Survey
Pope's Image Improves Following U.S. Visit
Following his first papal visit to the United States, Benedict XVI is viewed more favorably than he was a few weeks before his trip. Currently, 61% of Americans say they have a favorable impression of the pope, up from 52% in late March. Favorable opinions of Pope Benedict among Catholics have risen from 74% to 83%.
News Coverage Analysis
During U.S. Papal Visit, Media Focused on the Shepherd and His Flock
More than one-third of media coverage of the pope's visit focused on the clergy sex abuse scandal. All told, the pope’s trip accounted for 16% of the overall “newshole,” the time or space available in an outlet for news content, according to an analysis of the coverage.
Q&A
Does Obama Have a Problem Among Catholics?
Barack Obama campaigns with Caroline Kennedy and Sen. Bob Casey in Scranton, Pa. on April 20, 2008. Casey co-chairs Obama's National Catholic Advisory Council.
Senior Fellow John Green and Associate Director Mark O'Keefe discuss Barack Obama's limited success with Catholic voters in Pennsylvania and look ahead to the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina.
Analysis
Courts Not Silent on Moments of Silence
Did the Illinois legislature violate the U.S. Constitution when it mandated moments of silence in the state's public schools? Research Associate Jesse Merriam explains that the issue hinges on whether there is a genuine secular purpose behind the legislation.
Photo Credits
Pope Benedict greets crowd: AP
Pope speaks to media: AP
Religion in China: AP
Barack Obama: AP
Gay marriage ceremony: Martin Ruetschi/Keystone/Corbis
Jerusalem: Benjamin Rondel/Corbis
Moment of Silence: Don Hammond/Design Pics/Corbis
Pope speaks to media: AP
Religion in China: AP
Barack Obama: AP
Gay marriage ceremony: Martin Ruetschi/Keystone/Corbis
Jerusalem: Benjamin Rondel/Corbis
Moment of Silence: Don Hammond/Design Pics/Corbis
Video
Religion and Progressive Politics in 2008
Religious activists with progressive perspectives have made their voices heard in the 2008 campaign. Senior Fellow John Green spoke with the directors of two progressive religious organizations and a professor of political science to find out where the "religious left" movement came from and how it might influence this year's election.
Analysis
Religion in China on the Eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Senior Fellow Brian Grim examines the religious demographics of China and finds that nearly a third of the Chinese public considers religion to be important in their lives. More surprisingly, recent surveys show a high level of interest in religion among Communist Party officials and government employees.
Q&A
Two Views of Gay Marriage
To explore arguments for and against gay marriage, Senior Research Fellow David Masci interviewed Jonathan Rauch of The National Journal and Rick Santorum of the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
Resource Page
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
May 8 marked the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence. Pew Forum resources on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict include reports, event transcripts, interviews, polling data and news clips.
More Highlights
Event
Between Relativism and Fundamentalism: Is There a Middle Ground?
Peter Berger, an eminent sociologist and a lifelong Lutheran, spoke at the Pew Forum about his search for a middle ground between moral relativism and religious fundamentalism.
The Forum Multimedia Page
Video and audio of Pew Forum events are now conveniently archived in one location. The multimedia page contains full video transcripts and short highlight clips of recent events, as well as audio of Forum experts' appearances on radio programs.
Q&A
The 'Evidence for Belief': A Q&A with Francis Collins
For some, there is an inherent conflict between science and religious belief. But for Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project and an evangelical Christian, scientific knowledge complements rather than contradicts belief in God. He argues that advances in science present "an opportunity for worship," rather than a catalyst for doubt.
Q&A
Supreme Court Considers New Case on Capital Punishment
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering arguments in a case to decide whether the death penalty can be allowed in cases of child rape.
Candidate profiles, state statistics and analysis of religion’s impact on the 2008 campaign
Top Religion Headlines
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center.
May 13, 2008
Media Know Who It's"Gonna Be"
May 9, 2008
The Widening Gap
May 8, 2008
The Race Factor Redux
May 8, 2008