Today is Pope Benedict’s last day as ruler of the Vatican and leader of the Catholic Church. His surprise departure has many U.S. Catholics praying that the church use this opportunity to take a different direction.
According to a Pew Research Center poll, 51% of U.S. Catholics think the next pope should maintain the traditional positions of the church, while 46% are hoping the church modernizes and makes some much needed changes.
Here are the top requests: the church become more modern (19%), get tougher on sex abuse (15%), allow priests to marry (14%), accept homosexuality (9%), allow women to be priests (9%), and lessen the church’s opposition to the use of contraception (7%).
“It’s striking to me that Catholics in the United States really do express a desire for the church to move forward in specific ways,” said Greg Smith, senior researcher for Pew Research Center. “You’ve got this openness to change accompanied by a real appreciation for the traditions of the Catholic Church.”
Although a majority of U.S. Catholics are pleased with Benedict’s papacy, his favorability rating isn’t as high as its peak of 83% right after his papal visit to the United States in April 2008.
Surprisingly, only 74% of U.S. Catholics polled express a favorable view of the soon-to-be former pontiff. Most actually gave Benedict negative ratings for his handling of the sex-abuse scandal in the church. while 63% said they were displeased with how he addressed the sex-abuse scandal. These ratings are significantly more negative than in April 2008.
Interestingly, Pope Benedict’s ratings have never soared as high as his predecessor Pope John Paul II, who was rated favorably by 90% of U.S. Catholics in three separate Pew Research polls in the 1980s and 1990s.
If these cardinals who pick the next pope are smart, they'll choose a reformer. Anyway good riddance to this current one. No love lost.