Sexual abuse scandals send pope’s popularity in U.S. plummeting

Pope Francis’ onceoverwhelming popularity in the United States has taken a major hit since a new report on sexual abuse was released in August, according to two new polls.

A Gallup poll released Tuesday found that 53 percent of Americans said they had a favorable opinion of the pontiff — down from 66 percent in August, when respondents were questioned just before the release of a sweeping Pennsylvania grand jury report listing hundreds of Catholic clergy accused of sexual abuse and misconduct over 70 years in the state.

Francis’ popularity has fallen 23 points from a 2014 high of 76 percent in Gallup polls.

A separate CNN/SSRS poll — released last week — found 48 percent with a favorable view of the pope, down from 66 percent in January 2017 and a high of 72 percent in December 2013.

Francis continues to be far more liked than disliked, with roughly onequarter of the public saying they have an unfavorable impression of him, and a sizable share holding no opinion.

But the dropoff is notable from earlier in his papacy, when Francis’ messages about acceptance toward gay people and other groups received widespread positive media attention, fueling his popularity.

Since August, the Catholic Church has been rocked by the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the investigations that followed — attorneys general are now conducting inquiries on abuse in the Catholic Church in states including Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York.