U.S. Catholics Divided On Church’s Direction Under New Pope
Three-quarters of American Catholics have a favorable view of Pope Benedict XVI, but many also express a desire for change.
The Shifting Global Catholic Population
Catholics have made up a remarkably stable share of the global population over the past century, but their geographic distribution has shifted significantly during that time.
Gay Marriage Around the World
On Feb. 12, the French National Assembly is expected to pass a measure legalizing same-sex marriage. Although the bill still needs to win the approval of the French Senate and be signed by the president, it is expected to become law as soon as May 2013.
The Global Religious Landscape
A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories estimates that 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion is religiously affiliated.
America’s ‘Mormon Moment’ is Over, and Public Opinion is Little Changed
Eight-in-ten Americans (82%) say they learned little or nothing about the Mormon religion during the presidential campaign. Three-in-ten Americans continue to consider the Mormon religion a non-Christian faith, though there appears to be some warming of attitudes toward Mormonism.
Religious Makeup of the New Congress
The newly elected, 113th Congress includes the first Buddhist to serve in the Senate, the first Hindu and the first member of Congress to describe her religion as “none,” continuing a gradual increase in religious diversity that mirrors the country as a whole.
How the Faithful Voted: 2012 Preliminary Analysis
Obama’s margin of victory was much smaller than in 2008 and he lost ground among white evangelical Protestants and white Catholics. But the basic religious contours of the 2012 electorate resemble recent elections.
Catholic and Unaffiliated Latinos Support Obama; Evangelicals Divided
Three-quarters of Latino Catholics and eight-in-ten religiously unaffiliated Latinos support President Barack Obama’s re-election, while just 50% of Latino evangelical Protestants prefer Obama and 39% support Mitt Romney.
The Catholic “Swing” Vote
Catholics are often identified as a major “swing” voting group in American politics. A new analysis shows that the only group of Catholics that has been divided in recent elections is white Catholics who identify as political moderates
Preaching Politics From the Pulpit
During every election cycle, many churches and other religious groups find themselves wondering what role, if any, they can play in the political process. “Preaching Politics From the Pulpit” explains the IRS limits on political activity by nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations. An accompanying graphic shows that Americans continue to be wary of church involvement in partisan politics.
