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Survey of US VotersOpinions on Religious Freedom

Report-July 22, 2015

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 2

Methodology

Online survey of US Voters

Survey was conducted June 29-July 6, 2015

800 respondents, overall margin of error of +3.46 percentage points

Please note that due to rounding, some percentages may not add up to exactly 100%.

Attitudes Toward Religious Freedom

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 4

Religious Freedom AttitudesMost voters want the government to stay out of religion, and most also believe there is a

common sense solution to protect both religious freedoms and gay rights.

Q31-33. For each of the following statements, please indicate whether you agree or disagree.

35%

5%

3%

36%

13%

8%

10%

14%

10%

9%

16%

19%

10%

51%

60%

I believe there can be a common sensesolution that both protects religious freedom

and protects gay and lesbian couples fromdiscimination

Federal and state governments should beable to require by law a private citizen toprovide a service or provide their private

property for an event that is contrary to theirreligious beliefs

It should be up to the federal government todetermine what constitutes legitimate

religious beliefs

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

Total Agree

Total Disagree

71% 20%

18% 68%

11% 79%

15-5689 July 14 DRAFT Report on Religious Issues| 5

Religious Freedom Segmentation

Segmentation combining responses to religious freedom questions

10% 45% 3% 42%

Left Center Other Right

Nearly half of voters fall in the center on the religious freedom vs civil rights debate: they agree that a common sense solution can protect both religious rights and the rights of same sex couples, and they think it is important to protect both religious freedoms and

the rights of gays and lesbians.

Religious Freedom Attitudes by Subgroup

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 7

Common Sense Solution by Party

71%

71%

77%

60%

10%

14%

7%

10%

20%

15%

16%

30%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)

Agree Don't know Disagree

I believe there can be a common sense solution that both protects religious freedom and protects gay and lesbian couples from discrimination.

Democrats and Independents are more likely to believe there is a common sense solution than Republicans.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 8

Common Sense Solution by Segmentation

71%

61%

100%

45%

10%

14%

15%

20%

25%

40%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)



The common sense attitude was used to define the center group. Many of those on the left and right of the debate also feel a common sense solution is realistic.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 9

Common Sense Solution by Religious Affiliation

71%

60%

75%

75%

70%

82%

10%

9%

8%

10%

14%

6%

20%

32%

17%

15%

16%

12%

Overall

Born Again/Evangelical (25%)

Other Protestants (19%)

Catholic (23%)

No Preference/Ref (24%)

Other religion (9%)



Evangelicals are the least likely to believe in a common sense solution.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 10

Common Sense Solution by Church Attendance

71%

66%

74%

72%

10%

10%

8%

11%

20%

24%

18%

17%

Overall

Attend church regularly (30%)

Attend, not regularly (27%)

Do not attend/Ref (43%)



Regular churchgoers are less likely to believe in a common sense solution.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 11

Federal Role by Party

11%

16%

7%

9%

10%

18%

6%

6%

79%

66%

88%

85%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)


It should be up to the federal government to determine what constitutes legitimate religious beliefs.

Nearly nine in ten Independent and Republican voters dont think it should be up to the federal government to define religious beliefs.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 12

Federal Role by Segmentation

11%

17%

12%

8%

10%

15%

4%

11%

79%

68%

84%

81%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)



Across attitudinal groups, voters disagree that government should interfere in religion.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 13

Federal Role by Religious Affiliation

11%

13%

9%

7%

14%

11%

10%

4%

15%

7%

15%

10%

79%

83%

76%

86%

71%

79%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other religion (9%)



Disagreement is high across all religious denominations.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 14

Federal Role by Church Attendance

11%

10%

9%

12%

10%

6%

8%

15%

79%

84%

83%

73%

Overall






Even those who do not attend church oppose government interference in religion.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 15

Providing Services by Party

18%

27%

14%

14%

14%

21%

12%

7%

68%

52%

73%

79%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)


Federal and state governments should be able to require by law a private citizen to provide a service or provide their private property for an event that is contrary to their religious beliefs.

