Politics, religion do mix

Religious devotion sets the United States apart from some of its closest allies.

Americans profess unquestioning belief in God and support mixing faith and politics at much higher rates than people in other countries, AP-Ipsos polling found.

Respondents in Western Europe, where Pope Benedict XVI has complained that growing secularism has left churches unfilled on Sundays, were the least devout among the countries surveyed.

Only Mexicans come close to Americans in embracing faith among the 10 countries polled.

But, unlike Americans, Mexicans strongly object to clergy lobbying lawmakers, in line with their historic opposition to church influence.