Up until JFK's presidential run, America was entirely fearful of a Catholic running the country. The fact that Kennedy was Catholic was a huge factor in his presidential campaign, with Catholics voting 75%-80% on the side of Kennedy. Anti-catholicsm leaders were worried that a Catholic president was going to serve the pope, instead of serving the country. With this issue at hand, Kennedy had to address the issue, saying; "I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for President who also happens to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my Church on public matters – and the Church does not speak for me." After Kennedy was elected, Catholic hate seemingly died down. So to answer your question, Catholicism was essentially acceptable after the time of John F. Kennedy's election as U.S president.