The Clergy and Abortion

Jelen, Ted G.

doi:10.2307/3511130

Cited by 15 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Some progressive clergy in mainline Protestant traditions remain politically active in social justice movements (Braunstein et al 2017), and activism among progressive congregations likely has increased in recent years, particularly around immigration (Beyerlein and Chaves 2020). On the other side of the aisle, scholars have documented evangelical Protestant clergy political engagement in a range of "moral reform" campaigns including attempts to restrict abortion and LGBTQ rights (Guth et al 2003;Jelen 1992).…”

Section: Clergy Political Agendasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clergy Political Actions and Agendas: New Findings from the National Survey of Religious Leaders

Roso,

Chaves,

Keskintürk

2023

Preprint

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We build on prior research about clergy’s political activities and agendas by using the National Survey of Religious Leaders (NSRL), a nationally representative survey of leaders of American religious congregations conducted in 2019-20. We find that clergy remain highly engaged in several kinds of political activities focused on a variety of issues, with substantial differences across religious traditions. Christian clergy all engage in political cue giving at similar rates. Catholic, Black Protestant, and mainline Protestant clergy typically engage in both cue giving and direct action, while evangelical clergy are much less likely than other clergy to engage in direct action. Regarding clergy issue priorities, evangelical clergy focus almost exclusively on a moral reform agenda, with a particular focus on abortion. Both mainline Protestant and Black Protestant clergy often address a social justice agenda, but Black Protestant clergy tend to focus more on community empowerment while mainline Protestant clergy are more likely than others to pursue social justice activism that seeks to transcend class and national boundaries. Catholic clergy are more likely than others to advance a wide range of issues. Taken together, these findings update and extend our knowledge about clergy political activities, broadening the traditional two-agenda characterization of clergy political agendas into a four-agenda account.

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Section: Clergy Political Agendasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clergy Political Actions and Agendas: New Findings from the National Survey of Religious Leaders

Roso,

Chaves,

Keskintürk

2023

Preprint

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“…Probably most distinctive is the Latter-Day Saints' tradition of authoritative leadership. Jelen (1992) argues that religious messages, especially those running contrary to the larger culture, must claim some special authority beyond the individual clergy member proclaiming them if these messages are to persuade members. Something in the religion itself must lend “plausibility structure,” a source of credibility built in to distinguish religious cues from other cues in society.…”

Section: Mormons As a Distinct Politically Mobilized Religious Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Culture of Obedience and the Politics of Stealth: Mormon Mobilization Against ERA and Same-Sex Marriage

Gordon

Gillespie

2012

Politics and Religion

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Political mobilization by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints against ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was more widespread and important than most studies of the episode have acknowledged. Several decades later, the Church is again organized and active in opposing legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In this article, we explore why and how the Latter-Day Saints mobilized on these two issues. We argue that their mobilization can be understood through classic social movement theory, even though the Church is not an economic-based interest group. Furthermore, the Mormons' approach in fighting the ERA — drawing on centralized authority, tapping into established volunteer and communications networks, effectively channeling money and personnel to where they are most needed, and engaging in stealth politics (obscuring the centralized nature of apparently spontaneous action) — is echoed in the fight against same-sex marriage, even though the times and technology have somewhat changed the mobilization dynamic.

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“It’s different than a doctor saying ‘You’re making the right choice’”: A qualitative study of chaplains’ experience caring for patients undergoing abortion in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia

Zwerling,

Hendricks,

Peeler

et al. 2024

Contraception

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The Clergy and Abortion

Cited by 15 publications

References 21 publications

Clergy Political Actions and Agendas: New Findings from the National Survey of Religious Leaders

Clergy Political Actions and Agendas: New Findings from the National Survey of Religious Leaders

The Culture of Obedience and the Politics of Stealth: Mormon Mobilization Against ERA and Same-Sex Marriage

“It’s different than a doctor saying ‘You’re making the right choice’”: A qualitative study of chaplains’ experience caring for patients undergoing abortion in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia

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