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A6 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 9 July 2019

AP-NORC Poll: Americans rarely seek guidance from clergy

By JEFF KAROUB around where he worships. reer should I have? When larly attends services and of Americans saying they
Associated Press Besides the size, he feels should I make a will? How says religion has always have no religion, up from
DETROIT (AP) — Timothy Bu- some of his own reticence do I deal with a difficult been “very important to 2% in 1955.
chanan says he never con- to reach out to a pastor child? me.” At the same time, more
sults clergy about impor-
tant decisions, but it’s not
for lack of faith: He regular-
ly attends a nondenomina-
tional Christian church near
his home.
Buchanan, 41, is not alone.
A large majority of Ameri-
cans make important de-
cisions without calling on
religious leaders for advice,
according to a new survey
released Monday by The
Associated Press-NORC
Center for Public Affairs Re-
search . The poll finds three-
quarters of American adults
rarely or never consult a
clergy member or religious
leader, while only about a
quarter do so at least some
of the time.
“The church we go to is
quite large, and we’re rela-
tively new there,” said Bu-
chanan, who lives with his
wife in Bolivia, North Caro-
lina. “We really haven’t
established a relationship
with a minister there. Go-
ing to larger churches, it’s
nearly impossible now to
get a relationship with a
clergyman or woman.” In this Feb. 12, 2019 file photo, a banner hangs by a stained glass window in the sanctuary at Glide Memorial United Methodist
The lack of personal con- Church in San Francisco.
nection with ministers even Associated Press
includes people who iden-
tify with a specific religious could be a reflection of the “In this sense, there has “I used to consult periodi- Americans describe reli-
faith, though those who are technology-focused times. been a democratization of cally with them ... when I gion as unimportant in their
most engaged with their “People don’t know how information based on the was younger, but I rarely lives, and church mem-
faith are more likely to have to have personal commu- seeking self,” he added. consult with anybody. I kind bership and service at-
relationships with clergy. nications with other folks “You can find the informa- of live my life my way,” said tendance have declined.
The poll finds about a third when you need to ask ques- tion more easily through a King, 72, a Catholic from Gallup polling shows about
of Americans saying they tions or need to get help,” search engine than finding Canal Winchester, Ohio. half of Americans said they
attend church or other he said. “For instance, a member of a clergy.” Experts say the clergy attended religious services
religious services at least we’ve got some issues with There are some topics on sex abuse crisis confront- within the past week in the
twice a month; roughly a our health insurance plan, which Americans are more ing the Roman Catholic mid-1950s, while just about
quarter never go. Among so I spent an hour today likely to reach out to reli- Church also could be tak- a third say they did now.
religious adults who attend Googling ... instead of just gious leaders, the poll finds. ing a toll on consultations Weekly church attendance
services at least twice a picking up the phone and Nearly half say they’re between parishioners and among Catholics specifi-
month, about half say they calling somebody.” at least moderately likely priests. According to a re- cally has been steadily de-
sometimes or often consult Tim O’Malley, a theology to consult with a clergy cent Pew Research Center clining, to roughly 40% from
with a religious leader. That professor at Notre Dame member or religious leader survey, about a quarter of 75% in 1955, according to
compares with 16% of re- University, said he suspects about volunteering or char- U.S. Catholics said the cri- Gallup. O’Malley, who also
ligious adults who attend that technological self-ser- itable giving. About 4 in 10 sis had led them to reduce serves as director of educa-
services less often. vice is among the factors say they’re at least moder- their attendance at Mass tion for Notre Dame’s Mc-
And while the poll finds a contributing to infrequent ately likely to consult about and their donations to the Grath Institute for Church
majority of Americans still contact with clergy. marriage, divorce or rela- church. Some bishops have Life, sees “a lack of trust in
identify with a specific faith, “In American life, there has tionships. acknowledged that many all sorts of institutions,” in-
about half overall say they ultimately been a broad Jo King said she rarely con- Catholics are distancing cluding houses of worship.
want religious leaders to rejection of ‘experts’ apart sults with clergy members themselves from the church “Surely the church — the
have little influence in their from the person searching but would be moderately because of the furor. Catholic church in particu-
lives. For his part, Buchanan for the answer on his or her likely to talk to one of them Polling has shown a steep lar — has lost some mor-
feels a connection to faith own,” O’Malley said in an about marriage, divorce rise over several decades al authority in the last 25
— he grew up in a small email. “Think about the use or relationship issues. While in the share of Americans years in the United States,”
church and has an uncle of Google. You can literally she doesn’t feel the need identifying as unaffiliat- he said. “But it is joined by
who is a Baptist minister — Google anything. Should to regularly meet one-on- ed with a religion. Gallup schools, newspapers, the
but he’s still feeling his way I have children? What ca- one with priests, she regu- polls in 2018 showed 20% media in general, etc.”q