Churchgoers hear about political, social issues in U.S. from pulpit, Pew survey says
A Pew Research Center report found that most Americans who regularly attend religious services hear about political or social issues from their clergy. The May 27 report, “What Political Issues Do Americans Hear About in Church?” found two-thirds of U.S. adults who regularly attend religious services have heard their clergy speak about at least one political or social issue in the past few months. The analysis includes findings from a survey of 3,592 U.S. adults who are part of Pewʼs American Trends Panel , with information from 1,391 respondents attending religious services at least monthly. The survey was conducted April 6–12, and the overall margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Of the 1,391 respondents who regularly attend services, 300 respondents were Catholic, with a margin or error of plus or minus 7.7 percentage points. The data was based on Catholic, white evangelical Protestant, white non-evangelical Protestant, and Black Protestant U.S. adults who reported attending religious services at least once or twice a month. The survey was open to all religions, but there were not enough respondents from other religious groups such as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, or Hindus who regularly attend religious services to analyze their responses separately, according to Pew. Among U.S. adults, 66% who regularly attend religious services said they have heard about political or social issues from their clergy. Of the topics Pew asked about, abortion was the most commonly cited issue with 35% reporting they have head about it in the past few months. The other most common topics included Israel (34%), homosexuality (31%), and immigration (27%), the survey found. Adults also reported they heard clergy speak about U.S. military action in Iran (25%), the environment (24%), and transgender people (23%). Pew found that Americans heard more about the need to welcome and support immigrants (15%) than the need for stricter immigration enforcement (3%). Respondents noted they have heard more about protecting the environment (15%) than opposing environmental regulations (3%) and more about “opposing transgender identity” (15%) than “accepting people who are transgender” (3%). Half of Catholic Mass attendees said clergy recently spoke about abortion Among U.S. adults who attend religious services at least monthly, Catholics were the most likely to report that their clergy recently spoke about abortion (49%). Similarly, 43% of white evangelical Protestants said they heard about abortion. By comparison, 18% of white non-evangelical Protestants and 20% of Black Protestants reported the same. Along with abortion, Catholics also reported they have recently heard about immigration (41%), U.S. military action in Iran (30%), and the environment (28%) from clergy. Fewer respondents had heard about Israel (25%), homosexuality (16%), and transgender people (15%). Catholics who regularly attend Mass were more likely to have said clergy have spoken in support of immigrants and protecting the environment than to have reported hearing the alternative. In comparison, white evangelicals were just as likely to report their clergy called for stricter immigration enforcement (4%) as to have heard their clergy talk about needing to welcome and support immigrants (4%). The survey also asked regular attendees whether the clergy or religious leaders at their place of worship are mostly Republicans, mostly Democrats, or a mix of both. Catholics were the most likely to report they are unsure of clergyʼs political affiliation, with 59% reporting so. Another 29% of Catholics reported they believe the clergy is a mix of both.
4 months ago
Churchgoers in the United States are increasingly hearing about political and social issues during religious services, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey 1 2 3.
The Pew survey indicates that sermons and other pulpit messages are addressing topics such as immigration, climate change, and voting rights.
Religious leaders are using their platforms to discuss these matters, reflecting a growing trend of faith communities engaging with public policy debates.
This shift suggests that worshippers are receiving information on civic issues directly from their places of worship, potentially influencing their views and civic participation.
The integration of political and social commentary into religious services aligns with a broader pattern of faith-based organizations taking more active roles in societal conversations.*
Examine the Catholic Church’s tradition of addressing politics in homilies
The Catholic Church’s tradition is not “anti-politics,” but it is anti-partisanship and pro-Gospel: in homilies, pastors may address public life (justice, peace, the common good), yet they should avoid turning the Eucharistic homily into civic/political commentary or a venue for ideology and campaign-style rhetoric. This balance is rooted in the Church’s understanding of (a) what a homily is, and (b) the Church’s distinct mission in relation to the political community.
In the Church’s tradition, the homily is a liturgical act: it is “an informal conversation by a pastor of souls with his people, during a liturgical action, on a biblical text suggested by the liturgy.”
Because the homily is anchored to the Word proclaimed in the Mass, its natural center is not the day’s political news, but the mystery of Christ made present through Scripture. This helps explain why Catholic preaching documents warn against importing the tone and structure of ordinary civic debate into the Eucharistic setting.
Vatican II draws a clear line between the Church’s mission and political authority. The Church:
This distinction matters for homilies because it implies: pastors preach the Gospel and moral truth; laypeople apply Christian principles to concrete political options “on their own responsibility as citizens.”
A key practical principle is found in guidance for homilists in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Preaching the Mystery of Faith. It states that a homily:
So the Church allows moral and social application of the Gospel, but it discourages adopting the rhetorical form of partisan debate. The measure of a successful homily is described as plunging into Scripture and, “when appropriate,” recalling the witness of saints and Mary—rather than treating Mass as a platform for political argument.
Vatican II encourages Christians to bring the Gospel’s light into social and political realities, but through the Church’s moral and theological lens—especially by preaching the “ideals proclaimed by Christ” that illuminate issues “life in its economic, social and political dimensions, … and peace.”
At the same time, Vatican II explains why pastors should not be seen as political technocrats. Laypeople, guided by Christian conscience and Church teaching, have their distinctive civic role; pastors provide “spiritual light and nourishment,” not detailed partisan solutions for every political controversy.
In other words, Catholic preaching can speak about:
Catholic tradition also supports the idea that pastors may teach about moral dimensions of public life because the Church’s hierarchy is charged with preaching faith and morals. Vatican II teaches that bishops are authentic teachers and preachers of the faith, helping the faithful “believe and put into practice” what is entrusted to them.
This does not mean every homily becomes a political briefing. But it does mean that when a political issue directly implicates moral truth—especially fundamental rights—the Church can and should offer judgment in light of the Gospel.
Recent papal teaching reinforces the same distinction in tone and purpose. Pope Francis notes that politics can have a bad reputation due to failures in politicians, yet Christians should not resign themselves to cynicism. Instead, he stresses that “good politics is possible” and “dutiful,” centering “the human person and the common good.”
He also frames political life as service: “In the end, the purpose of power is to serve,” and urges those crafting policies to act with “concrete and cohesive responses.”
This supports a homily approach consistent with USCCB guidance: speak to the moral meaning of public life—common good, peace, service—while avoiding turning the homily into partisan contest.
A frequent misunderstanding is that any reference to public issues counts as “doing politics.” Catholic teaching instead centers on what is being done:
Another misunderstanding is thinking the Church should never address public order. Vatican II explicitly says the Church can “pass moral judgment” regarding public order when needed for fundamental rights or salvation of souls.
So the correct middle is: teach and judge morally when required, while maintaining the Church’s independence from any political system and respecting Christians’ civic responsibility as citizens.
Within this Catholic framework, homilies can address politics when they:
In short: Catholic homilies address politics as moral and social implications of the Gospel, not as a substitute for citizens’ partisan decision-making or media-style ideological argumentation.