Have you seen the Gallup Poll on Pope Francis’ popularity? HERE
His favorability has, essentially, crashed.
Laudato NO!
Back in February 2015, Pew Research showed that 70% of all Americans and 90% of Catholics viewed Francis favorably.
Today, according Gallup, his favorability is at 71%.
So, in about 6 months – half a year – Francis’ popularity in these U.S.A., has, among Catholics, fallen nearly 20% (19% to be exact). That’s in only 6 months.
Let us ask:
What happened between February and now?
Laudato si’.
There’s more.
Francis lost 14% among liberal Americans.
Let us also ask:
How do these numbers compare with polls from the beginning of Francis’ pontificate in March 2013?
In April 2013, among Americans, his favorables were at 58% and unfavorables at 10%. Today, his favorables are at 59% and unfavorables at 16%.
In other words, Americans like him as much now as when they knew nothing about him.
In that same period, however, his unfavorables have increased 6%.
Let the liberal excuses begin!
One possible excuse will be that Francis’ hasn’t been as prominent in the media as he was in 2013, so these numbers are superficial. In other words the media will blame the media. “If only the Pope could be on the cover of TIME a few more times!”
Speaking of the media blaming the media, this is from the David Gibson piece at the ultra liberal RNS:
“Stephen Schneck, head of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, blamed pundits on the right and left, like Rush Limbaugh and Rachel Maddow, for “politicizing” the pope’s teachings.”
And this from the same liberals who assure us that talk show hosts don’t really have much influence! Now they want to blame talk shows for the Pope’s loss of 19 points among Catholics since February?
REALLY?!?
Couldn’t it be that Americans are tired of being berated?
Consider:
According to the Public Religion Research Institute only 40% of white Catholics – who make up 2/3 of all Catholics in these USA – believe in global warming as a result of human activity.
So, it could be that the more people heard about Laudato si’ the less they liked the Pope.
Mind you, liberal catholics, such as the writers and readers of the National Schismatic Reporter (aka Fishwrap) will try to explain away this huge drop in popularity because Francis’ is being prophetic: “Francis has challenged Americans and taken them out of their complacency!”
Mind you, liberals don’t include themselves among normal Americans. They understand things far better than the hoi polloi. So, watch the Left get out the climbing equipment and oxygen tanks as they struggle up to even loftier moral high ground.
The Pope will probably get popularity bumps from his U.S. trip.
Right now, however, he’s trending downward.
It will be interesting to see how – and if – Pope Francis and his team will adjust their message.
Comment moderation is ON. I’ll let some comments stack up before releasing them.
UPDATE 1608 GMT:
I just saw the risibile story at Reuters. HERE
First, the headline…
Pope Francis’ approval rating dips in U.S. ahead of September visit – poll
Firstly, what is a dip? This looks like plummet to me. What would the media say if the stock market “dipped” 19% in 6 months? How about you? How about if your 401K “dipped” 19%? Would you call that a “dip”?
Second, then take in, with popcorn, the quote from a Jesuit at Boston College. If you were wondering what people mean by “jesuitical” in regard to logic, this is the sort of antics they have in mind:
“This [i.e, the Pope’s talk about climate change] is making people uncomfortable,” said the Rev. James Bretzke, a professor of moral theology at Boston College, who like Francis is a Jesuit.
“These poll numbers are not surprising and as a matter of fact you could even say there is an upside to them in the sense that it shows people are listening to the pope,” Bretzke said. “They’re not always agreeing with him but they are clearly listening.”
Yep. Remember the upside, friends!
