Russians don't favor church reunification

A survey of Russian Christians shows a majority does not favor reuniting the Orthodox church with the Roman Catholic Church, the Novosti agency reported.

Of 2,000 people polled by ROMIR Monitoring, an independent research holding company representing Russia for Gallup International, 69 percent said the two churches must exist separately.

Just 17 percent were in favor of reuniting the churches, which formally divided 950 years ago.

The report did not indicate how the remaining 14 percent stood.

Women, respondents with a higher education and above average incomes were most opposed to reunification.