100 Questions and Answers About U.S. Catholics: Pope Francis, his Legacy and the Transition to Pope Leo...

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Michigan State School of Journalism

100 Questions and Answers About U.S. Catholics

Pope Francis, his Legacy and the Transition to Pope Leo XIV

Michigan State School of Journalism

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English

Michigan State University School of Journalism
24 June 2025

Religion & beliefs; Christian sacraments

Series: Bias Busters

""100 Questions and Answers About U.S. Catholics"" addresses the basic questions people have about the world's largest church and how it operates in the United States of America, one of the countries with the largest Catholic population.

With nearly 70 million Catholics in the U.S., Catholicism touches nearly every corner of American life,

from religious holidays and schools to politics and public debates. Myths, stereotypes, and confusion often cloud understanding of what Catholics actually believe and practice. This handy book brings readers concise, respectful answers on everything from Mass to confession, saints, Mary, and the pope to church history, contemporary challenges, and the diversity of American Catholic life today.

The legacy of Pope Francis is a major part of the current U.S. Catholic story,

as the guide was written during his most active years as pope. With that timing, there is attention to his social and political pronouncements as well as steps he took in selecting cardinals, ""Princes of the Church"" who determined who his successor would be and who would continue his legacy. Two years before he died, Francis elevated the man who would become Pope Leo XIV to the College of Cardinals. Francis made fundamental statements about poverty and justice, peace, global warming, women in the church, Vatican finances and the decades-old scandal of child sexual abuse. Like preceding popes, Francis continued to shepherd changes brought by the Vatican Council gatherings of the 1960s, a global initiative to revitalize the church. Francis spoke strongly on social issues such as global warming, immigration, economic disparity and COVID-19.

The story of the Catholic Church in the United States is no less interesting. This guide explores some of the fault lines within the U.S. church. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is wrestling with declining vocations at a time when the number of Americans who are religiously unaffiliated is at a historic high. Many U.S. Catholics adhere to the church but do not follow all its teachings.

This is a politically pivotal time for the U.S. Catholic Church. Abortion, the environment, national and world politics divide Catholics, who make up about 20% of the nation's population. Catholics, who were once shut out of political power in the United States, now hold most seats on the U.S. Supreme Court and have commanding influence in the U.S. Congress and the White House.

Even though one in five Americans are Catholic in this largely Christian nation, non-members have plenty of questions. These are some of the questions answered in this guide:

Who do Catholics say God is?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Do Catholics believe in heaven and hell?

Do Catholics believe people of other religions will go to heaven?

Are there major and minor sins?

What does the church say about purgatory?

What is the role of saints?

What is a ""Cafeteria Catholic""?

How did Catholic schools contribute to U.S. education?

How does Catholic school differ from public school?

Must Catholic children attend Sunday school?

How are popes chosen?

Is the pope infallible?

May women be priests?

Are Catholics Christian?

Must Catholics obey the pope?

Do Catholics worship Mary?

Do Catholics worship saints?

Do Catholics perform exorcisms?

Do Catholics tithe?

How do Catholics view premarital sex?

What are Catholic views on Catholics marrying non-Catholics?

What is an annulment?

Do Catholics welcome the LGBTQ+ community?

How is the church responding to sexual abuse by clergy?

What do Catholics believe about vaccinations?

By: Michigan State School of Journalism
Imprint: Michigan State University School of Journalism
Volume: 23
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 6mm
Weight: 132g
ISBN: 9781641802208
ISBN 10: 1641802200
Series: Bias Busters
Pages: 104
Publication Date: 24 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

This guide about U.S. Catholics is one of more than 20 in the Michigan State University School of Journalism's Bias Busters series. The series builds cultural competence by spreading awareness about specific groups and communities. Ultimately, the goal is to break down walls by opening discussion among people.The Bias Busters series is created by journalism classes at Michigan State University working with community allies. Joe Grimm is the series creator and editor. Grimm joined MSU in 2008 after more than 30 years in daily newspapering. He worked at the Detroit Free Press for more than 25 years.He held various editing jobs and became the youngest reader representative in a U.S. newsroom. For most of his time at the Free Press, Grimm was the newsroom's recruiting and staff development editor. His charge was to create better content by developing the newsroom staff to better reflect the community. During his tenure, the Free Press developed the most diverse staff among major American newspapers. Grimm is a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame and has published eight books besides the ones in the Bias Busters series.The authors on this guide were MSU students Sabrina Boxer, Emile Rizk, Lacie Kunselman, Nicoline Bradford, Karlyn Kelley, Angelina Sandora, Heather Araj, Mark Krueger-Vanoyen, Shelby Frink, Madison Scanlon, Yu-An (Annie) Fan Chiang, Samantha Bluga, Ben Walker, Hailey Woodworth and Addison Carter. Also: Jack Foster. Michigan State graduates Debrah Miszak and Lacie Kunselman helped edit. Bias Busters guides have been used for training in business, the health industry, interfaith groups, universities and law enforcement. Many individuals use the guides just to get to know their neighbors. ""100 Questions and Answers About U.S.Catholics"" aims to bridge gaps in understanding, encourage respectful dialogue, and promote more informed communities.We approach cultural competence with the mindset that questions asked out of sincere interest, even if phrased in a less than graceful manner, are the best way to build bridges. The guides are meant to help that process and lead to face-to-face conversations.Books include discussion and reflection guides so individuals can learn on their own or so groups can converse.Answers are clear, honest and nonjudgmental.