text: As a young Catholic, I have more respect for the USCCB and their mindset and agenda than I do that of  Pope Francis.  The USCCB and most of its members represents a defense of and commitment to traditional Catholic teaching and belief.  Pope Francis does not.  The fact that in Rome, Pope Francis spoke to the John Paul II Institute for Life (which has championed the pro-life teachings of Pope John Paul II and indeed the whole Catholic tradition on the sacredness of life), shoving aside the pro-life Cardinal Sarah who was scheduled to deliver the keynote address, in order to give a different address himself which did not emphasise the pro-life stance was very troubling, and telling.  The fact that now the Institute had discarded the previous rule that members must adhere to Church teachings, especially regarding the sacredness of life (apparently after pressure from Francis and his Vatican), is even worse. 
  IN light of that and so much else, I would rather follow the USCCB than Francis.