(SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NE) - A new poll says a growing number of Catholics in the U.S. believe their church and bishops are out of touch and the next pope should lead the faithful in a more modern direction.
Two Catholics at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City had mixed opinions on topics like birth control and priests being able to be married, but they both agreed on one thing: the Pope needs to address our modern society.
The New York Times- CBS News latest poll asked 580 Catholics questions like should the next Pope be for or against letting priests get married. 69 percent answered for it while 26 percent were against it.
"Sometimes the husband and the wife, they have problems and other couples, husbands and wives, they help more instead of a single person," said Berenice Vizecarra.
"There are so many more important issues, social justice issues in our world, the different cultures in our world that I think need to be addressed," said Sister Janet Schumaker.
Other hot topics included legalized abortion and birth control. 71 percent said the next Pope should be for the use of birth control and 25 percent said against it.
"To me the Pope seems so way distant from the real life of people. I don't know how he could make a decision," said Sister Janet.
"If we don't take birth control, we are having more kids and more kids and more kids and less money to support the kids," said Vizecarra.
Both Catholics believe the Pope and other Cardinals need to be more aware of the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic church.
"When somebody says a rumor about a priest or about a Cardinal, yeah, pay more attention about little bit rumors," said Vizecarra.
"I'm just talking about the hierarchy, really have not come forth in truth and conversion and humility and then what are the options for better understanding and training," said Sister Janet.
While 69 percent of Catholics surveyed agreed women should be allowed to become priests, Sister Janet and Vizecarra believe tradition in the Catholic Church should take precedence.
Link to NY Times/CBS News poll: http://nyti.ms/ZpAnqb