More than seven in ten Republicans and Independents believe government should not be able to require a citizen to provide services for an event contrary to their beliefs.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 16

Providing Services by Segmentation

18%

35%

19%

14%

14%

21%

8%

13%

68%

44%

73%

73%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)



Even on the left of the debate, few believe government should mandate services.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 17

Providing Services by Religious Affiliation

18%

17%

14%

23%

17%

23%

14%

5%

17%

14%

21%

15%

68%

78%

69%

63%

62%

62%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other religion (9%)



Unaffiliated voters feel government should not be able to compel services.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 18

Providing Services by Church Attendance

18%

17%

21%

18%

14%

9%

11%

19%

68%

74%

69%

63%

Overall






Non-churchgoers also feel the government should not be able to require citizens to provide services.

Religious Freedom vs Rights of Gays and Lesbians

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 20

Wedding Photographer Refusal by PartyMore than 80% of voters believe a photographer should have the right to decline services

based on religious beliefs.

82%

72%

83%

93%

8%

11%

7%

5%

10%

17%

10%

2%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)

Yes Don't know No

Suppose a Christian wedding photographer has deeply held religious beliefs opposing same-sex marriage. If a same-sex couple wanted to hire that photographer for their wedding ceremony,

should the photographer have the right to say no?

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 21

Wedding Photographer Refusal by SegmentationThe vast majority of the middle group think a photographer should be allowed to refuse.

82%

40%

84%

97%

8%

10%

6%

2%

10%

50%

11%

1%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Yes Don't know No



15-5689 Report - July 22 | 22

Wedding Photographer Refusal by AffiliationEven unaffiliated voters think a photographer should be able to refuse.

82%

94%

79%

81%

74%

81%

8%

4%

11%

6%

9%

14%

10%

3%

10%

13%

18%

5%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)

Yes Don't know No



15-5689 Report - July 22 | 23

Wedding Photographer Refusal by Church Attendance

Non-churchgoers also believe a photographer should be able to refuse.

82%

88%

80%

79%

8%

6%

8%

8%

10%

6%

11%

13%

Overall




Yes Don't know No



15-5689 Report - July 22 | 24

Protecting Liberties Forced Choice

Q37. Which issue do you think is more important? (RANDOMIZE 1-2)

31%

8%

53%

3%

5%

Protecting religious liberties

Protecting the rights of gaysand lesbians

Both are important

Neither are important

Don't know

Most voters think both protecting religious liberties and protecting the rights of gays and lesbians are important.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 25

Forced Choice by Party


31%

22%

23%

54%

53%

55%

61%

39%

3%

2%

5%

2%

5%

7%

3%

5%

8%

14%

8%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)

Protectingreligious liberties

Both areimportant

Neither areimportant

Don'tknow

Protecting the rightsof gays and lesbians

Most Republicans think protecting religious liberties is more important.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 26

Forced Choice by Segmentation


31%

74%

53%

16%

100%

14%

3%

2%

6%

5%

1%

6%

8%

81%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)


Both areimportant


Don'tknow


The forced choice question was used to define the center group.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 27

Forced Choice by Religious Affiliation


31%

61%

25%

29%

12%

14%

53%

34%

61%

58%

56%

68%

3%

1%

4%

4%

6%

0%

5%

2%

7%

3%

8%

4%

8%

2%

3%

6%

18%

14%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)


Both areimportant


Don'tknow


More than six in ten Evangelicals think protecting religious liberties is more important.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 28

Forced Choice by Church Attendance


31%

48%

32%

18%

53%

45%

57%

57%

3%

3%

1%

5%

5%

2%

5%

6%

8%

2%

5%

14%

Overall





Both areimportant


Don'tknow


Nearly half of regular churchgoers prioritize the protection of religious liberties.

