Poll Shows Strong Affection for Important Christian Holy Day among Americans

Contact: Andrew Walther, Knights of Columbus, 203-752-4253, 203-824-5412, andrew.walther@kofc.org

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) and three-quarters of Catholic Americans (74%) plan to observe Easter by attending Church services according to a newly released Knights of Columbus-Marist poll.

Of Americans who celebrate Easter, 70% identified it as the most important, or one of the most important religious holidays. 71% of Catholics and 80% of practicing Catholics said the same.

The poll also found that 86% of Americans and 89% of Catholic Americans correctly identify Easter as the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

"This data shows very clearly that Americans and American Catholics have a very deep-rooted faith," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "In their celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter, Americans reconnect to the faith that has been handed down to them over thousands of years and continues today to be a source of great hope."

In addition, many Americans are preparing for Easter by observing the solemn season of Lent - the traditional forty days of penance and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. 34% of Americans and 63% of Catholic Americans (including 77% of practicing Catholics) said they are observing the season of Lent this year.

The survey of 2,078 Americans, including 521 Catholics, was conducted by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion from March 24 – March 31. The results for Americans overall have a margin of error of +/- 2.5%; the margin of error for Catholic Americans is +/-4.5%.

The poll results are available at www.kofc.org/un/cmf/resources/Easter_Survey_2009.pdf.