Fifty-eight percent support federal funding for religious groups to run food kitchens, counseling centers and other social programs, just as it is offered to secular groups. But if this makes funding available to groups such as the Hare Krishnas, the Nation of Islam and Scientologists, support for the plan plunges by half, to just more than a quarter of the public.
Yes No
Support funding social programs
run by religious groups 58% 38
Support if that includes Hare Krishnas,
Nation of Islam, Scientologists 27 65
Bush, who created the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, has said a group's results will determine whether it receives federal financing, not its religious affiliation. Congress is holding hearings on the issue this week.
Color Lines
Support for the initiative runs highest among blacks: Forty-six percent support the plan regardless of the religious group eligible, double its support among whites. And younger adults are more likely than older ones to favor funding all groups.
Nearly seven in 10 white, born-again Christians support the plan at first blush, but their support drops precipitously — to 26 percent — if funding would be extended to groups such as the Hare Krishnas, Nation of Islam and Scientologists.
Support Support if it includes
funding specified groups
Yes No Yes No
White born-again
Christians 69% 26 26 63
Whites 55 41 23 69
Blacks 79 17 46 44
Age 18-30 59 39 36 59
Age 61+ 55 39 19 66
Methodology
This ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone April 19-22, among a random national sample of 1,350 adults. The results have a 2.5-point error margin. Data collection and tabulation by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa. 
Previous ABCNEWS polls can be found in our
Poll Vault.
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