Catholics are unhappy with Pontiff for being “too liberal and naïve”

By Inemesit Udodiong
Pulse (Nigeria)
March 11, 2018

http://www.pulse.ng/communities/religion/catholics-criticise-pope-francis-for-being-too-liberal-id8098709.html

Catholics criticise Pope Francis for being “too liberal”

Growing number of Americans criticise Pope Francis

Most Americans are still happy with Pope Francis

Where Pope Francis stands between his predecessor and the late Pope John Paul II

A new study shows Pontiff’s popularity in the US may be dwindling, ahead of his five year anniversary.

This is based on a newly released Pew Research survey, conducted between January 10 and 15, among 316 Catholics and 1,503 American adults.

According to this poll, 55% of Republican-leaning Catholics say the Pope is “too liberal.” In 2015, only 23% felt this way.

Pew reports: “The share of American Catholics who say Pope Francis is “too liberal” has jumped 15 percentage points between 2015 and today, from 19% to 34%. And about a quarter of U.S. Catholics (24%) now say he is naïve, up from 15% in 2015."

Overall, Pope Francis is still loved by most American Catholics. 84 find him great while nine in 10 U.S. Catholics describe him as “compassionate” and “humble.”

“The share of American Catholics who give Pope Francis “excellent” or “good” marks for his handling of the sex abuse scandal dropped from 55% to 45%," the report adds.

Pope Francis’ current approval ratings make him more popular than his predecessor, Pope Benedict 16th.

He is still slightly less popular than Pope John Paul II.

The poll was done ahead of the Pontiff's anniversary on Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

On this day, five years ago, he was elected as the leader of the Roman Catholic church.

Since his election, his popularity ratings have gone from 79% (in September 2013) to 90% (in February 2015) and what it is now.