Segmentation Detail:Religious Freedom Attitudes


Religious Freedom Segmentation

Segmentation combining responses to religious freedom questions

10% 45% 3% 42%

Left Center Other Right

Nearly half of voters fall in the center on the religious freedom vs civil rights debate: they agree that a common sense solution can protect both religious rights and the rights of same sex couples, and they think it is important to protect both religious freedoms and

the rights of gays and lesbians.


Religious Freedom SegmentationVoters who fall in the center are more likely to be Democrat or Independent, be a college

graduate, not attend church regularly, and not live in the South.

Demographic Overall Center

Men


Religious Affiliation by Segmentation

25%

4%

17%

40%

19%

10%

23%

15%

23%

19%

24%

25%

24%

54%

24%

16%

9%

13%

11%

5%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Born Again/Evangelical

OtherProtestants

Catholic No Preference/Ref OtherReligion

Voters in the center group are slightly less likely to be evangelical, and otherwise close to average on religious affiliation.


Church Attendance by Segmentation

30%

11%

26%

40%

27%

17%

29%

27%

43%

72%

45%

33%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Regularly attend church Attend, not regularly Do not attend/Ref

Voters in the center group are also average on church attendance.


Spirituality by Segmentation

30%

12%

29%

36%

49%

42%

51%

50%

19%

44%

18%

13%

2%

2%

2%

2%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Very spiritual Somewhat spiritual Not spiritual Refused

Voters on the left of the debate are less likely to consider themselves spiritual.


Belief in God by Segmentation

82%

52%

82%

90%

7%

27%

6%

3%

8%

14%

9%

5%

3%

7%

2%

2%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Believe in God Do not believe in God Don't know Refused

Most in the center believe in God.


Party by Segmentation

34%

62%

32%

31%

39%

36%

48%

14%

27%

3%

20%

55%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Democrat Independent Republican

Voters in the center group are more Independent and less Republican than average.


Ideology by Segmentation

24%

64%

30%

10%

25%

16%

28%

20%

51%

20%

43%

70%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)

Liberal Moderate Conservative

Voters in the center group are slightly less conservative than average.

Role of Military Chaplains

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 39

Role of Military Chaplains

6%

13%

12%

53%

17%

Yes, to a great extent

Yes, to some extent

Yes, to a minor extent

No, never

Don't know

Half of voters think the military should not be able to restrict military chaplains.

Recently there has been controversy over the role of chaplains in the US military. Do you think the military should be able to restrict the private conversations, counselling, prayer and teaching

of military chaplains?

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 40

Role of Military Chaplains by Party

Q36. Recently there has been controversy over the role of chaplains in the US military. Do you think the military should be able to restrict the private conversations, counselling, prayer and teaching of military chaplains?

6%

8%

4%

6%

13%

19%

10%

10%

12%

11%

15%

9%

17%

19%

17%

12%

53%

43%

55%

62%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)

Yes, to agreat extent

Yes, tosome extent

Yes, to aminor extent

Don'tknow

No,never

More than six in ten Republicans do not think the military should be able to restrict military chaplains.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 41

Role of Military Chaplains by Segmentation


6%

10%

5%

6%

13%

22%

14%

10%

12%

19%

14%

7%

17%

20%

12%

15%

53%

29%

54%

61%

Overall

Left (10%)

Center (45%)

Right (42%)


Yes, tosome extent


Don'tknow

No,never

Most in the center group feel the military should not interfere with chaplains.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 42

Role of Military Chaplains by Affiliation


6%

4%

4%

6%

8%

6%

13%

12%

9%

11%

18%

14%

12%

6%

16%

11%

13%

18%

17%

9%

14%

14%

27%

21%

53%

68%

57%

57%

34%

42%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)


Yes, tosome extent


Don'tknow

No,never

Some non-Christians and unaffiliated voters think the military should be able to restrict the counseling of military chaplains.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 43

Role of Military Chaplains by Church Attendance


6%

5%

6%

6%

13%

7%

16%

15%

12%

12%

12%

11%

17%

9%

12%

25%

53%

65%

54%

44%

Overall

Attend church regularly(30%)

Attend, not regularly(27%)



Yes, tosome extent


Don'tknow

No,never

Few non-churchgoers support restrictions on military chaplains.

