WASHINGTON -- According to a Washington Post poll, a strong majority of people disapprove of the Episcopal Church's decision to recognize same-sex unions.

More than half of Americans who regularly attend worship services said they would leave their church if their minister blessed homosexual couples, even if their denomination officially approved those ceremonies, the survey found.

Opposition is strongest among those who attend services weekly, with three out of four expressing opposition to blessing such unions. Still, nearly six in 10 of those who acknowledged they rarely or never attend church were opposed as well.

The poll underscores the sharp distinction most Americans make between relationships blessed by the church and those recognized by law, the newspaper reported.

"Americans are saying, ‘We're willing to move pretty far on this issue, we're much more tolerant than we used to be, but don't mix it up with religion and God,'" said Boston College political scientist Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life.

The poll indicated public acceptance of same-sex civil unions is falling. Fewer than four in 10, or 37 percent, responded they would support allowing homosexual men and lesbians to form civil unions that would provide some of the rights and legal protection of marriage, the newspaper reported.

That marks a 12 percent drop in support found in a Gallup Organization poll conducted in May that posed the question in identical terms before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas sodomy law.

The Post's survey interviewed 1,003 randomly-selected Americans Aug. 7-11, including 420 who said they attend church services at least once a week.