Catholic Opinion in the U.S. on Abortion and Church Teachings

SOURCE www.npr.org
Pope Francis remains popular among U.S. Catholics with 75% favorable views. Many Catholics disagree with the church on various teachings, especially on abortion rights. Hispanic Catholics and Catholic Democrats are more in favor of legal abortion. U.S. Catholics want changes like allowing contraception, married priests, women priests, and recognizing same-sex marriage.

Key Points

  • 75% of U.S. Catholics have a favorable view of Pope Francis.
  • 6 in 10 U.S. adult Catholics believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
  • Opinions on abortion rights are linked to political leanings and frequency of mass attendance.
  • Many U.S. Catholics desire changes in the church such as allowing contraception, married priests, women priests, and recognizing same-sex marriage.

Pros

  • Pope Francis maintains high popularity among U.S. Catholics.

Cons

  • Disagreement among U.S. Catholics with various teachings of the church, particularly on abortion rights.