Support for same-sex marriage rights has rapidly grown among some religious Americans, according to newly released survey data from the Public Religion Research Institute.
PRRI, which conducts public opinion research, drew on interviews of more than 40,000 Americans last year, and broke down opinions on marriage equality by religious affiliation. It released the data in the runup to a Supreme Court decision over whether states should be allowed to ban same-sex marriages:
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The survey found various religious groups support marriage equality, including 84 percent of Buddhist respondents, 77 percent of Jews, and 60 percent of Catholics. Jehovah's Witnesses (12 percent), Mormons (27 percent), and white evangelical Protestants (28 percent) reported the lowest levels of support for same-sex marriage. Other groups, such as Muslims (42 percent) and Hispanic Protestants (35 percent), were more closely split on the issue, but still reported majority opposition.
Robert Jones, CEO of PRRI, wrote in a blog post that the findings are a closer glimpse at the US public's — and particularly Christian groups' — rapid evolution on same-sex marriage: "A decade ago, the most supportive religious groups were white mainline Protestants and Catholics, with 36 percent and 35 percent support, respectively. Today, major religious groups reside on both sides of this issue and within many key groups — such as Catholics — support among rank and file members is now at odds with official church opposition."
Thanks to ThinkProgress's Jack Jenkins for posting the survey results.
