Changes among Republicans have been far more modest
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June 3, 2020
** Religion & Public Life
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A weekly digest of the Center's latest research on religion and public life in the U.S. and around the world · Subscribe ↗ ([link removed])
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A note from the editors: Pew Research Center’s weekly religion newsletter will be sent every other week this summer.
** About half of Democratic voters are Christian, down from nearly three-quarters in 2008 ([link removed])
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The religious landscape of the United States has undergone major changes ([link removed]) since 2008. As the share of registered voters who are religiously unaffiliated has increased, the share who identify as Christian has declined. Today, Christians make up about half of Democratic voters (52%); in 2008, about three-quarters of Democrats (73%) were Christians. Over that same period, religious “nones” have doubled as a share of Democratic voters, from 18% to 38%. The changes among Republicans have been far more modest: Christians constitute 79% of Republican voters, down from 87% in 2008.
In addition, the partisan leanings of certain religious groups ([link removed]) have shifted. White evangelical Protestants have seen one of the largest moves toward the GOP over the past 25 years – 78% now identify as Republican, up from 61% in 1994 – and white Catholics also have become more heavily Republican. Meanwhile, religiously unaffiliated voters have been trending steadily toward the Democratic Party over the past few decade, and two-thirds are now Democrats.
** Same-sex marriage around the world ([link removed])
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In May 2020, Costa Rica became the first Central American country to legalize same-sex marriage. For a full listing of countries where same-sex marriage is legal, see our updated fact sheet ([link removed]) .
** Media mentions
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The pews are empty, but our faith remains full ([link removed])
May 29 - The Charlotte Observer *
‘Things will never be the same.’ How the pandemic has changed worship ([link removed])
May 20 - NPR
** In the news
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Trump’s naked use of religion as a political tool draws rebukes from some faith leaders ([link removed])
June 2 - The Washington Post *
Indonesia cancels hajj pilgrimage due to coronavirus ([link removed])
June 2 - The Associated Press
At protests, some clergy pray, others put their bodies and souls on the line ([link removed])
June 1 - Religion News Service
Nigeria to relax coronavirus curbs on places of worship ([link removed])
June 1 - Reuters
U.S. faith leaders lead congregations through tumultuous time ([link removed])
May 31 - The Associated Press
Supreme Court rejects church’s challenge to California’s coronavirus rules ([link removed])
May 30 - NPR
For top U.S. virus experts, faith and science work together ([link removed])
May 28 - The Associated Press
Islamic State calls COVID-19 God’s punishment for foes: tape ([link removed])
May 28 - Reuters
Muslims celebrate major holiday amid curfews, virus fears ([link removed])
May 26 - The Associated Press
As Trump pushes for reopenings, congregations choose safety over haste ([link removed])
May 24 - The New York Times *
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