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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#ffffcc" face=Helvetica><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/0921/American-Catholics-like-what-they-re-hearing-from-Pope-Francis-video">http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2013/0921/American-Catholics-like-what-they-re-hearing-from-Pope-Francis-video</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:3.0pt;background:white'><font size=6
color="#333333" face=Georgia><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:Georgia;
color:#333333'>American Catholics like what they're hearing from Pope Francis
(+video)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white'><b><font
size=2 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333;font-weight:bold'>Pope Francis said in an interview this
week that the Catholic Church's emphasis needs to turn from sexual issues to
the ‘freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.’ Polls show most
American Catholics agree.</span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:
white'><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#666666'>By</span></font><font size=2 color="#666666"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#666666'> </span></font><font
size=2 color="#666666" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#666666'><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/About/Staff/Brad-Knickerbocker"><font
color="#205d87"><span style='color:#205D87;text-decoration:none'>Brad Knickerbocker</span></font></a>, </span></font><i><font
size=2 color="#666666" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#666666;font-style:italic'>Staff writer</span></font></i><font
size=2 color="#666666" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#666666'> </span></font><font size=2 color="#666666"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:#666666'>/ </span></font><font size=2 color="#666666" face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#666666'>September 21, 2013</span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color="#ffffcc" face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/Pope+Francis" target="_self"
title="Title: Pope Francis"><font size=4 color="#205d87" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#205D87;background:white;
text-decoration:none'>Pope Francis</span></font></a></span></font><span
class=apple-converted-space><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333;background:white'><span
style='orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;float:none;
word-spacing:0px'> </span></font></span><font size=4 color="#333333"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333;
background:white'>shook up the Roman Catholic world this week with his comments
about abortion, contraception, and gay marriage, saying such moral and
doctrinal issues should not be overemphasized at the cost of “losing the
freshness and fragrance of the Gospel."</span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>In the<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/United+States" target="_self"
title="Title: United States" rel=nofollow><font color="#205d87"><span
style='color:#205D87;text-decoration:none'>United States</span></font></a>,
many Catholics hailed what the pope had to say in a lengthy interview in a
Jesuit publication, which may not be surprising given attitudes here seen as
more liberal than official church doctrine from </span></font><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>Rome</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>• By 55-43 percent, most American Catholics say abortion
should be legal in “all or most cases,” according to a Washington
Post/ABC poll in July.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>• Eighty-two percent of Catholics in the US say birth
control is morally acceptable, Gallup found last year – not much less
than the 90 percent approval among all adults polled.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>• In March, a Quinnipiac University National
Poll found that most Catholic voters (54-38 percent) support same-sex
marriage – higher than the 47-43 percent general approval rate.
"Catholic voters are leading American voters toward support for same-sex
marriage," said<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span></font><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'>Peter</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>
Brown, assistant director of the<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/Quinnipiac+University+Polling+Institute"
target="_self" title="Title: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute"
rel=nofollow><font color="#205d87"><span style='color:#205D87;text-decoration:
none'>Quinnipiac University Polling Institute</span></font></a>. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>• Also, according to the Quinnipiac Poll, most American
Catholics say priests should be allowed to marry (62-30 percent), say the
church’s ban on contraception should be relaxed (64-28 percent, including
68-24 percent among women), and support Present Obama's position that religious-based
institutions, such as hospitals and universities, must arrange for their
insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for employees (51-41
percent).</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay
marriage and the use of contraceptive methods," Francis said in the
article published Thursday in Jesuit journals in 16 countries. "We have to
find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to
fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the
Gospel."</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>In a move no doubt intended to answer those church members and
clergy – including some bishops – holding to a more traditionally
conservative view, the pope on Friday spoke out on abortion.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>Speaking to Catholic doctors at the<span
class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/The+Roman+Catholic+Church"
target="_self" title="Title: The Roman Catholic Church" rel=nofollow><font
color="#205d87"><span style='color:#205D87;text-decoration:none'>Vatican</span></font></a>,
Pope Francis condemned the “throwaway culture” abortion promotes,
saying, “Our response to this mentality is a ‘yes’ to life,
