NEW POLL FINDS MANY AMERICAN CATHOLICS VIEW THEIR LEADER AS AN INFLUENTIAL POLITICAL FIGURE & AN INDEPENDENT MAVERICK

Liberals, Moderates and Conservative Catholics All See Pope Francis as Aligned with their Politics,

Majority See Catholic Church as Out of Touch and Far to the Right

“Good Catholics” can be Divorced, LGBTQ, have had an Abortion, Use Birth Control and Support Same-Sex Marriage and Women Priests; You Can’t Be a “Good Catholic” and put Personal

Financial Gain Above the Well-Being of Others

American Catholics Overwhelmingly Support Pope Francis’ Focus on the Poor; Majority Feel Catholic Church is More Concerned with Upholding Power Than Serving the Poor

One in Three American Catholics believe a Catholic President Would be Beholden to the Vatican

Fifty-Five Years After JFK Religion Speech

EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:30 A.M. ET MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

LOS ANGELES, September 21, 2015 –Pope Francis is an adept political maverick. In just two years, the Vatican’s unorthodox leader has mobilized the most devout and adherent in his American flock and also moved those not regularly in the pews. His championing of the poor, prisoners, immigrants, women and the environment as well as his compassion for the LGBTQ community have been positively received by American Catholics. He wears the ceremonious trappings of the Vatican but is viewed as an independent maverick untouched by the negative perceptions of Rome. A new Shriver Report Snapshot: Insight into the Complex Catholic reveals that when Pontifex touches down on US soil this week, he will be welcomed by a complex congregation of American Catholics more closely aligned with his teachings than the Vatican he represents. Huge majorities of American Catholics believe that you can be a “good Catholic” and be divorced, use birth control, marry someone of the same sex, have had an abortion and support women priests and stricter immigration laws.

The Shriver Report Snapshot: Insight into the Complex Catholic, the groundbreaking new poll from Shriver Media conducted by Democratic polling firm, Hart Research Associates and Republican polling firm, Echelon Insights, took the temperature of 1,000 American Catholics and shows that nearly half believe that Pope Francis is both an influential religious and political leader. Later this week, His Holiness must walk a delicate tight-rope to appeal to this complex American congregate, dip into complicated domestic politics in his historic address to a joint session of Congress, and remain adherent to the bureaucracy he leads.

“Pope Francis ditched the Prada slippers and lush Vatican living and urged acceptance of otherwise marginalized groups. He has captured our hearts, minds and headlines. Our Snapshot reveals a new brand of world leader who gracefully connects with a politically and dogmatically divided electorate. Our poll shows a highly complex American congregation hungry for an independent maverick whose

teachings reflect their own modern values,” said Maria Shriver, founder of Shriver Media and creator of the Shriver Report Project.

“One of the most significant findings from the survey is the extraordinary breadth of the endorsement of the direction that Pope Francis is taking the Catholic Church. From the most devout to those who are most disconnected from the Church, Catholics overwhelmingly embrace Pope Francis’ emphasis on teachings that are in line with cultural shifts of today’s society. In particular, Pope Francis’ message of inclusion a welcome invitation to American Catholics, who believe one can be a good Catholic while holding different views from the church on abortion, gay marriage, and women in the priesthood. His shift in emphasis on the poor resonates with American Catholics, who despite their differences with the Church on some cultural issues, overwhelmingly see it as a force for good in the world. And for many, Pope Francis’ teachings have strengthened their bond to the Church,” said Geoff Garin, president of Hart Research Associates.

SNAPSHOT’S KEY FINDINGS

American Catholics Overwhelmingly Support Pope Francis’ Teachings on the Poor and the Environment

American Catholics are overwhelmingly in favor of Pope Francis’ teachings – specifically the importance he has placed on economic inequality and the environment over traditional social issues like contraception, gay marriage and abortion. As the first Pope to take the name of Saint Francis, he is living up to the values and independent spirit of his namesake.

o   By 86% to 14% American Catholics believe that it is a good thing that Pope Francis has

emphasized income inequality and preserving the environment over social issues such as sex and reproductive rights. Fully 93% are in favor of his pushing the Church to focus more on the needs of the poor. Nearly nine in ten American Catholics (88%) are in favor of his calling on people to do more to address climate change and improve the environment – and that is across ideological and party lines.

o   American Catholics also support Pope Francis’ call for greater acceptance within the Church on social issues. A vast majority applaud his push towards openness for those who have divorced and or/remarried (95%) and LGBTQ (81%). Nine in ten Democrats support his calling for more acceptance of LGBTQ within the Church and 69% of Republicans agree.

o   An overwhelming majority believes that divorced Catholics should be allowed to take

communion (92%) including more conservative regular churchgoers.

o   A majority (56%) also agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry in the Church though only one-in-four weekly churchgoers agree (25%).

