Americans Oppose Religious Exemptions From Coronavirus-Related Restrictions

This second Pew survey on the pandemic and religion queried 10,211 adults in July 2020 through an online survey panel recruited through random sampling of residential addresses. The responses were weighted by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. 79% of respondents reported their belief that Houses of Worship should have to follow the same public health guidelines as everyone else. Responses on what churches are doing versus what churches should be doing show significant discrepancy in areas such as requiring congregants stay 6 feet apart (do 45%; should 51%) or requiring masks (do 35%; should 44%). Among individuals who watch services, 40% say they watch their typical house of worship, 29% say another house of worship, 30% say both. Also, the reports provides data on what congregants are hearing from the pulpit. 25% report having heard opposition to Black Lives Matter, while 41% have heard support. 76% report having heard about the importance of limiting the spread of COVID, while 31% have heard opposition to Government mandates. Only 40% have heard sermons that address the importance of voting/protesting.