Religion: Doing Good

Many a hard-working man of God got some encouragement last week to work harder than ever. Periodically since 1942, Elmo Roper pollsters have asked a nationwide sampling of citizens: what group “do you feel is doing the most good for the country at the present time?” In five years, the “religious leaders” category has jumped from third to first place. Chief source of popular disenchantment: Government leaders. How the nation’s leaders rate (in percentages) with the people:*,

Sept. Dec. June June 1942 1943 1946 1947

Religious leaders 17.5 26.4 32.0 32.6

Business leaders 18.7 16.9 18.1 18.8

Government leaders 27.7 23.6 13.4 15.4

Labor leaders 6.2 7.3 10.4 10.6

Congress 6.2 9.7 7.3 6.7

No opinion 23.7 20.6 21.2 17.9

* By permission of copyright owner, the New York Tribune Inc.