The Shifting Global Catholic Population
Catholics have made up a remarkably stable share of the global population over the past century, but their geographic distribution has shifted significantly during that time.
Pew Research Resources on Pope Benedict XVI
The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life has a variety of resources on Catholicism and Pope Benedict XVI, including public opinion polls, research studies, event transcripts and interviews.
The Catholic “Swing” Vote
Catholics are often identified as a major “swing” voting group in American politics. A new analysis shows that the only group of Catholics that has been divided in recent elections is white Catholics who identify as political moderates
Catholics Share Bishops’ Concerns about Religious Liberty
Catholics who are aware of U.S. bishops’ concerns about restrictions on religious liberty generally agree with the bishops’ concerns, according to a new report. Yet there are no significant differences in presidential vote preferences between Catholic voters who have heard and those who have not heard about the bishops’ protests against government policies they see as restrictive of religious liberty.
Infographic: Catholics in Mexico and Cuba
This infographic is based on data from the Pew Forum’s December 2011 demographic study Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population.
The Pope Meets the Press
Newspaper coverage of the Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandal grew more intense this spring than at any time since 2002, and European newspapers devoted even more ink to the story than American papers did, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.
Media Coverage of the Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal
Newspaper coverage of the Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandal grew more intense this spring than at any time since 2002, and European newspapers devoted even more ink to the story than American papers did.
Broad Criticism of Pope Benedict’s Handling of Sex Abuse Scandal
Amid new revelations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI’s job ratings for handling the scandal have plummeted.
Catholics, Obama and Notre Dame
Most Catholics aware of the controversy support the University of Notre Dame’s decision to invite President Barack Obama to speak and receive an honorary degree at its May 17 commencement, even though he supports abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research. But a new poll also finds a deep division on this issue between the most observant Catholics and those who are less observant
Faith in Flux
Americans change religious affiliation early and often. A new survey documents the fluidity of religious affiliation in the U.S. and describes in detail the patterns and reasons for change.