Values and the Presidential Race

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 45

Characteristics of a presidential candidate

Q34. What is more important to you in choosing a presidential candidate? (RANDOMIZE 1-2)

7%

10%

79%

1%

3%

Character and moral values

Positions on key issues

Both are important

Neither are important

Don't know

Nearly eight in ten voters think both character and moral values and positions on key issues are important.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 46

Candidate characteristics by Subgroup


7%

8%

5%

9%

79%

70%

81%

85%

1%

1%

2%

1%

3%

3%

3%

1%

10%

17%

8%

4%

Overall

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)

Character andmoral values

Both Neither Don'tknow

Positions onkey issues

Nearly one in five Democrats think positions on key issues is more important when choosing a presidential candidate.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 47



7%

16%

3%

4%

6%

4%

79%

79%

88%

81%

72%

68%

1%

1%

1%

1%

3%

4%

3%

0%

2%

2%

5%

6%

10%

4%

6%

13%

14%

19%

Overall



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)




Evangelicals were most likely to think character and moral values is most important when choosing a presidential candidate.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 48



7%

10%

7%

5%

79%

81%

82%

75%

1%

1%

2%

3%

1%

2%

4%

10%

7%

8%

13%

Overall







More than eight in ten churchgoers think both character and moral values and positions on key issues are important when choosing a presidential candidate.

Religious Profile of US Voters

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 50

Religious Affiliation by Party

20%

16%

44%

17%

22%

17%

25%

23%

22%

10%

10%

5%

29%

29%

12%

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)


OtherProtestants


Nearly half of Republicans identify as Born Again/Evangelical Christians.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 51

Religious Affiliation by Ideology

9%

17%

36%

14%

20%

21%

21%

27%

23%

44%

26%

14%

12%

10%

6%

Liberal (24%)

Moderate (25%)

Conservative (51%)


OtherProtestants


Over a quarter of Moderates identify as Catholic.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 52

Church Attendance by Religious Affiliation

60%

22%

34%

4%

26%

28%

37%

37%

12%

21%

13%

42%

29%

85%

53%



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)


More than half of Evangelicals attend church on a regular basis.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 53

Church Attendance by Party

23%

25%

46%

31%

22%

29%

46%

53%

24%

Democrat (34%)

Ind/Other (39%)

Republican (27%)


Nearly half of Republicans are regular churchgoers.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 54

Church Attendance by Ideology

18%

20%

41%

20%

37%

25%

62%

43%

34%

Liberal (24%)

Moderate (25%)

Conservative (51%)


Over half of Moderates attend church.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 55

Spirituality by Religious Affiliation

57%

22%

19%

17%

34%

41%

60%

64%

37%

44%

2%

16%

15%

41%

20%

0%

2%

2%

5%

2%



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)


Most unaffiliated voters consider themselves spiritual.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 56

Spirituality by Church Attendance

57%

22%

15%

40%

70%

43%

2%

8%

37%

0%

0%

4%





Most non-churchgoers consider themselves spiritual.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 57

Belief in God by Religious Affiliation

100%

95%

95%

47%

67%

0%

0%

0%

25%

14%

0%

4%

4%

22%

9%

0%

1%

2%

6%

10%



Catholic (23%)


Other Religion (9%)


Nearly half of unaffiliated voters believe in God.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 58

Belief in God by Church Attendance

98%

96%

62%

1%

1%

16%

1%

2%

16%

0%

1%

6%





Most non-churchgoers believe in God.

15-5689 Report - July 22 | 59

Contact Information

Patrick [email protected]

843.534.8177

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