Most Americans say public schools should welcome chaplains—but draw the line on prayer, vouchers, and vaccine exemptions.

A majority of Americans believe public schools should be allowed to have religious chaplains, according to a new survey that also finds adults holding more nuanced views on such issues as vouchers and prayer in classrooms. The Associated Press/NORC survey found that U.S. adults back religious chaplains in public schools to provide support services by a margin of 58-41 percent, with religious groups across the board favoring the concept. White evangelicals (82 percent) and non-white Protestants (76 percent) are the most likely to support religious chaplains in schools, although Catholics (61 percent) and white mainline Protestants (56 percent) do, too.

Political and Religious Differences
However, the idea of chaplains in schools was found to have less agreement along political lines, with 70 percent of Republicans and 47 percent of Democrats saying the concept was a good idea. Among Americans with no religious affiliation, 41 percent favor the idea.

“If they have problems, these students could go and talk to these preachers and these chaplains, and maybe they could help them figure out a way to get out of those problems,” Sally Hacker of Michigan told the Associated Press. She was one of those who was surveyed.

Divided Views on Prayer, Vouchers, and Vaccine Exemptions
Other ideas were more controversial.

For example, U.S. adults:

-- oppose teachers leading a class in prayer, with 44 percent backing the idea but 55 percent opposing it. White evangelicals (72 percent favor) and non-white Protestants (63 percent) are the most supportive.

-- oppose implementing a mandatory period during school for private prayer and religious reading 60-39 percent. Once again, though, white evangelicals (64 percent favor) and non-white Protestants (57 percent) are the two groups most likely to support it.

-- favor requiring public schools to provide parents with a list of books available to students, 51-14 percent (34 percent are neutral).

-- are divided over tax-funded vouchers allowing parents to send their children to the private or religious school of their choice, with 35 percent favoring them, 38 percent opposing, and 25 percent unsure. A plurality of white evangelicals (45 percent) and non-white Protestants (48 percent) back them.

-- are split over religious exemptions for childhood vaccines required for attending schools, with 25 percent supporting exemptions, 45 percent opposing, and 28 percent unsure. White evangelicals also are divided (39 percent supporting exemptions, 33 percent opposing and 29 percent unsure).

The survey of 1,158 adults was conducted June 5-9.

Let's Talk About It
Even Christians disagree—some welcome a moral reset, others fear favoritism or government interference in faith.

So where should believers stand? How do we uphold religious freedom, equal access, and the Great Commission in a diverse society?

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