[Catholic Caucus] CNN Poll: Pope Francis' favorability plummets

CNN ^ | September 12, 2018 | Grace Sparks

[sitetest]

--- snip ---

Specifically among US Catholics, his ratings have fallen from 83% favorability a year and a half ago to 63% now -- a 20-point drop.

[sitetest]

bergoglio and his co-conspirators, are taking a hit. But any politician would still envy this favorability rating.

He will ride this out. A few fewer folks will attend at Mass, they'll get a few fewer dollars in the basket. They'll close a few parishes and a couple of schools. They'll "retire" a few bishops (it is rumored that wuerl is getting a very nice place prepped, and mccarrick already has a comfortable home in southern Maryland).

But wuerl will still live a life of luxury, and his successor will still have the lifestyle of a billionaire Russian oligarch.

[sitetest]

Ping.

[Biggirl]

Not surprised.

[onedoug]

homo pope

[Leaning Right]

Many Catholics are - unfortunately - still following that old military saying: Salute the rank, not the man.

[Vigilanteman]

Most religions have the following distributon among their congregants:

1. One third who carry about 95% of the weight of the orginization by regular attendance, volunteer work and financial support.
   
2. One third who don't mind coming if lunch is served (the C&E crowd) and might give token support to a fundraiser on occassion.
   
3. One third who will never darken the door of the church but like to stay on the rolls because it is a convenient fig leaf.

Pope Frank's support is coming from the bottom two rungs.

[Hieronymus]

Many Catholics are - unfortunately - still following that old military saying: Salute the rank, not the man.

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I think that is still the correct position, in as much as one ought to give proper deference to the rank in all formal situations that call for it. We should still pray for him at Mass, even if our ideas on the best way God might answer those prayers may differ from the ideas of Francis’ admires.

At the same time, outside of formal situations, there is no need to laud the man, and constructive criticism/expressions of disapproval in appropriate ways seem to me entirely in order and in keeping with the Poe’s instructions to “make a mess.”

He is right that the Church needs to be shaken up, and shaken up in the best way possible. He may not have all of the details quite right, but I’m happy to do my part. As he has pointed out, clericalism is a big problem—and waiting for the Pope to work out all the details for you is clericalism in spades.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Many Catholics are - unfortunately - still following that old military saying: Salute the rank, not the man"

Unfortunately? That's just the reasonable attitude to have. In short, one kisses the ring (symbolizing the papal ministry) not the hand (Jorge Bergoglio)

Just this morning, the gospel at Mass was Jesus' tremendously difficult teaching about loving your enemies and doing good to those who mistreat you. Oh really, Jesus? Are You serious? This goes against all human nature.

This, almost as much as Christ's resurrection from the dead, convince me that He is God. Because loving an enemy completely surpasses anything an unaided human could do, or could even to do. It offends our sturdiest carnal instincts.

You must not obey a bad man: not when he commands or suggests or seduces into sin. But you respect his office because it is not HIM: it's where he's been placed by Divine Providence, which we do not understand but which orders all things.

And we love HIM. Jorge Bergoglio, not because we "like" him (I can't stand him) but because we want for him what Christ wants for him: his repentance and --- at the end --- his salvation.

Every Catholic, by precept, prays for the Pope every day, at the morning Mass and/or when we make our Morning Offering.

Who could be more in need of Divine Intervention, than this lost, lapsed Shepherd?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Well said.

Pope Francis is unquestionably the most “clericalist” pope in my lifetime, one of the most “clericalist” popes in history.

[Leaning Right]

I understand your argument, and have no quarrel with it. I am, however, coming at this situation from a different point of view.

Any leader - pope, president, mayor, or Indian chief - who enjoys a high favorability rate is much less likely to change than one who does not have that advantage.

That’s why I used the word “unfortunately” in my previous post (#5). Also, I understand that this is a situation where worldly factors aren’t the only ones present.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you--- that helps me understand your point of view.

The opinion of the crowd --- for you or against you --- can be a hugely distorting or corrupting factor in a person's decisions. It takes a man of integrity to be indifferent to the praise and blame of others, to be everything or nothing in their eyes.

A man who inordinately craves adulation is putty in the hands of the Evil One.

[irishjuggler]

Among practicing Catholics who are paying attention, his favorability is probably in single digits. That this knave would be as high as 63% favorability is mainly a function of: (1) some low-information Catholics reflexively approving of any pope; and (2) some Catholics not following Church teachings on sexual morality correctly perceiving Pope Francis as “their guy.”

[Salvation]

Will it drop even further? I think so.

[FranklinsTower]

To love our enemies, is to pray for their repentance and conversion. This goes for the all the church hierachy who are scandalously involved.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Exactly right. I’ve been trying th explain to my sentimental bishop that we can’t know Card. Wuerkl’s mind and heart, but we CAN judge his criminal liabilities. That’s what grand juries, DA’s, judges and jurors are for. Jesus says we must hunger and thirst for justice. The truth must come out. Justice, then mercy. Justice and Mercy shall kiss.