Poll shows so-called "Church Leaders" are completely out of line with their "flocks" with regard to illegal aliens
Hisler
[FYI -- Mark Krikorian]
Contact: Steven Camarota, (xxx) xxx-xxxx, xx...@cis.org
Poll: Pew and Pulpit Disagree on Immigration
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.�
The NAE then calls for increases in the number of immigrant workers
allowed in. The Catholic Church states that the law must be reformed so
that more �laborers from other countries can enter the country legally.�
The Episcopal Church adopted a resolution in July of this year stating
that, �Immigrants are filling the jobs that go unwanted and unfilled by
U.S. citizens.� The resolution makes clear more immigrant workers need
to be allowed in legally. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in November
2009 adopted a document that states illegal immigrants do jobs that
�citizens often will not do� and that legal immigration should be
increased to meet, �the annual need for foreign workers.� A Commission
of the Union for Reform Judaism argues that limits on immigration
contribute to illegal immigration, and calls for legislation that
�Increases the number of visas allowing unskilled laborers to work in
the U.S.�
Most parishioners believe that enforcing the law and improving the wages
and working conditions of unskilled workers to attract more Americans is
the best way to deal with illegal immigration. The huge divide between
leaders and members means that if there is a full-blown immigration
debate next year it will be all the more contentious, with Jewish and
Christian leaders on one side of the issue, their members on the other,
and elected officials in the middle.
Methodology
Zogby International was commissioned by the Center for Immigration
Studies to conduct an online survey of 42,026 adults. Zogby used its
online panel, which is representative of the US population. Zogby
International weighted the data slightly to more accurately reflect the
U.S. population. Zogby conducted the survey from Nov 13 to 30, 2009. The
margin of error for the three Christian groups is +/- 1.1 percent and
+/- 2.4 percent for likely Jewish voters.
# # #
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research
institution that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.