Study: Churchgoers Less Likely to Commit Crime

A new study suggests that attending church cuts down on crime.

Researchers at Manchester University discovered that people who attend church on a regular basis are less likely to commit crimes.

The study found different degrees of correlation between increased church visits and decreased crime rates.

The most significant were seen in relation to shoplifting, the use of illegal drugs, and music piracy.

Researchers believe that besides teaching about moral norms, being involved in church also leads to spending time with like-minded people and decreases the chances of getting mixed up with the "wrong crowd."

"This research implies that the act of visiting a place of worship may trigger a significant reduction in the likelihood of involvement in certain types of criminal and delinquent behavior," Mark Littler, university project lead, said. according to the Daily Mail.