Posted on 04/04/2005 8:00:34 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON - Most Americans want the next pope to work for changes in Roman Catholic Church policies to allow priests to marry and women to join the priesthood. And they want more done to combat sexual abuse by priests, an AP-Ipsos poll found.
A solid majority of Americans, and Catholics in the country, are calling for the changes even while saying they widely admire Pope John Paul II, who supported traditional policies against priest marriage and against allowing women into the priesthood.
"He crossed so many boundaries, opened doors to many governments," said Joseph Riess, a Catholic businessman from Vienna, Va. "But I think it's time for changes."
Just over half of Americans, 51 percent, and almost three-fourths of Catholics say John Paul, who died Saturday, will be remembered as one of the greatest popes, according to the poll conducted for The Associated Press by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
The U.S. Catholic church is struggling with a variety of problems, including a dramatically shrinking U.S. priesthood, disagreement over the proper role for lay leaders, and a conservative-liberal divide over sexuality, women's ordination and clergy celibacy.
About two-thirds of those polled said priests should be allowed to marry and almost that many said they want women in the priesthood. A majority of Catholics supported both steps.
More than four in five Americans - and about the same number of Catholics - said they want to see the next pope do more to address the problem of priests sexually abusing children.
The church has been trying to deal with an abuse crisis that bubbled to the surface in January 2002 in the Archdiocese of Boston, then spread throughout the country. Since then, the church has adopted a toughened discipline policy, enacted child protection and victim outreach plans in dioceses, and removed hundreds of accused priests from church work.
Americans were divided when asked from where the next pope should come. Just over a third said he should be from Europe, while a similar number said he should be from a part of the world where Catholicism is growing fastest, like Africa or Latin America. The rest weren't sure.
"I don't think it matters where they're from," said Heather Schramko, a clinical researcher and a Catholic from Perrysburg, Ohio. "But they need to modernize the church."
The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,001 adults was taken Friday to Sunday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Some of the interviews were conducted before news broke Saturday about the pope's death, but most people knew he was gravely ill.
You said it. I hope The Church stays on the conservative path.
That's what the devout MSM wants! - sarcasm
The Catholic Church is not a political party. I don't think they understand this at all.
I can't see that happening. The College of Cardinals reflects John Paul II conservative beliefs. I'm sure that the next Pontiff will continue the Church's current policies in those areas.
The next Pope will probably closely resemble JPII ideologically, since it was JPII who personally "handpicked" many of the Archbishops, Bishops, and Cardinals during his 26 year Papacy.
Africa by far is the most hardline conservative part of the Church. The liberals can sit quietly in the corner, I dare say.
Regards, Ivan
I'm sure the church will be very interested in the results of an AP poll. /s
HOPEFULLY, the NEW Pope will come from Africa or Latin America!!!!
I beg to differ. That's not how the Holy Spirit works :-)
As Cardinal Ratzinger says, Truth is not determined by a majority vote!
Just another leftist poll. I am so tired of hearing these stupid polls repeated as though they are meaningful to anyone.
Why don't they just make John Kerry the next Pope, that might appease the MSM.
More crap from AP. They interview 1001 people and tell us "most Americans".
I don't understand why the AP would poll non-Catholics on what type of leadership the next Pope should bring to the Church. Most non-Catholics have absolutely no idea what the specific practices, customs, and teachings of the Catholic Chuch are. If they are not Catholic, then why do they care, unless the folks being polled are a bunch of whiny liberals who feel that the Church should bastardize itself to conform to their lack of morality?
Religion, NY Times style. "The Catholic Church should change its ways because it doesn't fit in with MY lifestyle..."
- Pray for a Pope to guide us through the difficult times that are to follow...
People in Hell want ice water.
LOL! I'm sure God's got His own pollsters at work as we speak....
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