This includes preachers who feel limited frequently (11%) and just occasionally (39%).
30% said they rarely feel limited and 20% said they never do.
In a separate question, 40% said they feel pressure to speak out on moral and social issues that they’re not happy discussing.
When asked what issues they feel limited to speak about they cited homosexuality at 44%, with same-sex marriage and gay rights specifically at 22%.
Abortion, politics and morality followed closely behind.
The issues which pastors felt limited from speaking about were the same as those they felt pressured to speak on, with the pressure to speak about homosexuality being felt by 37% and same-sex marriage at 32%.
The statistics and analyses came from a series of national public opinion surveys conducted by Barna Group among 1,608 clergy in 2014, 513 Protestant pastors in 2015 and 2016 and 601 Protestant pastors in 2017.
Roxanna Stone, Barna Group editor in chief said: “The pressure for leaders and especially faith leaders to satisfy everyone on all sides, and to avoid offense, is very real today, especially in the digital era.
“The public nature of social media only increases the stakes. As the research reveals, the issues pastors feel most pressured to speak out on are the same ones they feel limited to talk about. In other words, the squeeze comes from all sides: those demanding that the…
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