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PRINCETON, NJ -- U.S. Catholics' initial reactions to Pope Benedict XVI are more positive than negative, though substantial proportions have yet to form opinions of the new pontiff. Most American Catholics say they are not bothered by the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's age, his service in the German army during World War II, or his opposition to allowing priests to marry. A majority, however, is bothered by his opposition to the use of birth control by Catholics. Most American Catholics say the choice of the church's leader has little or no effect on their commitment to the church. Consistent with that, Catholics say they are more likely to rely on their own consciences to decide on difficult moral issues than to follow the pope's teachings.

These results are based on an instant-reaction poll of 616 U.S. Catholics conducted the evening of April 19, following the selection of Ratzinger as the new pope.

Impact of Selection on U.S. Catholics

According to the poll, 57% of Catholics say their commitment to the church is not affected much or at all by who the pope is. Ten percent say the chosen pope affects their commitment "a great deal," and 32% say a moderate amount.

When you think about your commitment to the Catholic Church, how much is your commitment affected by who the pope is -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or not at all?

 

Perhaps related to this is the finding that the vast majority of Catholics say they will follow their own consciences -- rather than relying on Pope Benedict's teachings -- when confronted with difficult moral decisions.

On difficult moral questions, which are you more likely to follow -- [ROTATED: The teachings of Pope Benedict (or) your own conscience]?

 

When similar questions were asked during Pope John Paul II's reign in 1987 and again in 2003, large majorities of Catholics also said they would follow their consciences rather than the pope's teachings.

U.S. Catholics' Reactions to the Selection

Initial reaction to the selection of Ratzinger as the new pope is more positive than negative, though at this early stage, many Catholics have not yet formed opinions about Pope Benedict. Thirty-one percent say they have a favorable view of him and 9% an unfavorable view, but the majority of Catholics -- 59% -- say they do not know enough about him to say.

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Pope Benedict the 16th, or do you not know enough about him to say?

 

Catholics are not bothered by some of the specific aspects of Pope Benedict's background, including his advanced age, his service in the German army during World War II, and his stance against marriage for priests. A majority of U.S. Catholics say they are, however, bothered by his opposition to the use of birth control by Catholics.

Next, we would like your reaction to some of the things from Pope Benedict's background. For each, please say whether it bothers you, personally, or if it does not bother you. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

 

At the outset of his papacy, Catholics do express optimism about the church under Pope Benedict. By a 3-to-1 margin, Catholics say he will move the church in the right direction rather than the wrong direction, although again a substantial proportion -- nearly half -- has no opinion on the matter.

Based on what you have heard or read, do you think Pope Benedict the 16th will move the Catholic Church in the right direction or the wrong direction, or don't you know enough to say?

 

Some observers have expressed concern that Ratzinger's strong endorsement of traditional Catholic teachings on moral issues such as homosexuality and artificial birth control could alienate Catholics who have more liberal views on morality. But 6 in 10 Catholics say he will do more to unite the church than to divide it, while 19% take the opposing view. One in five have no opinion.

Do you think Pope Benedict -- [ROTATED: will do more to unite the Catholic Church (or) will do more to divide the Catholic Church]?

 

Most Catholics have at least a moderate amount of confidence that the pope will be able to handle the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests, a problem that has plagued the American church.

How much confidence do you have in Pope Benedict to handle the issue of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or none at all?

 

Practicing Catholics More Positive About Benedict

The 62% of respondents who identify themselves as "practicing Catholics" are universally more positive and optimistic about Benedict than are the 38% who say they are non-practicing.

 

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected sample of 616 Catholics, aged 18 and older, conducted April 19, 2005. Respondents are members of 麻豆传媒AV's household panel, all of whom were recruited by random selection methods. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±4 percentage points. The maximum margin of sampling error for the sample of 397 practicing Catholics is ±5 percentage points. The maximum margin of sampling error for the sample of 216 non-practicing Catholics is ±7 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Polls conducted entirely in one day, such as this one, are subject to additional error or bias not found in polls conducted over several days.