 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | June 2005 
Poll: Support for Church-State Separation High
 Associated Press
| | While a vast majority of the populace professes a Catholic faith, most prefer that the government remain free of church influence. |
Mexico's strict separation between church and state still enjoys wide support, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll in a country with a history of violent battles between religious and secular leaders.
While more than 80 percent of respondents declared themselves Catholic and slightly more said religion is important in their lives, only 20 percent said religious leaders should influence government decisions.
Seventy-seven percent were opposed to any attempt by clerics to meddle in state affairs a sentiment possibly influenced by the nation's once turbulent relations with the Vatican.
The Roman Catholic Church held a government-enforced monopoly of faith for three centuries but church power was curbed by a series of liberal reform laws in the mid-1800s. Clerics challenged the government in an armed revolt in the 1920s, after which the authorities passed harsh anti-clerical laws and repressed religion.
Mexico re-established relations with the Vatican only in 1992. During a visit to Mexico by Pope John Paul II in 2002, President Vicente Fox raised eyebrows by kissing the pope's ring.
Mexico modified its regulations two years ago to let public officials attend religious services, but only in a strictly private capacity.
When asked how important religion is in their lives, 60 percent of those polled said it was "very important" and another 25 percent said "somewhat important." About 15 percent said religion had little or no importance in their lives.
Outright atheists and agnostics accounted for 2 percent, while 4 percent said they believed "in a higher power of some kind." Eighty-nine percent said they believed in God and the remaining five percent were undecided or "not sure."
The Associated Press-Ipsos poll was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 randomly selected adults in Mexico. The poll was conducted from May 12-17 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us