---
title: "Strong Religious Beliefs Needed for Congress"
description: "Six-in-ten Americans say it is important that members of Congress have strong religious beliefs."
date: "2010-09-13"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/09/13/strong-religious-beliefs-needed-for-congress/"
---

# Strong Religious Beliefs Needed for Congress

While a majority of Americans (52%) say churches should keep out of politics, the public is not looking for politicians who stay away from religion. Six-in-ten Americans (61%) say it is important that members of Congress have strong religious beliefs. Only a third (34%) say strong religious beliefs are not important for members of Congress. Most Republicans believe strong ties to faith are important for members of Congress (77%), as do majorities of Democrats (55%) and independents (58%). Majorities of both Protestants (74%) and Catholics (64%) want congressmen to have strong religious beliefs. In contrast, two-thirds (66%) of the religiously unaffiliated don’t want members of Congress to hold strong religious beliefs, including 85% of atheists. Even more Americans are in favor of religion and politics mixing with regard to the executive branch. Fully 72% of Americans say it’s important that a president have strong religious beliefs. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1701/poll-obama-muslim-christian-church-out-of-politics-political-leaders-religious)