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Clergy Trust in America Crashes to Record Low as Only 27% of Americans Rate Their Honesty Highly

Gallup reveals only 27% of Americans rate clergy honesty as high, marking the lowest trust in religious leaders in nearly 50 years of polling.

Michael Ringer

Michael Ringer

— 3 min read
A clergy member at a church, representing the declining trust in religious leaders across America

Gallup Poll Reveals Only 27% of Americans Trust Clergy for Honesty and Ethics

A new Gallup survey has revealed that public trust in clergy has plummeted to a historic low, with just 27% of Americans rating their honesty and ethical standards as "high" or "very high." The finding marks the lowest level of confidence in religious leaders since Gallup began tracking the metric nearly 50 years ago in 1977.

The survey, conducted between December 1 and 15, 2025, showed a three point decline from 2024's previous record low of 30%. Of those polled, only 6% rated clergy honesty as "very high," while 21% said "high." Nearly half of respondents, 48%, rated clergy ethics as merely "average," and 18% rated them "low" or "very low."

The decline represents a dramatic collapse from the profession's peak ratings. In the mid 1980s, 67% of Americans held clergy in high regard. Trust remained above 50% through the 1990s and briefly spiked to 64% following the September 11, 2001 attacks. The average rating from 2000 to 2009 was 56%, meaning clergy trust has been nearly halved in under two decades.

27% of U.S. adults say clergy members have high or very high levels of honesty and ethics, a three point decline from 2024's previous record low.

The erosion of trust accelerated following the Boston Globe's 2002 exposure of Catholic priest abuse scandals and subsequent revelations of misconduct across multiple denominations. A decade ago, 45% of Americans still rated clergy favorably. That number dropped to 37% in 2018 and 32% in 2023.

The poll revealed significant demographic divides. Republicans (36%) expressed more trust in clergy than Democrats (25%) or Independents (24%). Adults over 55 (38%) were far more trusting than those under 34 (17%). White Americans (33%) rated clergy higher than non white Americans (18%). College graduates (38%) expressed more confidence than those with a high school education or less (15%).

Why American Trust in Pastors and Religious Leaders Has Hit an All Time Low

A pastor standing at a church pulpit during a Sunday service, reflecting the declining trust Americans have in clergy members

Despite the grim numbers for clergy specifically, confidence in churches and organized religion saw a slight rebound, rising to 36% in 2025, up from a low of 31% in 2022. Across all professions, trust declined in 15 of 20 categories measured. Only nurses (75%), military veterans (67%), medical doctors (57%), and pharmacists (53%) maintained majority confidence levels.

At the bottom of the rankings, members of Congress received just 7% confidence and telemarketers came in last at 5%.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let me be blunt. The Church did this to itself. Decades of cover ups, moral failures from leaders who preached holiness while living in darkness, and a refusal to hold wolves accountable destroyed the trust that took centuries to build. Every scandal that was swept under the rug, every predator who was quietly transferred instead of prosecuted, every leader who enriched himself while fleecing his congregation added another crack to the foundation.

But here is what the world will never tell you: the answer is not less faith. The answer is more accountability, more transparency, and an uncompromising return to the standard that Christ actually set. The world wants to use these numbers to bury Christianity. We should use them as a mirror. Clean house. Expel the frauds. Restore the pulpit to men and women of genuine conviction. The Church does not need better PR. It needs repentance.

Take Action

  • Demand transparency from your local church leadership. Ask about financial accountability, background checks for staff, and abuse prevention policies.
  • Support organizations working to restore integrity in the Church. Visit www.TheShepherdsShield.org to contribute to the defense of persecuted Christians worldwide.
  • Contact the Gallup organization to review the full survey data and share the findings with your congregation.
  • Have an honest conversation with your pastor about what your church is doing to rebuild public trust through genuine service and accountability.
  • Report abuse or misconduct in church settings to the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 800 656 4673.
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