Clergy Are More Partisan Than Their Parishioners

It's no surprise that certain U.S. religious groups have strong political leanings: Southern Baptist Republicans and Jewish Democrats are predictable enough archetypes. A new paper by two political scientists adds a new layer to these long-standing stereotypes: Clergy tend to be even more partisan than their parishioners. While it's not clear whether this translates into politicized sermons or social activism, it's evidence that religious life may be yet another area where many Americans are pulled into exclusive partisan spheres by their community leaders.