Just as soon as Pew’s study of the U.S. religious landscape hit the news, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops say they agree with its findings.

The study, which is based on a survey of more than 35,000 American adults, estimates that nearly 92 percent of American adults say they believe in God or a universal spirit.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington said: “At every juncture of our past, Americans have called upon God for guidance, protection, and direction. There is a clear identification with religion in America which, for Catholics, reflects the dedicated efforts of priests, catechists and teachers in our history.”

The first installment of Pew’s study, which made headlines last winter, didn’t contain much good news for the Catholic church. One-third of native-born Catholics leaves the fold, the survey found. If not for the waves of Catholic immigrants, mainly Hispanic, the church would have seen massive losses in membership.

Catholic researchers at Georgetown University didn’t completely agree with the methodology behind that study.

The U.S. bishops were briefed on the survey at their semiannual meeting earlier this month. RNS’s Amy Green has that story here.