American Confidence In Organized Religion At Lowest Point Ever
Gallup today released a scathing survey, finding that Americans’ confidence in organized religion is at its lowest point since Gallup began asking the question in 1973. Currently, only 44% of Americans hold “a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church or organized religion,” down from a high of 68% in 1975.
READ:Â Vatican Attacks US Nuns For Fighting Poverty Instead Of Gay Marriage
Gallup points to the Church’s sex abuse scandals, which include the great many and infamous child sex abuse and rape scandals that continue to plague the Catholic Church, as a key reason for the continual drop in confidence of organized religion, but notes that “the decline in confidence does not necessarily indicate a decline in Americans’ personal attachment to religion. The percentage of Americans saying religion is very important in their lives has held fairly steady since the mid-1970s, after dropping sharply from 1952 levels.”
In 1973, “the church or organized religion” was the most highly rated institution in Gallup’s confidence in institutions measure, and it continued to rank first in most years through 1985, outranking the military and the U.S. Supreme Court, among others. That began to change in the mid- to late 1980s as confidence in organized religion first fell below 60%, possibly resulting from scandals during that time involving famed televangelist preachers Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. Confidence in religion returned to 60% in 2001, only to be rocked the following year by charges of child molestation by Catholic priests and cover-up by some in the church.
The latest results are from Gallup’s June 7-10 update of its annual “Confidence in Institutions” question. The same poll found Americans’ confidence in public schools, banks, and television news at their all-time lowest, perhaps reflecting a broader souring of Americans’ confidence in societal institutions in 2012. Still, the church/organized religion ranks fourth this year among the 16 institutions tested, on par with the medical system.
Gallup also notes: “Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June 7-10, 2012, with a random sample of 1,004 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.”
Related:
Donohue Gloats His Pedophile Priest Enabler Convicted Of Only One Felony
Catholic School Fires Teacher For Supporting Gay Marriage In Self-Review
Nothing Says Happy Fathers Day Like Churches Collecting Cash To Fight Gay Marriage
Pope Proclaims Reasons For Pedophile Priests Still A ‘Mystery’
Cardinal Dolan’s $20,000 Pedophile Priest Payoffs To Quitting Clerics
Â
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.