ROME — Pope Francis' popularity among American adults continues to decline sharply, reaching its lowest level since he took office in 2013, according to a new report from Rasmussen.
Rasmussen National Phone and Online investigationA poll conducted in early December found that only 41% of American adults have a favorable impression of Pope Francis, down from 61% in 2013, when he was elected.
Additionally, 31% are currently viewing Francis disadvantageouslyIn 2013, his favorability rating was nearly tripled (12%). 28 percent of U.S. adults say they're not sure.
As expected, more Democrats (53%) have a favorable opinion of Pope Francis than Republicans (36%) or independents (34%). Similarly, 35% of Democrats think Pope Francis is better than recent popes, but only 13% of Republicans and 16% of independents share that opinion.
Rasmussen's report confirms other recent polls showing the pope steadily gaining popular support.
While Mr. Rasmussen did not attempt to explain the cause of Francis' decline in popularity, Dr. Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, offered his own view. analysis Issue from April last year.
Sociologist Donahue was reacting to a Pew Research Center finding that the pope's favorability rating has fallen by 8 percentage points over the past three years alone, to an all-time low.
In recent years, Francis has supported civil unions and allowed the blessing of gay couples, which has led to an unprecedented backlash from clergy and laity around the world, Donahue said.
Francis named his friend Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández as head of the Vatican's doctrinal secretariat. Despite the fact that Cardinal Fernández is not a high-ranking theologian, but has achieved fame for publishing a book on kissing (heal me with your mouth) Another book on the spirituality of orgasm (Mysterious passion: spirituality and sensuality), described by many as pornographic.
Donahue also said that Pope Francis “allowed Fr. Fellow Jesuit Marko Rupnik remained a priest in good standing despite being expelled from the Society for blasphemy and sexual crimes. ”
Donahue added that the Pope similarly “failed to be forthright with his Jesuit friend Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, who was sentenced to prison by an Argentine court for sexually abusing a seminarian.”
In addition to these embarrassing actions, Francis placed “severe restrictions on the Latin Mass,” to the chagrin of many faithful Catholics, including Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, and former Cardinal Raymond Burke. Donahue wrote that he punished conservative prelates. He became Chief Justice of the Vatican Supreme Court, allowing progressives to do whatever they wanted.
Donohue argued that these and other issues are “seen as wrong ideas by many Catholics,” and go a long way toward explaining why the pope's favorability ratings are “in the doldrums.” He claimed that there was.
Since then, the Pope has angered many by appearing to side with Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict, calling for an investigation into whether Israel's actions amount to “genocide.”
He also named a notorious LGBTQ+ activist a cardinal and appointed fellow openly gay cleric Father Roberto Pasolini to the prestigious post of Pontifical Preacher, while climate change He resigned after continuing to declare that this was “the real challenge of our century.” Many Catholics are scratching their heads.
In a recent report, Rasmussen referred to the Pope's controversial decision to postpone the Dec. 8 reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which was severely damaged in a 2019 fire. Although the event was attended by many heads of state and other prominent international figures, Francis chose to: trip Instead, I went to Corsica, France.
The survey found that only 27% of American adults supported the Pope's decision not to attend the ceremony at Notre Dame, while 39% disapproved and 35% said they were unsure.
