Catholics Share Bishops’ Concerns about Religious Liberty
Catholics who are aware of U.S. bishops’ concerns about restrictions on religious liberty generally agree with the bishops’ concerns, according to a new report. Yet there are no significant differences in presidential vote preferences between Catholic voters who have heard and those who have not heard about the bishops’ protests against government policies they see as restrictive of religious liberty.
Two-Thirds of Democrats Now Support Gay Marriage
Reports that the Democratic Party may add support for gay marriage to its party platform are in keeping with a significant shift of opinion on this issue among Democrats nationwide. A new report finds that support for same-sex marriage among Democrats has jumped from 50% in 2008 to 65% today.
Little Voter Discomfort with Romney’s Mormon Religion
A new Pew Research Center poll finds that voters have limited awareness of Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith and Barack Obama’s religion. And there is little evidence to suggest that concerns about the candidates’ respective faiths will have a meaningful impact in the 2012 fall elections.
Asian Americans and Religion
As their numbers rise, Asian Americans have been largely responsible for the growth of non-Abrahamic faiths in the U.S., particularly Buddhism and Hinduism. At the same time, most Asian Americans belong to the country’s two largest religious groups: Christians and people who say they have no particular religious affiliation.
Global Survey of Evangelical Protestant Leaders
A survey of participants in the Third Lausanne Congress of World Evangelization offers a detailed portrait of the beliefs and practices of this group of global evangelical leaders. It finds, a high degree of consensus on some core theological matters, such as the belief that Christianity is the “one, true faith leading to eternal life,” but it also finds a number of subjects on which evangelical leaders are divided.
Joe Biden’s Religious Biography
Part of a series of profiles of the 2012 presidential candidates and their religious beliefs.
Mitt Romney’s Religious Biography
Part of a series of profiles of the 2012 presidential candidates and their religious beliefs.
Barack Obama’s Religious Biography
Part of a series of profiles of the 2012 presidential candidates and their religious beliefs.
Religion and the 2012 Louisiana Republican Primary
In winning the Louisiana GOP presidential primary, Rick Santorum won the majority of votes cast by white evangelical/born-again Christians, people who attend worship services weekly and voters who say it is at least somewhat important to have a candidate who shares their religious beliefs. He also won a clear victory among Catholic voters for the first time this primary season.
Religion in Prisons
Professional prison chaplains see America’s state penitentiaries as places bustling with religious activity, ranging from efforts by inmates to proselytize or convert other inmates to religious switching by prisoners, according to a survey of chaplains in all 50 states.
