As Pope Francis plans his first visit to the United States since becoming Pope, most American Catholics give him high marks for his leadership. Eight in 10 American Catholics approve of the direction Pope Francis is leading the Church, including more than half (53 percent) who say they approve strongly. […] Read more »
Equal Treatment Prevails in Views on Gay Marriage
Most Americans say equality under the law trumps individual religious beliefs –- a view that leads to broad support for requiring recalcitrant County Clerk Kim Davis to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. In general, 74 percent in this ABC News/Washington Post poll say that when a conflict […] Read more »
Rowan County, Ground Zero in Gay Marriage License Fight
The fight over gay marriage this week runs through Rowan County, Ky., (population 25,000), where the local clerk won’t issue marriage licenses, and a judge ordered her to be jailed. … The country is full of counties like Rowan — places that are the exceptions to the dominant local culture, […] Read more »
U.S. Catholics Open to Non-Traditional Families
When Pope Francis arrives in the U.S. for the World Meeting of Families later this month, he will find a Catholic public that is remarkably accepting of a variety of non-traditional families, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that provides an in-depth look at American Catholics’ views on […] Read more »
As campaign heats up, Republican candidates are rushing to the right
… On social issues ranging from abortion to same-sex marriage, much of the Republican field has now taken positions that are at odds with mainstream American opinion. For example, 3 out of 4 Americans say a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion if she becomes pregnant as […] Read more »
Five Things to Know About Republicans Ahead of the First GOP Debate
With 17 candidates vying for the Republican ticket, this election season’s primary debates are particularly important for the GOP. While only 10 will battle it out Thursday in the first debate, here are five things every Republican presidential hopeful should know about their electorate. CONT. Daniel Cox & Joanna Piacenza, […] Read more »