Most Americans says politics should stay out of churches

Washington D.C., Aug 24, 2004 / 22:00 pm

A new poll released yesterday shows that most Americans are opposed to political parties obtaining church rosters and to Catholic leaders denying pro-abortion politicians Communion, reported the Associated Press.

The Republican National Committee has sought church directories from Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics to help them mobilize new voters. But the poll, conducted in early August by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, found that about two-thirds of Republicans and Democrats consider the practice improper. 

According to the poll, about 66 percent of Americans believe Catholic leaders should not deny Communion to politicians who take positions counter to Church teaching. Barely more than half (51 percent) said church leaders should express their views on political matters; 44 percent said they should not.

In addition, more people (52 percent) perceive the Republicans to have stronger ties to organized religion than the Democrats (40 percent).

The poll also shows that Bush tends to get more support among regular churchgoers and that four in 10 Republicans consider themselves evangelical Christians.

Poll results indicate that Kerry has 47 percent of the public support, while Bush has 45 percent.

The poll of 1,512 adults was taken Aug. 5-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.