Whatever their personal beliefs, Americans’ faith in their pastors and churches has been in significant decline for decades. When the Gallup organization asked people to “rate the honesty and ethical standards” of various professionals in 2015, respondents placed clergy down at number 6. They fared better than bankers and lawyers, but nurses, pharmacists, medical doctors, high school teachers, and police officers were all considered more trustworthy and ethical than pastors and priests.
Not even half, just 45 percent, of respondents said clergy’s honesty and ethical standards were high or very high. The number has never been overwhelmingly high, but this is an all-time low. Gallup started asking the question back in 1977. Sixty-one percent rated clerical honesty and ethical standards high or very high then. It’s been as high as 67 percent (1985), but ever since the figure has trended down.
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