Historic poll shows more religious Americans support than oppose the freedom to marry

Last month, a poll released by the Public Religious Research Institute showed that, for the first time ever, more religious Americans support than oppose the freedom to marry.

The poll, called The American Values Atlas, showed that 47 percent of religious Americans favored the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, and that only 45 percent opposed the freedom to marry. The number of religious Americans that support the freedom to marry has risen by 19 percent since 2003, beating the rise in support among non-religious Americans, which grew 12 percent.

The survey also showed that 60 percent of Catholics (up from 35 percent in 2003), 84 percent of Buddhists, 77 percent of Jews, and 56 percent of Eastern Orthodox Christians support the freedom to marry.

The numbers represented on this survey demonstrate the large number of religious Americans who support marriage for all loving, committed couples in line with their religious beliefs, not in spite of them.

Earlier this year, ahead of oral arguments at the United States Supreme Court, nearly 2000 faith leaders from across the country came together to submit an amicus brief to the Court urging them to rule in favor of marriage for same-sex couples. Read more about the brief here.