Virtually half of the nation wants churches to get involved in politics and some even want religious leaders to endorse candidates for office, according to a Pew Research Center poll.
The poll suggests that abandoning Thomas Jefferson’s prayer for a wall between church and state could save religion, which has been losing influence on Americans lives for 12 straight years. Currently, 72 percent said religion is losing influence on American life.
Three key associated findings from Pew:
• A larger share of the general public sees the Republican Party as friendly toward religion, 47 percent, than sees the Democratic Party that way, 29 percent.
• A declining share of Americans see the Obama administration as friendly toward religion; 30 percent say the Obama administration is friendly toward religion, down 7 points since 2009.
• About six in 10 Americans say it is important for members of Congress to have strong religious beliefs — 59 percent.
The growth of support for churches to get involved in politics was sparked by President Obama’s reelection. Since then, it has spiked to 49 percent, one point ahead of those who don’t want religion to “find” politics.
Pew’s analysis tied the lack of influence of religion on daily life to the wish for more politics from the alter.
“Most people who say religion’s influence is waning see this as a bad thing,” said Pew. “Perhaps as a consequence, a growing share of the American public wants religion to play a role in U.S. politics. The share of Americans who say churches and other houses of worship should express their views on social and political issues is up 6 points since the 2010 midterm elections (from 43 percent to 49 percent).”
Pew added: “The share who say there has been ‘too little’ expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders is up modestly over the same period (from 37 percent to 41 percent). And a growing minority of Americans (32 percent) think churches should endorse candidates for political office, though most continue to oppose such direct involvement by churches in electoral politics.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
