Pew Forum Weekly UPDATE

Tracking the Religious Vote
Incorporating a survey released this week by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, the Pew Forum's tracking charts show how the candidates have fared among key religious groups over time. View the graphic »

Also: See how differences in voting patterns by religion are amplified when church attendance is taken into account. View the graphic »

Q&A: May a Church Tear Down a Historic Landmark?
Does the law empower a congregation to tear down its church even if the government has declared the structure a historic landmark? Church-state scholar Robert W. Tuttle explores the legal issues in a lawsuit involving a Christian Science church and Washington, D.C.'s municipal government. Read the Q&A »

For an in-depth explanation of how federal and state statutes accommodate religious freedoms, see the accompanying legal backgrounder: A Fluid Boundary: The Free Exercise Clause and the Legislative and Executive Branches.

Resources on International Religious Freedom
Oct. 27 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the International Religious Freedom Act, which made the promotion of religious freedom a basic aim of U.S. foreign policy. The Pew Forum has assembled a variety of resources on international religious freedom, including event transcripts, Q&As and news clips. Go to the resource page »

Oct. 20 - Religion News Service
Secular Voters Feel Abandoned, Ignored by Candidates
Citing Pew Forum survey data, Research Fellow Greg Smith points out that if the religiously unaffiliated population were counted as a religious tradition, it would be the fourth largest in the country.

Oct. 22 - Los Angeles Times
Desert Cross May Lead to Landmark Ruling

Oct. 22 - The Associated Press
Palin Tells Dobson Election Outcome Is 'in God's Hands'

Oct. 22 - The Wall Street Journal
Gay Marriage in Peril in California

Oct. 22 - The Christian Science Monitor
A Sunni-Shiite Battle of the Website Hackers

Oct. 21 - The Guardian
Evangelicals Start Soul-Searching as Prospect of Obama Win Risks Christian Gains in Politics

Oct. 21 - The Associated Press
Hispanic Protestants Swinging Back to Democrats

Oct. 19 - The Washington Post
Among Catholics, Political Rifts Over Abortion Have Grown

Oct. 19 - The Associated Press
Farrakhan: A 'New Beginning' for Nation of Islam

Oct. 17 - The New York Times
Bush Aides Say Religious Hiring Doesn't Bar Aid

Oct. 17 - The Associated Press
Muslim Home Buyers Forbidden by Their Religion To Pay Interest Turn to Christian Charity

Read more Religion News »