WASHINGTON -- The Gallup Index of Leading Religious Indicators has reached its lowest level, demonstrating the public's most negative overall rating for organized religion since the index began in 1940.
The index, a broad assessment of the religiosity of Americans, is based on eight measurements of religious beliefs and practices. A perfect score would be 1,000. The 2002 figure is 641, a 30-point drop from the 2001 figure of 671, the Gallup Organization announced Jan. 7, according to the Religion News Service.
Researchers attribute the decrease to the influence of the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal. In 2002, 52 percent of Americans gave very high or high ratings to ethical standards of clergy, compared to 64 percent in 2001.
Confidence in organized religion also declined sharply. In 2002, 45 percent of Americans said they had "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in organized religion, compared to 60 percent in 2001.
The index reached its peak of 746 in 1956. From that date, there was a gradual trend downward until 1989, when the figure reached 651. The score began a slow climb to 678 in 1998, according to the report.
The index is compiled from nationwide surveys of American adults conducted throughout the year.
