1. New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty
Religious Liberty Secure and Important, Not Absolute
Presented by Robert P. Jones
At the Center for American Progress (Washington, D.C.)
June 14, 2012
Public
Religion
Research Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO
Daniel Cox, Director of Research
Institute

2. Religious Liberty in the United States
Religious Liberty in the United States
Agree Disagree
100
88
90
80
70 66
60
50
40 32
30
20
10
10
0
America was founded on the idea of religious We must maintain a strict separation of church and
freedom for everyone, including religious groups state
that are unpopular
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, Pluralism, Immigration, Civic Integration Survey, August 2011 (N=2,450)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 2

3. Religious Liberty Threatened?
In America Today, Do You Believe that the Right of Religious
Liberty is Being Threatened?
90 Yes No
82
80
70
61
60 56 57 56
53
49 47
50 43
39 38 37
40 35
30
20 14
10
0
All Americans White White White Catholics Minority Unaffiliated
Evangelicals Catholics Mainline Christians
Protestants
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 3

4. Perceived Threats to Religious Liberty
Perceived Threats to Religious Liberty
Among those who say religious liberty is threatened
Removing religion from public
21 square
23
General government interference
in religion
Hostility towards
Christians/religion
4 Changing culture
Personal liberties threatened
6
Contraception mandate
20
6
Other sexuality issues
9
10 Other/Don't know
Question Wording: In just a few words, in what way is the right of religious liberty being threatened?
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 4

5. In just a few words, in what way is the
right of religious liberty being threatened?
The state is meddling in the affairs of the church too much. As I
understand it, church and state, the separation, isn't so much the
church being kept out of the state, but the state being kept out of the
church.
--Evangelical Christian
As a Christian, I feel that I am afraid to even speak about my religion
without offending people.
--Non-denominational Christian
You can't pray and teach children about the 10 commandments.
--Catholic
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 5

6. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONTEXT I
The Contraception Coverage Mandate
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 6

7. Support for Contraception Coverage
[These organizations] should be required to provide their employees with
health care plans that cover contraception or birth control at no cost
Percent of Americans that agree
70
62
60 57
52 53 54
50
42
40
30
20
10
0
Churches and Religiously Privately owned Religiously Religiously Publicly held
other places of affiliated social small businesses affiliated affiliated corporations
worship service agencies colleges hospitals
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 7

8. Catholic Support for Contraception
Coverage
[These organizations] should be required to provide their employees with
health care plans that cover contraception or birth control at no cost
All Catholics White Catholics
70 65
60 59 59 61
60 58
55
50 47 48
43 43 44
40
30
20
10
0
Churches and Religiously Religiously Religiously Privately owned Publicly held
other places of affiliated colleges affiliated social affiliated small businesses corporations
worship service agencies hospitals
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 8

9. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONTEXT II
Adoption and Marriage by Gay and Lesbian Couples
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 9

10. Adoption Agencies and Federal Funding
Should [these agencies] be able to refuse to place children with qualified
gay and lesbian couples?
Religiously Affiliated Agencies that Religiously Affiliated Agencies that
Receive Federal Funding Receive NO Federal Funding
70 70
63
60 60
50
50 50 44
40 40
32
30 30
20 20
10 10
0 0
Yes No Yes No
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 10

11. Gay and Lesbian Adoption by Religion
Should Religiously Affiliated Agencies that Receive Federal Funding be Able
to Refuse to Place Children With Qualified Gay and Lesbian Couples?
Yes No
90 85
80
70 63 63
57 59
60
50 47 47
39
40 34
32 30
30
20 14
10
0
All Americans White Minority White Mainline Catholics Unaffiliated
Evangelicals Christians Protestants
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 11

12. Religious Liberty Concerns
Religious Liberty Concerns:
Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally
*Question Wording:
“If the law guaranteed 4
that no church or
Favor
congregation would be
required to perform
marriages for gay and 39 Favor with
religious liberty
lesbian couples, I would 52 assurance*
support allowing them to Oppose
legally marry."
Asked among those who
did not initially support 7
same-sex marriage.
Source: Public Religion Research Institute, PRRI/RNS Religion News
Survey, March 2012 (N=1,007)
New Battle Lines over Religious Liberty 12

13. NEW BATTLE LINES OVER RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious Liberty Secure and Important, but Not Absolute
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Public
Religion
Research Dr. Robert P. Jones, President
Institute Daniel Cox, Director of Research