The Francis Effect - Pope Francis and the Catholic Church in the United States

Political Science Professor David Buckley weighed in on the Pope’s visit to the United States in the Washington Post this week, and on the possibility of a “Francis Effect” on the American Catholic Church. Buckley is the Paul Weber Endowed Chair in Politics, Science & Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences at UofL.
The Francis Effect - Pope Francis and the Catholic Church in the United States

New evidence shows that the pope can change Catholics’ minds about the culture war
By David Buckley

Pope Francis visits Washington, D.C. this week, where he will be the first pontiff to address a joint session of Congress. Since his election in 2013, Francis has attracted international headlines, been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, and left commentators speculating about a possible “Francis Effect” on the American Catholic Church.

Francis has a gift for shaping headlines, and his remarks to Congress are sure to be front-page news.

But how are average Catholic voters actually responding to some of the pope’s most prominent public statements?

Read More in The Washington Post

Read more of Prof. Buckley’s insights on the pope’s visit to the U.S.

What is political importance of papal visit? (The Courier-Journal, 9/24/2015)

Why the Pope Should Scare Climate-Change Deniers (The New York Times, 9/22/2015)

The Political Implications of Pope Francis’ Visit To The U.S. (WFPL, 9/23/2015)