Poll: Americans give most support to idea of faith shaping politics

(RNS) Results of a recent 10-country survey show Americans were the most likely to believe religion should have a role in politics.

Thirty-seven percent of American respondents said religious leaders should "try to influence government decisions," according to a survey for the Associated Press by Ipsos, a Washington-based independent market research company.

The poll included residents of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Spain and the United States.

Higher percentages of respondents in countries outside the U.S. were opposed to the influence of religious leaders on government actions. Eighty-five percent of French respondents opposed such influence. While 75 percent of respondents from the United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, Germany and Australia also opposed the role of religious leaders in government affairs.