decisive and without hesitation.”</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>“Every unborn child, though unjustly condemned to be
aborted, has the face of the Lord, who even before his birth, and then as soon
as he was born, experienced the rejection of the world,” he said.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;
widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>Still, liberal Catholics in the </span></font><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>US</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'> welcomed the
pope’s message in the earlier interview</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333;background:white'>“This message resonates with so many
Catholics because it reflects our personal experiences—Catholics are gay
and lesbian; Catholics use birth control and Catholics have abortions,”
Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, said in a statement.</span></span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>“We truly hope
that this is just the start; that Pope Francis doesn’t only talk the
talk, but also walks the walk,” Mr. O’Brien said. “We hope he
takes steps to ensure that his more open view of how the church should deal with
people trickles down to his brother bishops around the world, who oversee large
numbers of hospitals and medical centers.”</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>“We also hope
that this attitude starts to take effect immediately at the United Nations,
where the </span></font><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>Vatican</span></font><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'> continues to take extreme positions against contraception,
abortion and sexual and reproductive rights, having a very negative impact on
the lives of Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the world,” he said.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>As the Pew Research
Center’s Religion & Public Life Project pointed out last week, the
pope has made headlines by condemning the use of chemical weapons, leading
a prayer vigil for peace in Syria, vowing to reform the Vatican
bureaucracy, washing the feet of young prisoners (including two
women) during a Holy Thursday ceremony, and taking a humble approach to the
trappings of the papacy, including his decision to reside in a modest
residence rather than more spacious accommodations. </span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>A Pew poll taken Sept.
4-8 shows that 79 percent of US Catholics view Pope Francis favorably.
“Francis receives his strongest support from those who say they attend
Mass at least once a week, with 86% of this group expressing a favorable view
of the pontiff,” Pew reported.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>The pope’s
evident popularity is not lost on the church hierarchy in the </span></font><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'>United States</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>Bishop Thomas Tobin of
</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>Providence</span></font><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'>, </span></font><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>Rhode Island</span></font><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'>, last week said in an interview with his diocesan
newspaper that he was "a little bit disappointed" that Francis hadn't
spoken out about abortion.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>On Friday, in an
official statement responding to the pope's remarkable interview in La Civilta Cattolica,
Bishop Tobin said he admired Francis' leadership.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>"Being a Catholic
doesn't mean having to choose between doctrine and charity, between truth and
love. It includes both. We are grateful to Pope Francis for reminding us of
that vision," Tobin said.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:21.0pt;background:white;
orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'>Cardinal<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a
href="http://www.csmonitor.com/tags/topic/Timothy+Dolan" target="_self"
title="Title: Timothy Dolan" rel=nofollow><font color="#205d87"><span
style='color:#205D87'>Timothy Dolan</span></font></a>, who as head of the US
Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken a lead role in voicing the </span></font><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333'>U.S.</span></font><font size=4 color="#333333"
face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>
church's opposition to contraception and gay marriage, said the church isn't
the only one obsessed with such issues – today's culture is.</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>"Every pope has a
different strategy," Cardinal Dolan told "CBS This Morning."
''What I think he's saying is, those are important issues and the church has
got to keep talking about them, but we need to talk about them in a fresh new
way. If we keep kind of a negative finger-wagging tone, it's
counterproductive.”</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>“I think what
he’s saying is those are important issues, but we need to talk about
those issues in a fresh, new way,” Dolan said. “Instead of talking
about these hot-button issues, why don’t we talk about tenderness and
mercy and the love we have for one another?”</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:
21.0pt;background:white;orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;
word-spacing:0px'><font size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333'>To which most American
Catholics evidently say, “Amen.”</span></font></p>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:21.0pt;background:white;
orphans: auto;widows: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><i><font
size=4 color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:#333333;font-style:italic'>This report includes material from the
Associated Press.</span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:21.0pt;background:white'><font size=4
color="#333333" face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#333333'> </span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font></p>
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