The Morning Buzz | June 27, 2012

Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? Apparently, some oenophiles are not as discerning as they would like to think: a new marketing survey revealed that participants not only like wines with fancy-sounding names better, they’re willing to shell out more for them. 

A good old-fashioned generation gap is nothing new to public opinion researchers (see Americans’ views on same-sex marriage, immigration reform, or a handful of other issues), but these differences could lead to an all-out war, at least according to David Frum.

Might the Episcopal Church move to permit the ordination of transgender clergy? Nine-in-ten white mainline Protestants agree that transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans, but it seems that such a dramatic change could be a struggle for Episcopalian transgender advocates.

It may be stating the obvious to repeat the results of a new poll from Brigham Young University, which found that more than 8-in-10 Mormons are excited about Romney’s nomination. More interestingly, however, Mormons remain suspicious of the media: 68% said they do not trust the media to cover the church fairly.

The United States remains one of the most religious countries in the world.

Should Mitt Romney pick a Catholic veep? Former Virginia DNC chairman Paul Goldman and public policy scholar Mark J. Rozell point out that, while they are not a monolith, Catholics remain an important swing demographic.

What does the decision in Arizona v. United States mean for the handful of states, like Alabama, who adopted similar laws?

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