Many American churchgoers are hearing at least some discussion of social and political issues from the pulpits at their houses of worship, a new Pew Research Center survey finds.
“In the survey, conducted online and by mail June 5–July 7 among a nationally representative sample of 4,602 adults, 40 percent of Americans reported attending religious services at least once or twice in the few months before the poll was conducted,” the Pew report says.
Overall, about two-thirds (64 percent) of survey respondents said they heard clergy speak about at least one social or political issue, and 14 percent say they heard their clergy speak directly in support of or against a specific presidential candidate.
The survey results also compare responses and show differences among specific religious traditions, including Black Protestants.
Here are some highlights from the survey showing how Black Protestants’ responses compared to other survey respondents’ answers:
— Roughly three in 10 (29 percent) Black Protestants have heard clergy speak out in support of a candidate and an equal share have heard religious leaders speak out against a candidate. Smaller shares of Catholic, white evangelical Protestant and white mainline Protestant churchgoers — roughly one in 10 or fewer — say their clergy have publicly supported or opposed particular candidates.
— Fully 28 percent of Black Protestants say their clergy spoke out in support of Clinton in recent months, and an additional 8 percent say church leaders supported Bernie Sanders. In addition, one in five Black Protestants say their clergy have spoken out against Donald Trump, and 7 percent have heard religious leaders speak out against Clinton.
— Similar shares of white evangelical (45 percent), white mainline (38 percent) and Black Protestants (39 percent) have heard clergy talk about homosexuality in recent months, but the messages differ across the three traditions. White evangelicals and Black Protestants are more likely to say they have heard clergy preach against homosexuality than speak out in favor of acceptance.
— Fully half of Black Protestant churchgoers say their clergy encouraged them to vote during the primaries, and about six in 10 say their clergy have already encouraged them to vote in the general election. Roughly half of white evangelical Protestants (47 percent) have also been encouraged to vote in the upcoming election, while fewer white mainline Protestants and Catholics say their clergy already have urged them to cast a ballot this fall.
For full survey results, visit pewforum.org.
