The Protestant Clergy and the War in Vietnam

Abstract

This article, based on a survey of Protestant ministers in California conducted during the spring and summer of 1968, examines both the attitudes of the clergy toward the war and the positions they have publicly taken. The author concludes that the image of the clergy as one of the most militant opposition groups to the war in Vietnam derives not from any unanimous opposition within ministerial ranks, but rather from the much greater tendency of those who are opposed to the war to engage in highly visible public activities. The ministers' perceptions of the attitudes of potential reference groups, and the sanctions available to these groups, are also examined.