WASHINGTON (RNS) Americans look less favorably on mosques applying for government funding than other religious charities, a new survey shows.
While 27 percent of U.S. adults polled oppose religious charities applying for government funding to provide services to the needy, more than half — 52 percent — were against Muslim houses of worship being eligible for such money, reports the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
The opposition to mosques seeking such funding increased slightly from 2001, when 46 percent were against it.
The only charities that received greater opposition were “groups that encourage religious conversion as part of the services they provide,” whose eligibility for funding was opposed by 63 percent of respondents.
Overall, the survey conducted with the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press found that the faith-based initiative started by President Bush and continued by President Obama receives broad support from the public.
The results of the telephone survey results were based on a total nationwide sample of 4,013 adults and have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.0 percentage points.

By Adelle M. Banks
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