The U.S. Catholic Bishops have been in the middle of a number of tough fights this year and in a contentious struggle with American nuns who are under fire from the Vatican. Yet they still manage a pretty impressive approval rating.

As this graphic from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life shows, 24 percent of American Catholics say they “very satisfied” with the hierarchy and another 46 percent say they are “somewhat satisfied” for an overall 70 percent approval.

On the other hand, the American nuns get a hefty 83 percent approval rating — 50 percent “very satisfied,” and 33 percent “somewhat satisfied.

Maybe ordination isn't everything?

PS: This poll was from last summer, so who knows what the rough-and-tumble presidential campaign did to the hierarchy's numbers.