“Good Catholics” can be Divorced, LGBTQ, have had an Abortion, Use Birth Control and Support

Same-Sex Marriage, Tougher Immigration Laws and Women Priests

A majority (71%) of American Catholics consider themselves “good Catholics” and are much more liberal and accepting of what constitutes being “good” within Catholicism than what the Church has

tolerated among its flock. These surprising leniencies are held by those in and out of the pews.

o   94% believe you can be a good Catholic and use birth control and 88% believe you can be a good Catholic and have had pre-marital sex

o   94% believe you can be a good Catholic and be divorced o   88% believe you can be a good Catholic and support women priesthood o   76% believe you can be a good Catholic and support gay marriage and 72% believe you can be

married to someone of the same sex and consider yourself a “good Catholic” o   73% believe you can have had an abortion and remain a “good Catholic and 71% believe you

can be a good Catholic and be pro-choice o   71% believe you can be a good Catholic and support the deportation of undocumented

immigrants and the closing of U.S. borders

What can you not do and remain a “good Catholic”? More than three-in-five American Catholics (63%) believe that you cannot place personal wealth and financial gain over the well-being of others and still be a good Catholic.

The Complex Catholic: More Accepting on Definition of “Good Catholic” for the Flock,

Less Comfortable in their Personal Lives

While American Catholics deviate from Church dogma on what should be acceptable beliefs and behaviors for Catholics in general, when it comes to their own lives and their own parishes the lines blur.

o   Majorities of those who would not be defined as “good” in the eyes of the Church consider themselves “good Catholics” including those who support gay marriage (68%), pro-choice individuals (65%) and those who are separated or divorced (60%).

o   While more than nine-in-ten American Catholics (94%) believe that you can be a good Catholic and use contraception, just 48% say they would be very comfortable teaching their son or daughter about contraception. Women are more likely to be very comfortable talking about this than men (53% to 42%).

o   While three-in-four American Catholics (76%) believe that you can be a good Catholic and

support same-sex marriage, 63% favor same-sex marriage, and 56% believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry in the Church, just 28% would be very comfortable if their son or daughter took part in a same-sex marriage.

o   More than seven in ten American Catholics (73%) believe that you can be a good Catholic and

have had an abortion and 46% say that abortion should be legal, but only 16% would be very comfortable supporting the decision of their child to terminate a pregnancy.

o   Nearly nine-in-ten American Catholics (88%) believe that you can be a good Catholic and

support women as priests in the Catholic Church, but 44% would be very comfortable attending a Catholic Church with a female priest. Women are more likely to be very comfortable with this than men (48% to 39%).

Pope Francis is Hybrid Religious and Political Leader who Masterfully Represents

the Catholic Church While Being Viewed as an Independent Outsider and Apart from American Catholic’s Perceptions of the Vatican

American Catholics feel significantly more aligned with Pope Francis than with the Catholic Church as an institution. He has effectively managed to assume leadership of a major bureaucracy while remaining independently popular.

o   Three-in-four American Catholics say Pope Francis’ teachings align with their personal values and beliefs and an overwhelming majority are in favor of the direction he has led the Church. 86% support Pope Francis’ emphasis on helping the poor and the environment over social issues such as gay marriage, divorce and abortion. Nine-in-ten American Catholics (93%) approve of Pope Francis’ calling on the church to have a greater focus on income inequality and looking out for the poor. Four-in-five Americans (88%) favor Pope Francis’ calling on people to do more to address climate change and improve the environment.

o   Pope Francis has successfully maintained the support of his “base,” those regularly in the pews, while also appealing to the “swing voter” or those who are less connected to the Church. 44% of American Catholics say that Pope Francis has made them closer to their faith while only 5% say he has pushed them away. Among Catholics who don’t regularly attend church, 59% say that Pope Francis has brought them closer to Catholicism. He has the ability to speak to those that the Church cannot reach.

