Rift Between Catholics And Vatican Widens

As Pope Francis reaches out to Catholics around the world in an effort to reinvigorate the church, the Vatican faces a wide ideological gap with popularly held beliefs in many countries, a new poll finds. On issues like contraception, gay marriage, divorce and women’s admittance into the priesthood, the church is at odds with a majority of Catholics in many countries across the world, the poll shows.

Over 90% of Catholics in countries including France, Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Colombia favor the use of birth control, a position that opposes official Catholic doctrine. And more than 60% of Catholics in countries including France, Spain, Poland, Brazil, Argentina and the U.S. believe priests should be allowed to marry.