August 27, 2004

SURVEY: EUROPEANS, NORTH AMERICANS REVEAL LACK OF TRUST IN CLERGY Europeans and North Americans trust teachers, doctors, soldiers and police officers more than church representatives, but the clergy enjoy a higher reputation than lawyers, journalists, managers and politicians. These are the findings of recent opinion polls carried out by the Germany-based GfK Ad Hoc Research Worldwide. The firm interviewed 1,000 persons in each of 19 European countries and the U.S. The clergy scored 62 index points, placing fifth behind teachers with 82 points; doctors, 81; members of the armed forces, 70; and the police, 67. Church representatives placed higher than lawyers with 49 points; journalists, 38; managers of large companies, 32; and politicians, 16. Politicians placed lowest in all 20 countries represented in the survey. (Assist News Service/IDEA)