Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
April 26, 2010

A new Pew survey shows that while U.S. Catholics are still more positive than other Americans about Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of the abuse scandal, they have grown more critical of his response. Only 12 percent of all Americans said the pope has done an excellent or good job in handling the abuse scandal, and 71 percent said he had done only a fair or poor job. Out of all the Catholics in the survey group, 32 percent said the pope has done an excellent or good job, but 59 percent rated his handling of the scandal as fair or poor. Of Catholics who said they attend Mass weekly, 44 percent gave the pope a rating of excellent or good, while 49 percent said he was doing a fair or poor job. In recent months scandals about sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy in Europe have made headlines worldwide. A series of reports by The New York Times and other media outlets in late March and early April criticized the pope for alleged inaction on such cases.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

During his general audience, Pope Francis reminded his listeners of the importance of the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Engaging the crowd by having them recite the virtues aloud, Francis said that theological virtues animate our everyday actions toward the good.
Pope FrancisApril 24, 2024
‘The Sound of Silence’ version of the ‘Our Father’ has been widespread throughout Latin America and U.S. Latino communities for the last few decades.
This cover image released by Republic Records show "The Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift.
You always hope that your favorite artist’s best work is still ahead of them. But what goes up must come down.
Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” which turns 75 this year, was a huge hit by any commercial or critical standard. In 1949, it pulled off an unprecedented trifecta, winning the New York Drama Circle Critics’ Award, the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. So attention must be paid!
James T. KeaneApril 23, 2024