o   Despite the Pope’s popularity, the Catholic Church as an institution is not speaking to many

members of its American flock. Four-in-ten (42%) American Catholics say the Church is out of touch with their social and cultural values and 38% report they have strongly considered leaving Catholicism at some point. Particularly damning for the Church, younger Americans (18-34) are twice as likely as seniors to have considered leaving the pews. A majority (52%) of American Catholics feel the Catholic Church is more interested in preserving institutional power than serving the poor. Fully, 82% believe that the Catholic Church has not done enough to crack down on the sex abuse scandal.

o   Despite the prevailing negativity towards the Church, more than nine-in-ten (94%) American

Catholics still believe the Church to be a force for good in the world. Liberal, Moderate, Conservative, Old, Young, Hispanic: American Catholics see themselves in

Pope Francis.

o   American Catholics across the ideological spectrum see the Catholic Church as conservative (59%). Women (70%) are much more likely than men (47%) to label Rome conservative.

o   A plurality view themselves as moderate (41%) and are most likely to see Pope Francis as

moderate as well (47%), while a majority see the Catholic Church as conservative (57%).

o   Not only do American Catholics see Pope Francis’ politics as more aligned with his American

followers at large but across the spectrum they see Pope Francis championing their own ideology. Liberal Catholics are most likely to view Pope Francis as liberal (48%), moderate Catholics say he is moderate (55%) and conservative Catholics say he is either conservative (37%) or moderate (38%).

Almost Half of American Catholics View Pope Francis as both an

influential religions AND political leader.

o   Pope Francis’ entree into global and American politics has not been lost on the American Catholic. Nearly all Catholics (96%) see Pope Francis as an influential religious figure. But nearly half (48%) see him as an influential political leader, including 44% who say he is both an influential religious and political figure.

Pope Francis, Catholic Voters & 2016: Universal Popularity in Partisan America

Amidst the backdrop of a heated presidential race and an increasingly partisan America, Pope Francis’ appeal across the spectrum support is truly remarkable. Three-in-five Catholic Americans (60%) say that Pope Francis’ teaching match up with how they vote including 63% of Democrats, 56% of Independents and 58% of Republicans – talk about post-partisan!

o   American Catholics are muted about how much, if at all, Pope Francis’ historic visit will affect the 2016 election cycle. Over half (54%) predict that his visit will not have a major effect on the presidential election and that their religious beliefs will not play a role in how they vote (53%). Weekly churchgoers believe the visit will have a bigger impact on the election and their vote

o   One in three (33%) Catholic Americans believe that a Catholic President would be first beholden to the Vatican than to the American people. Interestingly, Catholic Americans under fifty, who have never had a Catholic president in office, are three times more likely to believe this than those over fifty.

o   When asked about their enthusiasm for presidential candidates, 77% said they would be most enthusiastic about a candidate who shared Pope Francis’ belief that society should do more to help the poor – by far the most of the nine qualities listed.

o   71% of Catholic Americans say they would have concerns about a president who does not

believe in God while only 17% said they would have concerns about a candidate who was not Catholic.

o   Just as Catholic Americans are more accepting of what it means to be a “good Catholic” they are more accepting on what it means to be a “good candidate”. Most Catholic Americans say that they would be enthusiastic or comfortable with a presidential candidate who used contraceptives (70%), supports same-sex marriage (54%), and has been divorced (53%).

ABOUT SHRIVER MEDIA: Shriver Media is a 21st Century socially conscious media company that produces films, documentaries, original digital reporting and live events to inform, inspire, enlighten and entertain. Our team collaborates with like-minded partners and offers diverse media brands that we

believe can impact individuals and society in a positive way. We ignite hearts and minds. Visit us at ShriverMedia.com. POLL METHODOLGY: From August 28 to September 2, 2015, Hart Research and Echelon Insights conducted an online survey among 1,000 Catholics nationwide. The firms contracted with a third-party vendor, Research Now, to send invitations to its panel of 2.3 million respondents. The survey is nationally representative of the adult population of Catholics age 18 and older and comports with publicly available demographic and polling data for that population. An online survey that is self- administered particularly is useful for a survey such as this that explores potentially controversial and sensitive topics such as attitudes about religion, faith, and sex. Hart Research, a Democratic polling firm, conducted this study in partnership with the Republican firm Echelon Insights and the firm’s co-founder and partner, Kristen Soltis Anderson. For full results and additional materials visit: http://shrivermedia.com/shriverreportproject Read Maria Shriver’s Faith Series with inspiring stories from Melinda Gates, Deepak Chopra, Pema Chodron, Sister Joan Chittister and many more: http://mariashriver.com/blog/category/faith/ Michelle Levi, Shriver Media // michellel@mosenterprises.com //203-803-5851