Americans are split almost evenly over whether religion and politics should mix.
A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds 49% say churches and religious leaders should express their views on political issues, which is up from 40% in 2012. 48% of Americans said they should not.
Republicans are much more likely to favor churches getting involved in political matters, as nearly 6 in 10 say they should. Just 42% of Democrats agree.
However, Americans don't think churches should come out in favor of one candidate over another as 63% would frown on the practice.
From the Wall Street Journal:
The findings reveal a "widening divide" between Americans who identify with a religion and the rising number who aren't affiliated with one, known as "nones." Catholics, Protestants and other religious Americans "have become significantly more supportive of churches…speaking out about political issues and political leaders talking more often about religion," the study says. But the "nones are more likely to oppose the intermingling of politics and religion."
According to the study, 54% of those who are religiously affiliated support church expression of political views, while only 32% of religiously unaffiliated support that view.
