Religious Institutions

One in four Americans have interacted with a chaplain at some point in their lives. Among those who have, most say the interaction was valuable.

Americans' average confidence in major U.S. institutions has edged down after a modest increase last year.

While Pope Francis' comments supporting same sex civil unions were a drastic shift in Catholic church guidance, U.S. Catholics have supported gay marriage for about a decade.

Church attendance has been edging down in the U.S., and a decline in "outstanding" local church leaders could be a factor.

American Catholics, about 23% of the U.S. adult population, remained positive about Pope Francis in early August, giving him a 78% favorable rating.