Pew Research Center Archives

How long is the sermon? Study ranks Christian churches, with Catholics being shortest

Dec 16, 2019

How long should a sermon be? The major branches of Christianity in the U.S. have sharply different traditions, with sermons at historically black Protestant churches lasting — on average — nearly four times as long as Catholic sermons.

By David Crary

Poll finds American Catholics don’t look to clergy on politics

Nov 15, 2019

A new survey from the PEW Research Center has found that not only do most Americans believe religion and politics shouldn’t mingle, but Catholics in particular emerged as less likely than other U.S. Christian churches to trust their clergy on hot-button issues such as abortion.

By Elise Harris

US Latinos are no longer majority-Catholic, here’s why

Nov 9, 2019

In 2018-19, 47 percent of Latinos identified as Catholic, down from 57 percent a decade ago. A Pew Research Center study found the share of Latinos who say they are religiously unaffiliated is now 23 percent, up from 15 percent in 2009.

By Alejandra Molina - Religion News Service

Majority of Hispanics in U.S. no longer Catholic, new study finds

Oct 18, 2019

A new study shows that the percentage of Catholics in the United States has fallen from nearly one-in-four to one-in-five, with the added news that Hispanics in America are no longer majority-Catholic.

By Charles Collins

Latest Pew survey a case of good-news, bad-news for American religious leaders

Sep 19, 2019

Results from the latest Pew Research survey on how much trust Americans have in those holding positions of power and responsibility offer both good and bad news for religious leaders, particularly those of the Christian faith.

By Elise Harris

Abuse crisis, leadership failure seen having impact on church giving

Sep 17, 2019

The Catholic Church in the United States has spent a staggering amount of money — close to $4 billion in the past 20 years — to investigate, adjudicate and prevent clergy sex abuse, and to compensate victims for the harm they’ve suffered.

By Brian Fraga