey Finds Pope Francis’ Popularity Plunging After Most Recent Abuse Scandals
By Hemant Mehta, September 18, 2018

Here’s some good news: Even Pope Francis, the recipient of all kinds of undeserved positive press, has seen his popularity plummet in the wake of the latest round of Catholic Church child sex abuse revelations.

Gallup notes that only 53% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the pope, down from 76% at his peak in early 2014, and in a virtual tie with the 52% rating he had when first elected to the position and no one knew much about him.

Among Catholics, however, his reputation hasn’t really wavered. It’s at 79% which represents something of a midpoint for him as far as his followers go. (The number has wavered between 71% and 89% over the years.)

Among non-Catholics, his favorability is at an all-time low of 45%.

These data come from Gallup’s latest survey, conducted Sept. 4-12, as the Roman Catholic Church faced continued fallout from the Pennsylvania state attorney general’s report on allegations of sexual abuse by priests. A few weeks before the survey, Francis himself was confronted with a public call for his resignation over claims he had concealed allegations of sexual abuse leveled at a cardinal in the U.S.

Gallup also notes that Pope John Paul II hit a record low of 61% shortly after the Spotlight investigations were public, but Pope Francis is still doing slightly better than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who was at 40% favorability shortly before he stepped down.

[blm]

1. I'm non-religious and don't view this as good news. It's RW fascist wing of church smearing Francis

relentlessly in their effort to drive him out because they hate his more liberal views. Why would an any atheist want Francis pushed out as a result of RW dirty tricks targeting him?

[Tiggeroshii]

3. Agreed. The only reason this is happening is because of the right elements of the church preferring

Custom and order over people's wellbeing and morality.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

4. So what actual policies differ Frank from the "RW fascist wing"?

I know he talks a somewhat good talk, but what actual policy change has Frank done that differs him from Pope Nazi before him?

And seeing his popularity go down might be a good sign that this church is losing it's control over so many people and societies.

[NeoGreen]

5. "Why would an any atheist want Francis pushed out..."

Where goes the pope, so goes the church.

Or so, one can only hope.

Consequently, I see it as better than good news. IM(everso)HO.

[blm]

6. Not gonna happen like that. He gets pushed out and RW fascists take control.

.

[NeoGreen]

7. Uhh...

...I hate to burst your bubble, but based on the theology, they're all on the same page.

I'll take whatever diminishes their power, and if it is merely an internal struggle between different flavors of RW theology, so be it.

[blm]

8. Disagree, but, understand why you feel as you do.

.

[NeoGreen]

9. I could be wrong...

...but the diminishment through this internal squabble could be the beginning of a downward spiral.

[trotsky]

11. On what basis do you disagree?

Please provide evidence of the changes made.

[Mariana]

10. So, how would things be different if that happened?

How would it affect the laity, and how would it affect the world outside the Church?

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. Sure.

We gotta tolerate the homophobic, transphobic, woman-hating, victim-blaming, rape apologist cuz we wouldn't want a RW fascist being pope... you know... again.

[mahina]

2. Exactly, thanks.