Pope Benedict XVI hasn’t exactly won the hearts and minds of Americans in recent weeks, according to the results of a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Friday, which showed the wear and tear of the ongoing clergy sex scandal on the pope’s public standing among Catholic and non-Catholics alike. –KA

CNN:

Fifty-nine percent of American Catholics questioned in the poll have a favorable view of the pope, down 19 points from February. Among all Americans, the slippage is even greater: from 59 percent in February to just 35 percent today.

“Only a quarter of U.S. Catholics have an unfavorable view of the pope, but they don’t seem satisfied with his track record on the growing and persistent scandal within the church,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said.

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