US Catholics Like Benedict, but Not Rome

As Pope Benedict XVI arrives for his first visit to America, a Washington Post poll finds that the pontiff enjoys wide support among US Catholics. Nearly three in four say that they have a positive impression of Benedict. But the poll also reveals that most Catholics find the church out of sync with their personal views, and that many remain pained by the clergy sex abuse scandal.

Some 62% of American Catholics said that the church is not reflective of their views—a 10% increase since Benedict became pope in the spring of 2005. One of the biggest divisions between Americans and Rome concerns the priesthood: a large majority of US Catholics believe that women should be ordained and that priests should be allowed to marry.