A new Pew Research Center study highlighted by EWTN News found that many Americans who regularly attend religious services are hearing clergy speak about major moral and social issues, with Catholics reporting some of the highest rates of sermons addressing abortion.
According to EWTN News, the May 27 Pew report titled “What Political Issues Do Americans Hear About in Church?” found that two-thirds of Americans who attend religious services at least monthly said their clergy had spoken about at least one political or social issue in recent months.
The study surveyed 3,592 U.S. adults, including 1,391 respondents who said they attend religious services regularly. Among those regular attendees, 300 identified as Catholic.
EWTN News reported that abortion was the most commonly discussed topic overall, with 35% of respondents saying they had heard clergy address the issue recently.
Among Catholics specifically, nearly half said the topic had been addressed from the pulpit.
According to the Pew findings cited by EWTN News, 49% of Catholics who attend Mass regularly reported hearing clergy speak about abortion in recent months — the highest percentage among the Christian groups included in the survey.
The report also found that Catholics frequently heard messages related to immigration, the environment, and global conflict. EWTN News noted that 41% of Catholic respondents said clergy had recently spoken about immigration, while 30% heard discussion about U.S. military action in Iran and 28% heard messages concerning environmental issues.
Pew’s research, as reported by EWTN News, showed Catholics were more likely to hear clergy encourage welcoming and supporting immigrants than advocating for stricter immigration enforcement.
Similarly, Catholics reported hearing more support for protecting the environment than opposition to environmental regulations.
Other topics addressed by clergy included Israel, homosexuality, and transgender identity. According to the report, Americans overall were more likely to hear clergy oppose transgender ideology than affirm it.
The study also explored how churchgoers perceive the political leanings of their clergy. EWTN News reported that Catholics were the most likely group to say they were unsure of their clergy’s political affiliation, with 59% responding that they did not know. Another 29% said they believed their clergy represented a mix of political perspectives.
White evangelical Protestants were also likely to report hearing sermons related to abortion, with 43% saying clergy had addressed the issue recently. By comparison, fewer white non-evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants reported hearing sermons on abortion.
According to EWTN News, Pew stated there were not enough respondents from other faith traditions — including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus — who regularly attend religious services to analyze their responses separately.
The findings reflect how many Catholic priests continue to preach on issues tied to the dignity of human life, care for migrants, peace, and moral teaching in an increasingly divided culture.
For many faithful Catholics, the study suggests that the pulpit remains an important place where the Church connects timeless moral teachings to the challenges facing society today.
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