As of 2015, Catholicism in America is still recovering from the tragic and scandalous mishandling of sexual abuse by American priests in the early 2000's. This series of events undercut the relationship between the American Catholic people and church leaders, and trust is still being re-established. While Catholic people were angry and distraught over this scandal, many people renewed their individual faith and continued to practice their religion.

Pope Francis, the 266^th Pope of the Catholic Church, is a popular public figure who speaks out on political issues that American people care about, specifically addressing issues like global warming and restoring diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. His leadership and outspokenness on political issues have the potential to change American Catholic Church and people’s relationship with American political culture.

Roman Catholicism is the single largest religious denomination in the United States today. The American Catholic people are politically, socially, and economically diverse, but despite this still come together as a body of Catholic people through worship and social activism.