Thread: Interesting Poll - Pew & Pulpit Disagree on Immigration

Poll: Pew and Pulpit Disagree on Immigration (Interesting statisics below)

Zogby Survey Finds Religious Leaders and Members at Odds

WASHINGTON (December 29, 2009) - In contrast to many national religious leaders who are lobbying for increases in immigration, a new Zogby poll of likely voters who belong to the same religious communities finds strong support for reducing overall immigration. Moreover, members strongly disagree with their leaders’ contention that more immigrant workers need to be allowed into the country. Also, most parishioners and congregants prefer more enforcement to cause illegal workers to go home, rather than legalization of illegal immigrants, which most religious leaders prefer. The survey of Catholic, mainline Protestant, born-again Protestant, and Jewish voters used neutral language and was one of the largest polls on immigration ever done.

Among the findings:

Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement.

Catholics: Just 11 percent said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 78 percent said it was caused by inadequate enforcement efforts.

Mainline Protestants: 18 percent said not enough legal immigration; 78 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Born-Again Protestants: 9 percent said not enough legal immigration; 85 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Jews: 21 percent said not enough legal immigration; 60 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Unlike religious leaders who argue that more unskilled immigrant workers are needed, most members think there are plenty of Americans to do such work.

Catholics: 12 percent said legal immigration should be increased to fill such jobs; 69 percent said there are plenty of Americans available to do such jobs, employers just need to pay more.

Mainline Protestants: 10 percent said increase immigration; 73 percent said plenty of Americans are available.

Born-Again Protestants: 7 percent said increase immigration; 75 percent said plenty of Americans are available.

Jews: 16 percent said increase immigration; 61 percent said plenty of Americans available.

When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members choose enforcement.

Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization.

Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support legalization.

Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support legalization.

Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support legalization.

In contrast to many religious leaders, most members think immigration is too high.

Catholics: 69 percent said immigration is too high; 4 percent said too low; 14 percent just right.

Mainline Protestants: 72 percent said too high; 2 percent said too low; 11 percent just right.

Born-Again Protestants: 78 percent too high; 3 percent said too low; 9 percent just right.

Jews: 50 percent said it is too high; 5 percent said too low; 22 percent just right.

Discussion
Most major denominations agree that illegal immigrants must be treated humanely. But the leadership often goes much further and takes the position that illegal immigration is caused, at least in part, by not letting in enough legal immigrants. They then call for increases in the number of workers and family members allowed into the country. For example, early this year, the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a resolution stating that, “Due to the limited number of visas, millions have entered the United States without proper documentation.â€

I stopped going to church regularly, and stopped financially supporting the church completely, when they started having a mass in Spanish. How dare they encourage those who do not speak enough English to attend church unless it is in Spanish, when you need to speak and understand English to be here legally. By accommodating lawbreakers knowingly belies what they are supposed to be serving us for - beacons of virtue and honesty that we should aspire to be like.

When I possess a higher moral compass than the leaders of my faith, then I no longer care about their financial success nor do I feel that God is calling me to support this heresy.

I hate to admit it, even on this board, but we are so overrun with illegals who appear to all outsiders to be surviving very well financially (cars, clothes, shopping, etc.), I do not even give to charity anymore because I fear that my money will go to further subsidize illegals since their income is generally unsubstantiated.

I do Medicaid audits, and you have no idea the amount of medical AND dental that we are providing. Factor in the cost of schooling, crime and devastation to our neighborhoods and I cannot seem to get past the growing anger.

American voters disagree with church officials on immigration reform bill
December 29, 9:02 AM San Diego County Political Buzz Examiner Kimberly Dvorak

The current immigration reform bill floating on the House floor has the support of many church leaders, while most in the pews strongly disagree and want immigration curtailed. A new poll by Zogby shows as many as 78 percent of those polled feel the law enforcement aspect of immigration in inadequate.

Zogby also found American’s believe there are plenty of migrant workers in the country already, while church leaders felt more unskilled workers are needed. Church goers think laws should be enforced even if it requires illegal immigrants to return to their home country, something the church feels is unnecessary.

Here are a few of the questions asked in the Zogby poll;

Most members of religious denominations do not feel that illegal immigration is caused by limits on legal immigration, as many religious leaders do; instead, members feel it’s due to a lack of enforcement?

Catholics: Just 11 percent said illegal immigration was caused by not letting in enough legal immigrants; 78 percent said it was caused by inadequate enforcement efforts.
Mainline Protestants: 18 percent said not enough legal immigration; 78 percent said inadequate enforcement.
Born-Again Protestants: 9 percent said not enough legal immigration; 85 percent said inadequate enforcement.
Jews: 21 percent said not enough legal immigration; 60 percent said inadequate enforcement.

Unlike religious leaders who argue that more unskilled immigrant workers are needed, most members think there are plenty of Americans to do such work?
Catholics: 12 percent said legal immigration should be increased to fill such jobs; 69 percent said there are plenty of Americans available to do such jobs, employers just need to pay more?

Mainline Protestants: 10 percent said increase immigration; 73 percent said plenty of Americans are available.
Born-Again Protestants: 7 percent said increase immigration; 75 percent said plenty of Americans are available.
Jews: 16 percent said increase immigration; 61 percent said plenty of Americans available.

When asked to choose between enforcement that would cause illegal immigrants to go home over time or a conditional pathway to citizenship, most members choose enforcement?

Catholics: 64 percent support enforcement to encourage illegals to go home; 23 percent support conditional legalization.
Mainline Protestants: 64 percent support enforcement; 24 percent support legalization.
Born-Again Protestants: 76 percent support enforcement; 12 percent support legalization.
Jews: 43 percent support enforcement; 40 percent support legalization.

In contrast to many religious leaders, most members think immigration is too high.
Catholics: 69 percent said immigration is too high; 4 percent said too low; 14 percent just right?

Mainline Protestants: 72 percent said too high; 2 percent said too low; 11 percent just right.
Born-Again Protestants: 78 percent too high; 3 percent said too low; 9 percent just right.
Jews: 50 percent said it is too high; 5 percent said too low; 22 percent just right.

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) issued a resolution stating, “Due to the limited number of visas, millions have entered the United States without proper documentation.â€