The Nation - News from Aug. 16, 1987

The church, or organized religion, which declined in Americans’ esteem last year, has since registered an increase in public confidence, despite the TV evangelists’ scandal this spring. Nevertheless, it has failed to regain the primacy it enjoyed for many years as the nation’s most trusted institution, the Gallup Poll found. Now, organized religion and the military share that distinction, with 61% expressing a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in each institution. The Supreme Court was next, with 52% indicating a high level of confidence.