INVISIBLE CHRISTIANS
More Americans are acquainted with a gay or lesbian person than an evangelical, according to a recent Ellison Research study. Only 24% of all Americans who say they are not evangelical know an evangelical person very well, and 40% have never known any evangelicals at all, even casually. Meanwhile, 53% percent say they know a homosexual person very well, and 20% know such a person casually. Homosexuals make up less than 10% of the U.S. population; 17% call themselves evangelical. Also, the study showed 62% of evangelicals, along with 75% of Protestant churchgoers and 77% of all Catholics, know a gay or lesbian person at least casually. 21% know a Mormon very well. Among Americans who do not call themselves born-again, 38% know a born-again Christian very well, and 18% have never known one. Half of all Americans know a member of the Christian clergy very well, 20% know one casually, and 12% have never known a clergyperson. Among people who regularly attend worship services, 30% do not currently know any clergy members very well, and 14% say they do not even know one casually, including their own minister or priest. Only 39% of people under 35 know a Christian clergyperson very well vs. 48% of people 35 to 54 years old and 61% of those 55 or older. Just 23% of Catholic churchgoers report knowing any clergy.